Friends Of Elsie

As dairy farmers, we work long hours – caring for our cows, milking twice a day, feeding, keeping the barn clean, and making sure they are healthy and comfortable. With so much to do every day, it’s not surprising that our meals have to be quick, easy and nutritious. Grilled cheese is frequently our “go to” choice – not only because it’s so versatile and simple to prepare but also because we know firsthand the work, care and love that goes into making cheese and other dairy products.

Our family farm – Alpine Hills Dairy – was started more than 60 years ago when Papaw Joe Colson drove to Illinois and purchased a small herd of Brown Swiss cows. Today, the dairy is still a family affair with Joe’s son and wife and their children, including my husband Matthew, working the farm every day. Dairy farming allows us to work hard doing what we love. We are proud and honored to be part of the farming community and know that the product we produce is helping feed the world.

Because we take so much pride in our work, we like to share our dairy farm story with others and give tours in the spring and fall (as if we weren’t already busy enough!). It brings us such joy to teach people about where dairy products come from. We want people to understand what goes into that delicious glass of milk or that gooey delicious cheese on their grilled cheese sandwich. While most are fast asleep at 4:30 a.m., we’re up milking cows every single day – whether it’s Christmas, summer break or a birthday. It’s a seven-day-a-week job, but it’s one we love and wouldn’t trade for anything.

So, the next time you’re making your favorite grilled sandwich, remember where the cheese came from – dairy farmers dedicated to making sure you have delicious, wholesome dairy products. To learn more about dairy farming and life on our farm, check out some of my other posts at facebook.com/alpinedairy, alpinehillsdairy.com, countrypumpkinsky.com and dairydaily.wordpress.com.

Shelley Colson, Alpine Hills Dairy Farm, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. Member