A Farmer’s Dedication to His Milk Inspires Support

At Brown’s Whoa Nellie Dairy farm, a 300-year-old cream-line dairy farm, the spirit of America endures. Despite facing adversity, farmer Ben Brown is tirelessly working to bottle his own milk, even when his processor told him to discard it. And the community is rallying behind him.

A Legacy of Premium Milk

For centuries, Brown’s Whoa Nellie Dairy farm has been known for producing premium milk with a cream line. Typically, a dairy processor would purchase most of the milk, pasteurize it, and distribute it to local markets and restaurants. However, things changed when the processor could no longer purchase Brown’s milk.

A Farmer’s Determination

Facing the possibility of discarding hundreds of gallons of milk each week, Ben Brown refused to let his hard work go to waste. Working around the clock, he began personally bottling and pasteurizing the milk in small batches using a 30-gallon vat.

The Power of Community Support

When Brown announced on Facebook that the farm store would be open for extended hours, allowing customers to purchase milk directly from the source, the response was overwhelming. Local news reported long lines of people eager to support the farm. Customers shared their motivation, stating, “We want to help the Brown family through this” and “I have orders from our whole family. We’ll take 10 gallons.”

From Sold Out to Giving Back

Day after day, Brown’s milk sells out within hours of being available in the farm store. And on days when there is surplus milk, the farm generously donates it to nearby nonprofit organizations. Brown explained his commitment, saying, “I hate waste, and I don’t want to dump milk. People can use it, and I still have bills to pay.”

The Farm’s Proud Legacy

The Brown family has a deep connection to the farm, which they purchased four years ago from Ben’s parents. Admitting that the recent years have been challenging, Brown feared that the lockdown would be the end for them. However, with the overwhelming community support, they are determined to persevere. As Brown shared, “This farm has been in the Brown family since the 1700s.”

Hope for the Future

Thanks to the community’s unwavering support, the farm recently acquired a second 45-gallon pasteurization vat. This exciting development means that Brown no longer has to stay up all night processing milk by himself. The future is looking brighter for Brown’s Whoa Nellie Dairy farm.