CheeseFest 2019

The Marcoot Jersey Creamery held their annual CheeseFest last weekend.  They are a seventh generation family farm that has moved away from dairy farming into producing artisan and farmstead cheeses.  And just in the last year they have added fruit and whey ices to their sales list. 

I have visited the creamery several times but Mike has never been.  Their press release mentioned free cheese samples, the Cheese Olympics, cheese cooking demonstrations and that they would be selling their ice cream and ices.  I went because I wanted to try the fruit and whey ices.  They are suppose to be delicious and very healthy.  Sports teams including professional ones are lining up to order some.  However, the line was so long I decided to stop at the local grocery store on the way home to buy some.  They do live up to their hype. 

Mike went because he wanted to tour the cow milking facilities.  According to our local newspaper the Marcoots have automated their cow milking.  They use robots. 

Unfortunately, I could not get a very good picture of the cows being milked by the machine. 

However, I did learn a few interesting facts.  The Marcoot cows are Jersey cows who appear to be very intelligent.  I mention this fact because we were told that the cows got the hang of the robotic milking within about a day.  I wish my dogs were that easily trainable. 

The cows were given collars that contain computer chips.  The computer chips opens the gate to the milking slot.  Once the cow is in and the gate shuts, the machine washes the cows udder, attaches cups to the milk teats and milks the cow.  To keep the cow in place and to encourage her future participation, the machine offers feed to the cow while the milking is happening.  However, none of this occurs if the computer chip tells the robot that the cow has already been milked for the day.  No milking occurs and no feed is provided.  Supposedly the feed is such a good incentive that some of the cows just keep getting back in line to get more food even though the robot knows they have already been milked. 

After we finished in the milking barn, Mike and I checked out the baby calves.  Sometimes when I visit they allow visitors to feed them with a bottle but not this day.  Besides when we got there they were all taking a nap except for one.  So I got a picture. 

We had such a good time that I think I will plan to attend again next year.