Wisonsin’s held the title of “America’s Dairyland” for decades. The state is working on a new title too, “Most dairy goats in the U.S.”
LaClare Farmsis contributing to that title, with their own business in Malone, Wisconsin.
When you arrive to their dairy goat farm, you’d think you wouldn't be greeted with silence.
But the silence is what you hear.
According to their owners, “You have just listened to 1000 goats. They're absolutely quiet. And they're very, very content in their surroundings."
Farming is what Clara and Larry Hedrich have spent the past 30 years doing.
“I love agriculture, my goal was to be a farmer,” explained Clara.
The Hedrichs first bought a farm outside of Chilton in the late 1970s. Fast-forward to 2012, and that's when they decided to break ground on LaClare Farms.
According to Larry, Calumet County provides the perfect spot to raise dairy goats.
“The land, the lake, the water. It's critical. That's what being a farmer all is about,” said Larry.
It's also a great location for creating award winning cheese.
“We've won the U.S. Cheese Championship, been the Top 16 in the world, runner up in the American Cheese Society Contest,” said business manager of LaClare Farms, Greg Hedrich.
Since their first batch of cheese in 2008, LaClare farms has worked its way to the top of the cheese charts, making 10 different types of cheeses in more than 30 flavors. They also sell milk and yogurt.
“Whether it's a cow cheese, goat cheese; that's where you want to be making cheese-- Wisconsin. We've really been able to set ourselves apart from the rest of the country,” explained Greg.
LaClare Farms also offers a retail store and cafe.
“We have people who try our cheese and go, ‘Wow! This doesn't taste like goat at all,’ and that's really a testament to the people who are milking the goats all the way to the cheese makers and how they make that,” said Greg.
LaClare Farms truly provides a full goat experience, offering up tours to people who stop by.
“You start out with the crops in the field; you go to the barn and animals, that piece of it. You can actually taste and sample it and have that connection to everything else that you've just seen,” said Greg.
And creating an opportunity for agribusiness, is what the Hedrich’s dreamed of since starting LaClare Farms.
“You really need to find something in life that you love to do so much that you never think about going to work. That's how I feel about agriculture,” said Clara.
The cafe and retail shop at LaClare Farms is open seven days a week.
They’re locatedon the corner of HWY 151 and County Road HH, just north of Pipe.
Editors Note: We’d like to mention while the Hedrich’s farm is located in Calumet County, the store and retail shop is actually in Fond du Lac County.
