August 3rd, 2012 
A visit to Rosey Ridge Farm, whose motto is “From moo to you!,” is a must for anyone interested in dairy farming, raw milk and farm-fresh dairy products. Located on 250 acres of land in Grandview, Texas, Rosey Ridge Farm practices all natural grazing without chemicals for their cows, pigs and chickens to offer the very best in flavor and nutrients. The farm is State Certified with a “Grade A” Retail Raw Milk permit since 2010.
Elise Hooley taking charge of the baby animals (Photo Credit: Brian Nichols)
Raw milk and farm-fresh dairy products are a growing food trend, although controversial and highly regulated. Many people believe that raw milk provides a better taste and contains more healthy nutrients, enzymes and probiotics than pasteurized milk.
The tour, coordinated by EatGreenDFW.com, includes a walk-through of the dairy-making process, a cheese-making demonstration, a visit to the chicken coops and calf pens and a tractor-pulled hayride to round-up the cows and enjoy the countryside. The tour ends with the milking of the cows, an opportunity to purchase produce and a delicious snack of homemade chocolate chip cookies and chilled raw milk.
The farm is owned and managed by the hospitable and friendly Hooley family. Eldon Hooley (father) grew up on a dairy farm in Virginia and brought the family tradition to Texas six years ago. He and his wife Lisa and six children built the farm from scratch and each member has responsibilities and roles to ensure the farm’s success, including six-year-old Elsie whose blond hair and sparkling blue eyes could charm a fly.
Cheese-making at Rosey Ridge Farm. (Photo Credit: Brian Nichols)
The Hooley family raises 25 to 35 Jersey and Jersey Brown Swiss cross cows that are well fed and cared for and milked twice a day. The cows feed on oats and wheat in the fall and winter months and native and forage grasses in warm weather. Pigs and chickens are fed whey from the cheese and leftover milk by-products. The chickens are cage free and roam freely over fields after the cows and calves and lay very nutritious eggs.
Eldon’s knowledge runs deep concerning dairy farming. It’s in his blood. He could easily answer any question thrown his way about his farm, commercial dairy farming in general, types of cows, milk production, raw milk benefits and breeding. It made the tour very informational and personable.
Owner of Rosey Ridge Farm Eldon Hooley (Photo Credit:Brian Nichols)
Besides raw milk, Rosey Ridge Farm also sells yogurt, cream, kefir, buttermilk, cheddar and feta cheeses, fresh bread and homemade salsas, jams and sweet pickles. Products are available at the farmstore and DFW Co-Ops operating in Arlington, Irving, Hulen, the White Rock Lake area, Flower Mound, Cedar Hill, North Austin and South Austin. Co-ops provide an easy and affordable way to gather the freshest local dairy products possible.
EatGreenDFW.com is an organization that supports local sustainable food in North Texas and helps market it to consumers. It is considered the leading online source for information and news on this subject and continually promotes local industry farms and businesses through events. Membership is free. For more information, visit EatGreenDFW online or view upcoming events on their Meetup page.
WHERE:
Rosey Ridge Farm
175 HCR 4415
Grandview, Texas 76050
Ph. 817-789-5196
