Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Savage.
Laurie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Farmers have an innate, dedicated purpose to feed people and ensure a strong and resilient local food system, For those who farm, farming is a part of their DNA. My story began on a 118-acre dairy farm in Frederick County, Maryland, where I grew up with my family. My parents milked 60 cows and raised my brother and I without having to hold any off-farm jobs, back in the day when farming was profitable enough to make this possible. Advocating for agriculture began at a young age for me, I was a 4-H and FFA member, serving as a state FFA officer and Maryland Dairy Princess. I majored in agriculture and resource economics at the University of Maryland. I married my husband, Kevin, and moved to his dairy farm, taking some of my cows with me to his farm. We raised our children, Catherine and Jamie, on the farm, where they both developed their own pathways. Catherine won the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and is a county 4-H educator. Jamie developed his own beef cattle herd and runs his own successful landscaping business. Last year, we were given the opportunity to move our operation across the county by friends who were stepping down from running their dairy farm, creamery and roadside stand. We moved our cows to their farm and took over the operation of the creamery and market there. We also participate in farmers’ markets and sell product to restaurants and through the Farm to Foodbank program. Selling product directly to consumers has always been our dream in farming.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are obstacles and challenges every day in farming. These include unpredictable weather, equipment breakdowns and having enough money to pay the bills because farming is in no way profitable. We hold off-farm jobs and run other businesses because we can’t afford to just farm, and then there’s the challenge of not having the time to accomplish what you want in your business when you have to work away from the farm.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My husband, Kevin, my children, Catherine and Jamie, and I operate Brown Cow Creamery in Mount Airy. We milk about 30 cows on the farm, bottling the milk and making ice cream to sell in our roadside farmstand. We also raise beef cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and laying hens and also sell our own cheese, eggs, beef, pork and lamb in the store and support other local businesses by marketing their products. Additionally, I work in operations and food systems at Future Harvest, a regional organization supporting sustainable agriculture through services such as beginner farmer training and consultant matching. I serve on the Montgomery County Food Council.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I grew up on a dairy farm, and, like any self-respecting farm kid, I joined 4-H and showed my Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle at local shows and fairs. My dad bought me a few little brown Jersey calves to start my 4-H career, and a few years later, I showed the first calf I bred myself out of one of those cows at my county fair. She won junior champion of the 4-H show, which means she was the best young animal of her breed in the show. My dad told me I would never do that again because it was an accomplishment that only a few 4-H’ers achieve. At the next show, a regional 4-H event in the spring, I won junior champion and reserve senior champion, which was the second best milking cow in the whole show of her breed. I also won my showmanship class, which is based on how you present your animal. My dad didn’t go to the show, but when my mom and I got home from the day, I told my dad to hold his hands out and close his eyes, and I dumped all those ribbons in his hands. I asked what did you say about me never winning champion again?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://browncowcreamery.shop
- Instagram: browncowcreamery
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/BrownCowCreamery/
