Enjoy a picturesque day on the farm at Heber Valley Artisan Cheese. The small Kohler family dairy farm and creamery is a wonderful opportunity for children and adults to enjoy a quiet and quaint atmosphere with activities.
Heber Valley Artisan Cheese is not only a farm open for public visitors but is also ranked among national champions, garnering awards from prestigious organizations including the American Cheese Society, Utah Cheese Awards and being recognized as a trendsetter at the Speciality Food Association Winter Fancy Food Show.
Take a dairy tour
Observe how Heber Valley Artisan Cheese is a trendsetter on dairy tours that occur on Monday through Saturday around lunchtime (11:00 a.m.). During the tour, visitors can see the first installed robotic milking system in the Western United States that allows the farm’s 150 cows to be milked by “choice” up to five times a day.
Tours have limited space so it is suggested to make reservations beforehand, but it will be fun for the whole family to get an inside look at the dairy and how the cows relax when they’re not grazing in the pastures.
When in the pastures, cows are grass-fed and roam free in the mountain valley. With mountain springs and the exclusion of GMO feeds, the cows produce exquisite raw milk for their customers.
Take a creamery tour
The Kohler family has been serving the community and providing the farm experience for nearly 100 years. Producing premium milk that is pure, rich and creamy is not the only way they delight their customers. In 2011, the family built a new creamery and used the farm’s milk to handcraft and age artisan cheese.
Discover how the Kohler family turns milk into cheese on the creamery tour, offered weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays During the tour, visitors can view the cheese-making room and the aging cave where the cheese is held at the perfect temperature to make this dairy product just right. Not only will visitors learn about the farm and cheese-making process but will also have the opportunity to taste some of the bread cheese, Juustoleipa—a cheese meant to be grilled, fried or baked.
Before or after the tour, take time to visit the farm store, open to the public year-round. Cheese, ice cream and other locally-made items including jam, fudge and salsa are available for purchase and make for the perfect lunch in the countryside. Or have purchased goods shipped directly to your house so you can enjoy the Heber Valley Farm in the comfort of home.
Attend a tour & taste
Another unique experience on the farm is the bi-monthly, evening Cheese-tasting event. Offered on the second and fourth Friday of each month, guests can not only tour the facilities to better understand the farm business but also try fresh, new flavors of cheese before they are released on the market.
Taste the small cheese bites paired with other locally produced products including jams, chocolate and balsamic. This event is perfect for families, groups of friends and couples looking for a fun night out.
No matter which activities you are interested in or whether you come to get a quick bite to eat, the Kohler family dairy and farm is a memorable experience at the heart of Heber Valley for any visitor.
To read more about Heber Valley Artisan Cheese or make reservations, visit hebervalleyartisancheese.com or call 435-654-0291.
All photos are courtesy of the Heber Valley Artisan Cheese.