Happy Holsteins are worth the trip

A dairy farm with proximity to urban and suburban areas is ideally situated to create a high-traffic location for marketing farm-fresh products. Klein Farms Dairy & Creamery in Easton, PA, fits that description, and it’s become the area’s go-to for families seeking raw milk, cheeses, yogurt, ice cream and other goods.

Amanda Klein grew up on a dairy farm, so she knew what was involved when she committed to this operation with her husband Jake and his family. As third-generation farmers, the Kleins are raising their four children on the farm while building a cow herd that will mark the farm’s future in the dairy industry.

Jake and Amanda handle most of the cow work with help from Jake’s father Layne. Jake’s sister Rachel makes value-added dairy products and manages wholesale accounts for the farm. A group of reliable, dedicated employees round out the workforce.

The Kleins milk cows twice a day in a 51-cow tie-stall barn equipped with a pipeline. To milk the entire 70-cow herd, about 20 cows, depending on the drying and freshening schedule, are switched out at each milking.

Over the years, Jake has taken on bull selection and learned to AI. He now handles all aspects of breeding. Amanda explained how careful selection and breeding to develop cow families has paid off.

“We use several semen companies,” she said. “Jake picks for genetics because we show, but he also chooses for milk production. We look for bulls with good genetics to improve the herd, and we are now at a point that we can cull cows as we need to.”

Jake uses sexed semen to breed the top cows, which Amanda said has helped improve the herd. The Kleins use the services of Trans Ova in Myerstown, PA, to flush their best cows.

“Our two-year-olds have improved,” Amanda said. “We need to have a low cell count because we’re selling raw milk. They have promising udders and there’s less mastitis this year. They have come a long way, and I’m excited for the next couple of years.”

The Kleins keep their cows clean and clipped, and over the years, classifications have improved. The herd includes several Excellent cows, and in some cases, Excellent cows receive additional points.

“It’s exciting when the classifier comes,” Amanda said. “It makes me want to get up and go to the barn to my pretty cows.”

Cows receive a balanced ration made from ensiled corn and alfalfa/grass hay grown on owned and rented ground. Purchased top-dress protein, minerals and probiotics create a balanced TMR.

The original on-farm dairy store was constructed in 2004 by Jake’s father. In 2016, the Kleins built a new store that included a separate room for making ice cream. In addition to 20 flavors of Happy Holstein hand-scooped ice cream, customers can purchase milk, cheeses and cheese spreads. Shoppers can also pick up chicken, pork and beef as well as locally produced eggs and honey.

“When I started working here, we had Monterey Jack, Colby and several flavored cheddars,” Amanda said. “We started selling raw milk at the same time as cheeses. Now we make cream cheese, drinkable yogurt and a selection of plain and flavored yogurts. We try to keep products as natural as possible with no added preservatives.”

Milk that isn’t used for on-farm production is picked up every other day. Amanda said this provides an opportunity to sanitize the tank to make sure milk is clean and fresh. Although product demand is fairly steady throughout the year, summer means more frequent seasonal production of some products – especially ice cream.

Although they don’t currently offer pasteurized milk for purchase, they may consider that option in the future.

“There are some days in summer we use all of our milk,” Amanda said. “We make mozzarella two or three times a week and hard cheeses twice a week.”

Although Jake and Amanda’s children are young, they are becoming valuable helpers in the barn. Ava, 12, and Tessa, 10, help with milking and are active in 4-H. Mila is 7 and participates as a 4-H Cloverbud. Six-year-old Cason enjoys barn time and will soon be old enough to help. Nieces Leah and Olivia spend time on the farm, helping with milking and preparing their project animals for the show ring.

Proximity to the New Jersey and New York border attracts customers who prefer raw milk that is unavailable in those states. The dairy store also has many customers who stop on their way to summer vacation destinations as well as parents who bring children to the playground.

A unique option at the Klein farm is cow cuddling, which Amanda said is quite popular. One of the farm’s dry cows, Karsen, is particularly gentle and available for cow cuddling, and young calves are also used for calf cuddling. Guests can spend time brushing and getting to know dairy animals of all ages. The result is twofold: people learn more about dairy farming and heifers become gentler as they are handled.

Most who visit Klein Farms are from urban and suburban areas. On October weekends, customers can enjoy a hayride through the pumpkin patch and navigate the corn maze. Tour guides field numerous questions from students and adults who visit on school tours. The Kleins also open the milking barn to visitors on weekends.

“We’re educating the public about dairy farming,” Amanda said. “People ask ‘How much does a cow weigh? Do they have horns? And why do you take babies from the cow?’ Once we explain why, people realize what we do makes sense.”

by Sally Colby