All the cows at Simply Natural Creamery dairy in eastern NC have a name – and they are all women.
Cupcake #33 poses for the camera.. Just look at that Face !!!!
This wonderful North Carolina dairy and creamery produces some of the BEST ice cream around. And to think – it was started as a project for the children of the owners.
Neil Moye bought three Jersey cows for the milk and to instill a work ethic in his young sons. The boys milked the cows every day when they came home from school. Neil and Jackie, his wife, loved the Jersey cows and so did their boys.
It was an easy decision to start a dairy farm. After much planning and many hours of hard work, the dream of Simply Natural Creamery has come true.
The cows at Simply Natural Creamery like to visit
At Simply Natural Creamery all the cows are female and they are all Jersey cattle. Milk from a Jersey cow is higher in calcium and cream than the Holsteins used by so many dairies. It is the Cadillac of milk.
I know this because we used to raise Jersey cattle and my dad told me that. I had a Jersey calf and her name was Sophia, named for Sophia Critcher my beloved 7th grade teacher. She was abandoned, so I raised her from a bottle.
We had our own pasteurizing machine on the porch and Mother taught me how to make butter from the cream that rose to the top.
Cows lining up to be milked at Simply Natural Creamery dairy in eastern NC
Each of the 180 cows is milked twice a day and they produce 7,000 gallons of milk a week. Michael Fulcher, marketing director, told me that the cows willingly wander up to be milked.
Milking machine at Simply Natural Creamery near Ayden, NC photo by Shawn Bradshaw
My brother John told me that here on our farm at Big Mill, he had to go way back in the field and insist that our cows come up at night.
Cows at Simply Natural Creamery are very sociable Photo Shawn Bradshaw Studio BNC
If Sallie, the lead cow, didn’t want to come up at night, then none of the others would either. She was the boss cow. Until just a few years ago, the path that they took each day was still visible in our pasture.
Milk from two of the cows at Simply Natural is reserved to feed the calves that are taken from the mothers for their own safety. Wee ones could be injured with 180 cows wandering around. Cows are very sociable and curious; they like to stay together, and the herd is together at Simply Natural.
Lounging parlor for contented cows at Simply Natural Creamery. Photo Studio BNC
They even have a “lounge” for the cows to hang out. These cows live a natural life in pastures; none of them are in cages. Their food is natural, grown right on the farm in Greene County. For Cupcake (my favorite cow of the bunch), life is good at Simply Natural Creamery. I think Cupcake should be a mascot. She could live here on the farm at Big Mill B&B.
The ice cream made by Simply Natural is out of this world photo Studio BNC
Simply Natural is all about family. It is a family business for families. Children love to come here for treats and birthday parties. They will be adding hay rides soon. Look for Simply Natural milk products at your grocery store, if you live in North Carolina. And these wonderful dairy products and cows are only 40 miles from Big Mill Bed and Breakfast. Call and ask for a tour or just drop in.
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Special thanks to Shawn Bradshaw of Studio BNC for all of the wonderful photos featured in this article.
DISTANCES FROM:
17 miles southwest of Greenville, NC
79 miles southeast of Raleigh, NC
37 miles west of Washington, NC
42 miles northwest of New Bern, NC
42 miles southwest of Big Mill Bed & Breakfast in Williamston, NC 252-792-8787
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
1285 Carson Edwards Road, Ormondsville (near Ayden), NC
Phone: 252-746-3334
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