You’re Guaranteed To Love A Trip To This Epic Cheese Farm In New Mexico
Old Windmill Dairy in Estancia, New Mexico, offers cheese tours, cheese-making classes, and the chance to cuddle with Nubian goats.
Editor's Note: The Old Windmill Dairy has permanently closed since the publication of this article.
Vermont and Wisconsin don’t have a monopoly on producing delicious cheese. If you’re a cheese aficionado, there’s no need to head out of state for your dairy fix. There’s an epic cheese farm right here in New Mexico and you can take a tour.
The Old Windmill Dairy is located in Estancia, a small town in Torrance County. Since Estancia is smack dab in the middle of the state, the farm is a viable day trip for many New Mexicans.
The drive to Old Windmill Dairy is a peaceful one; the farm is in a lovely setting.
When the dairy opened in 2007, it initially specialized in goat cheese (chevre)…
…And has since branched out into semi-soft cheeses as well - the Blue Moon has won national awards.
Aside from the dairy’s culinary appeal, visitors are also drawn here by these adorable faces…
And, yes, you can snuggle with the Nubian goats. Baby cuddling and feeding costs between $6.50–$8.50 per person. Sign me up!
Remember that goats chew on just about everything they encounter, so dress with that in mind!
Ed and Michael Lobaugh started out with just two Nubian goats.
As you can see, the herd has expanded!
Each goat is named and, when they retire, the animals get to live out their golden years here on the farm.
Old Windmill Dairy also hosts an Easter Egg Hunt and a Harvest Festival.
If you’re interested in the art of cheese making, you’re in luck.
The dairy offers classes at several different skill levels. Whether you take the beginner or advanced class, you’re able to craft cheese from start to finish.
Feeling peckish? You can sample Old Windmill Dairy products at various New Mexican festivals, and at farmers markets in Albuquerque, Socorro, Los Alamos, and the Santa Fe area.
The cheese is also sold at stores throughout New Mexico in the following towns and cities: Las Cruces, Silver City, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Gallup, Roswell, Los Alamos, and Taos.
Old Windmill Dairy can be found at 52 Paso Ranch Road in Estancia.
You do need to schedule a farm tour rather than just showing up. Check out the dairy’s website or Facebook page for more information.
You may also be interested in browsing these New Mexico farmers markets for fresh produce and other goodies.
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