Hello northeast Ohio dairy farmers. OSU Extension is saying cheese again!
OSU Extension is pleased to be sponsoring a three-day basic cheese making course geared for local dairy, sheep or goat milk producers. This course has been offered five times in Ohio with great results.
We are extremely pleased that Peter Dixon, one of the nation’s premier cheese making instructors, will be traveling back to Ohio this fall to teach a workshop Nov. 19-21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
This workshop will be held at the Grindstone Creek Lodge at 4-H Camp Whitewood in Windsor, Ohio.
This is a wonderful opportunity to get practical hands-on experience in cheese making.
Dixon
Dixon operates the Center for Farmstead Milk Processing in Vermont where he teaches a variety of workshops for farmstead cheese makers.
He was born and raised on a dairy farm and in the 1980s began making artisan cheeses for the family’s cheese company.
Dixon has a great deal of experience in establishing small-scale cheese operations, has experience as cheese quality control manager, has consulted with international cheese making developmental programs and has developed food safety programs for two Vermont cheese operations.
He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Vermont in Animal and Food Sciences.
Course
This course, titled “Hands-on Basic Cheese Making — Enhancing Dairy Profitability with Cheese,” is packed with information and hands-on practice.
During this course, participants will learn about milk quality, the ingredients used in cheese making, the processes for making a variety of cheeses, techniques for aging cheese and tips for establishing farmstead cheese business.
The heart of this workshop is the hands-on opportunity for participants to make a number of cheeses themselves.
Depending on the interests of the class, participants could make the following cheeses: paneer, gouda, havarti, lactic, tomme, ricotta and fresh mozzarella
Registration fee
The registration fee for this workshop is $425 per person and includes course tuition, handout resource materials, all workshop supplies, lunches and refreshments.
An optional evening creamery tour will be held Friday evening of the workshop.
For participants who live in our Western Reserve Extension Education and Research Area counties (Ashtabula, Lake, Geauga, Trumbull, Portage, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Medina or Summit counties), a registration discount is available.
Reservation deadline
Reservations are requested by Oct. 30 and will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
Due to the hands-on nature of this course, registration will be limited to 15 people.
4-H Camp Whitewood
New this year, registrants will be able to stay overnight at 4-H Camp Whitewood, located in the heart of Amish country in Windsor, Ohio, in southwest Ashtabula County.
Established in 1940, 4-H Camp Whitewood provides year-round outdoor educational opportunities on 227 acres in northeast Ohio.
Situated along side Warner’s Hollow, the unique campus is also home to Young Adventurers Day Camp and Grindstone Creek Lodge and Conference Center.
Participants are encouraged to rent a cabin at 4-H Camp Whitewood and save the gas on driving to class every day. Both private and non private cabins are available. There is not a prettier place on earth than 4-H Camp Whitewood.
Increase profitability
I hope many of our local farmers think about enrolling. This course could increase profitability, as the market is clamoring for local cheeses. It is our hope that some of our local farms will take this opportunity to examine this value added opportunity.
Farmstead and artisan cheese operations can allow farm families to become price makers instead of price takers for their milk. The graduates of our earlier courses are really making progress with their cheese making ventures with one couple already opening their own cheese house.
More information
If you are interested in this program, contact Abbey Averill at the Ashtabula County Extension office at 440-576-9008.
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