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Organic Valley

By Marc Hamel and Ha Lam, September 20, 2011  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Marc Hamel and Ha Lam
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER CASEY FROM ANNAPOLIS, MD. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS! We love our producers, suppliers and vendors and we think most of them have some pretty interesting stories behind their products too. We’ll be sharing some of our favorites here in an ongoing series. Read on for a chance to win a $50 gift card. “We go out to the grocery store wearing our Organic Valley hats and someone will come up to us and say, ‘Oh, I love your stuff, it’s the best, thanks!’ and it feels great.” In scenic Fairfield, Vermont, young farmers Tyler and Melanie Webb run Stony Pond Farm, an organic dairy farm that supplies milk to Organic Valley. Their road to farming was a little unorthodox. Neither Tyler nor Melanie have a background in farming; they both grew up in suburbs of New York. Tyler’s first interest in farming came from studying anthropology in college. Through taking a soils class, he studied plant and soil science and worked for the government for a few years before taking the leap to start Stony Pond Farm. “Tyler found this farm and it was a rundown old dairy farm that together we brought back to life,” says Melanie. “I figured if I’m ever going to have a chance of being a farmer I’d better try it in my early 20s than my late 60s, so I quit my job, “ says Tyler. “I look back and I don’t even know how we pulled it off. Every day you wake up and you do what you have to do. You milk the cows and you do what’s possible and then before you know it, you’ve done the impossible. In looking back, it seems like it was impossible, but we did it.” For the Webbs, it was important for their dairy to be part of a farmer-owned cooperative like Organic Valley that encourages the growth and stability of family farms. “I think Organic Valley has been really interested in supporting and promoting young farmers, “ says Melanie. “It’s cool to be part of a co-op that is so forward-thinking.” What do you think about the hard work that the Webbs have put into starting their dairy farm? Watch the slideshow above and leave a comment with your answer by October 11. One comment will be chosen at random to win a $50 gift card to our stores.
Category: Supplier Stories
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519 Comments

Comments

Kathleen McCandless says ...
Inspiring. I feel so thankful for these family farmers who produce milk from ethically treated cows and care about the surrounding ecosystem too. It really is all connected!
09/21/2011 10:18:56 PM CDT
Carole Strumsky says ...
Tyler and Melanie: How fascinating that this enthusiast young couple, carrying along their precious little one, live out their principals and dream. With so many people/industries/companies looking just to stuff their portfolios regardless of consequences to the consumer, Organic Valley is truly an endeavor of love. Thanks Tyler and Melanie for providing a delicious and wholesome product. Great job!
09/21/2011 10:28:24 PM CDT
Kim Herba says ...
Organic is the only way to go~ that's all I buy!
09/21/2011 10:29:53 PM CDT
Sarah says ...
I love their story because it is so similar to mine and my husband's story. We, as a young couple, left our careers, him as a project manager for a remodeling company and myself as a graphic designer, and started our own business doing existing home energy audits and certifying new homes for Energy Star and Green Star. We went out of our comfort zones and sacraficed having steadily paying jobs (and insurance) to start a company that will better the environment and educate homeowners about saving energy in their home. Today, 4 years and 3 kids later, we still enjoy what we do. We participate in programs like Habitat for Humanity, local low income weatherization programs and do local home shows to educate and promote energy saving. Plus, the fact that our commute is usually in slippers. It is a hard road and looking back you don't know how you were able to push through the first years. You do it for your family and when it's a business that betters the planet, you are doing for others as well. Kudos to the Webb family for dong the right thing and making the food we eat and the land we live on better.
09/21/2011 10:30:03 PM CDT
Marieke Goates says ...
Very inspiring story!
09/21/2011 10:30:10 PM CDT
Kelly says ...
Great job, you are truly dedicated and you provide quality products from your "family" to ours. I was also impressed with the cleanliness of your farm.
09/21/2011 10:30:41 PM CDT
Lindy says ...
I have gotten picky about which organic products I'll buy, since many organic products are still produced on cruel factory farms. That is why I have become Organic Valley's biggest fan, because they support great family farms like Tyler and Melanie's! Great spotlight. Happy cows. Love it.
09/21/2011 10:32:23 PM CDT
Elaine Jewell says ...
Our younger son will only drink Organic Valley Milk! We even gave him a 'blind' taste test using OV, and one other organic milk and some store brand milk. He took one taste of the store brand, and said, Ick. That is not good milk! He picked out his favorite - 2% Organic Valley Milk! Keep up the good work:-) Lanie Jewell
09/21/2011 10:37:44 PM CDT
Stephanie says ...
What they've done is inspirational and such a beautiful story. I hope to take risks in my life as they have! And for such a wonderful cause!
09/21/2011 10:38:27 PM CDT
Annie says ...
Real cool story..... I feed my family and myself a ton of your Organic Valley products. We love your products! It's so awesome to learn that you have energy efficient ways. I'm totally impressed in what I learned from this video and story. Congrats on your success. Thanks for producing tasty Organic products for myself and my family.
09/21/2011 10:40:41 PM CDT
Katie says ...
Many people forget about family farms, but living I'm Wisconsin, I pass them everyday. A refreshing blog post :)
09/21/2011 10:42:01 PM CDT
bets says ...
I love that Organic Valley did an energy audit on there dairy which resulted in solar hot water and wind mill.
09/21/2011 10:44:45 PM CDT
Kristie says ...
I think they have done a wonderful job & they are helping to keep us healthy! Organic food is the best!
09/21/2011 10:48:17 PM CDT
Shauna says ...
My cousin in Ireland runs the dairy farm that's been in the family for generations. It's very difficult work and there's no time for vacation. I admire the work ethic that takes and I know I could never do it! If it was the only way I could have cheese, however, I would definitely buck up and do it.
09/21/2011 10:49:30 PM CDT
Joyce McIntyre says ...
American is the land of opportunity. Mr. & Mrs. Webb have demonstrated that thru hard work, teamwork, and the American dream, it is possible to make their dreams come true. My sincere wishes for a continued and successful dairy farm business to them! Keep on milking, Tyler & Melanie.
09/21/2011 10:49:49 PM CDT
Terry says ...
Great products from many persevering family farm co-ops is the "whey" to go!!!
09/21/2011 10:52:17 PM CDT
Mikki Cross says ...
I think the Webb's are doing a responsible and encouraging way of living.
09/21/2011 10:55:17 PM CDT
Melanie Hoerchner says ...
Wow...I love Organic Valley! And my name is Melanie too! :)
09/21/2011 10:55:39 PM CDT
Christine Muller says ...
Fantastic and very heartwarming. It's so great to see where our OV milk comes from. I think that it's going to be an incredible place to raise their baby! My husband and I have been looking into hobby farming, which is not even close to running a full time dairy farm and we are still apprehensive. The Webb's make the impossible seem very possible!
09/21/2011 11:01:54 PM CDT
Elle Varga says ...
I LOOOVVVVVEEEE Organic Valley products. Their milk is so amazing. I have been lactose intolerant all my years, however, this is the only organic milk that I'm capable of drinking in moderation. I use their organic half and half as well. A plus to going organic is that it's healthier. In addition, the government does not regulate ORGANIC dairy and organic product lasts longer than regular store/non-organic products.
09/21/2011 11:17:20 PM CDT
Barbara Werle says ...
I just returned from San Francisco to New York with a new appreciation for whole foods, because of the Whole Foods stores that are available to shop at in CA. How I appreciate farmers like Melanie and Tyler Webb! I'd gone to health food stores for 30 years, but it's DIFFERENT when every product is grown, supplied for your real health! I'd've been very nervous about starting such a HUGE project, but I'm sure they will never regret their hard work!
09/21/2011 11:34:12 PM CDT
Amanda Fiveash says ...
I think that it is truly wonderful that young ones are embracing hard work with something that effects our future! They are not only farming to provide sustenance but doing so in an eco-conscious way! I wish I had the circumstances to do the same!
09/21/2011 11:40:17 PM CDT
Telisa says ...
I really admire Tyler,Melanie for their love,integrity,commitment to changing their lives and taking on the challenges required to do something they believe in and making a difference in not only their health but many families all over the world healthier. Thank You. You two are my heroes. Telisa (South Florida)
09/21/2011 11:53:36 PM CDT
Amber Keel says ...
This work is so important. Pure, whole organic food and running/supporting local family farms is so important to me and my family and truly the world as a whole. We need sustainable, local and organic food to become the norm. Everybody deserves to be healthy, eat healthy and be surrounded with local, sustainable food. You are simply amazing Mr. and Mrs. Webb!
09/22/2011 12:05:06 AM CDT
Cynthia says ...
It's inspiring to see that they followed their dream and successfully made the move to farming life without prior experience. Hopefully many others will follow and we will see the return of the family farm.
09/22/2011 12:05:18 AM CDT

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