A Day at a Cabot Creamery Cooperative Dairy Farm Tour

I was pleased to partner with Cabot Creamery Cooperative for a one-day dairy farm tour at Dellavale Farm. All photos, opinions, and my unabashed fondness for cheese are my own.

On a perfect October day I visited Dellavale Farm, located in New York State’s Mohawk Valley. The farm is run by Terri Phillips and her husband Tom Nelson, and Terri welcomed our group with warmth, humor, and a deep connection to her community and family’s farming legacy.

Dellavale is a proud member of the Agrimark/Cabot Creamery Cooperative and will be recognized as a Century Farm, a designation celebrating more than 100 years of continuous family farming. From Terri’s great-grandfather Bog to the current generation, the Phillips family has been producing milk that helps make Cabot cheeses for over a century. Several family members are involved in daily farm operations, keeping the tradition alive.

I’m a long-time fan of Cabot’s Seriously Sharp Cheddar—an everyday staple in our house and a constant in many of my recipes. Meeting one of the farmers behind that beloved cheddar was a highlight of the visit. But beyond the cheese, we were there to see the new barn artwork, which is visible from the New York State Thruway between exits 26 and 27.

The barn is painted in a plaid pattern that mirrors the Seriously Sharp wrapper—a striking and joyful tribute to the product and the farm’s partnership with Cabot. Standing on that hillside, surrounded by autumn color and classic New York farmland, it felt like the perfect fall morning.

During the tour Terri and her niece Erika invited us to visit the pasture. The cows were friendly and photogenic—so much so that my colleague Brandy from Nutmeg Nanny couldn’t hide her delight. The herd’s personalities came through immediately, and it felt like meeting a row of bovine supermodels.

One cow in particular loved attention and was quick to approach us as soon as we entered the pasture. She made herself comfortable at the center of our visit, clearly enjoying the affection and the camera time.

Her expressive face and playful poses made everyone laugh—she seemed to enjoy being photographed and even offered what I jokingly called her “Bovine Blue Steel.”

Other cows offered gentle smiles and calm companionship as we walked the fields. The pastoral scenes—cows grazing, rolling hills, and fall foliage—created a serene backdrop that made the visit feel like a small escape to the heart of farm life.

One image that stuck with me was a cow with an almost Mona Lisa-like expression—quiet, curious, and perfectly content in her pasture. The collection of photos from the day captures that gentle character and the simple pleasures of farm life.

We even had the company of a friendly farm dog named Cooter, a 13-year-old who has happily adopted farm life. He walked alongside us for the duration of the tour, adding another layer of warmth to the experience.

At the end of our visit Terri sent each of us home with a brick of Cabot cheese, some farm-raised beef, and the satisfying feeling of having met the people behind a product we enjoy. The visit reinforced how much care and tradition go into producing the cheese that fills our kitchens.

Visiting Dellavale Farm was a reminder that behind familiar grocery items are families who care for their animals, steward the land, and celebrate generations of commitment to farming. It was a delightful day of good conversation, beautiful views, and a renewed appreciation for the people who make our food.

If you enjoy Cabot products, you’ll appreciate knowing the people and places behind the cheese. The farm’s hospitality and the story of a century of family farming left a lasting impression on all of us who visited.