This week on the FarmHouse, we're talking to Becky Collins Brooks, a farmer and cheesemaker in the Catskills region of New York.
Collins Brooks and her husband own Hilltop Farm, a Wagyu beef operation and micro dairy. She uses milk from her herd to make her own cheeses.
Additionally, Collins Brooks helped organize the Meeting of the Milkmaids, a gathering of female cheesemakers.
The herds at Hilltop are closed herds, meaning that all of the cattle on the farm are bred there, and no outside animals are brought in.
"It's very important to us to keep tight control over the genetics in that Wagyu herd," she said.
Having closed herds also helps with biosecurity to keep any potential diseases off of the farm.
"We've invested years in breeding this herd into what we really want it to be," Collins Brooks said.
While Hilltop Farm is primarily a beef operation, the dairy aspect of the farm — particularly the cheesemaking — is still very important.
Collins Brooks began making cheese with her husband as a date night activity. This inspired her to take a cheesemaking short course through Penn State.
"I say to a lot of people that was life changing," she said.
The love of cheese is what inspired Collins Brooks to organize the Meeting of the Milkmaids.
Along with a team of fellow women cheesemakers, Collins Brooks hosted over 30 women on her farm where they were able to try each other's homemade cheeses and discuss all things cheese.
"Our store counter was completely covered with the most gorgeous cheeses," Collins Brooks said. "We had a really great time."
While the organization process included the help and support of some men, the meeting itself was only for women in the industry.
"I wanted everybody to come together as equals. As women first," Collins Brooks said. "And then just with a passion for cheese, however that manifests itself in their lives."
