This is the fifth annual grant award of $10,000 that Jennifer Bice, Founder of Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, has so generously offered as a means to support and mentor newer cheesemakers and dairy farmers in California. Bice helped establish the California Artisan Cheese Guild in 2006 and served as a founding board member. The grant award stipulates that the recipient be a CACG member, and that funds be used for creamery or farm infrastructure, or for education that relates to improving farming or business practices. “I started the Cheese Grant to encourage and support California cheese makers and dairy producers in their quest of advancing and improving their businesses,” says Bice. “Small business ownership is no small feat and requires wearing many hats. Now retired from cheese making at Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, I think it is important to help insure the production of artisan, high quality cheese which keeps more land in agricultural production. In addition, food security for our local communities becomes even more important in the face of climate change.”
Charley will use the grant award to assist with the construction of a new hay storage barn, which will benefit Jollity Farm in three important ways:
- With the additional storage space, Charley will be able to purchase alfalfa in bulk, realizing immediate savings and improving the business cash flow.
- It will improve animal welfare for their current herd and future herd development.
- A new barn will contribute to the agricultural-tourism element of their business.
Congratulations, Charley! We look forward to your presentation at the Guild’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Members.
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