Main fundraiser photo

California Small Dairy and Creamery

Donation protected

Background Info
Small scale cow dairies in California are practically distinct partly due the large dairies that have taken over the state as well as the state regulations that have been enforced on small dairies. The state of California requires every cow dairy, no matter how many cows are being milked to meet the same requirements as the large dairies that often are milking thousands of cows.

Chad Pankey and Katy Lees have been slowly building a small scale Jersey cow dairy and creamery on their ranch in Santa Margarita, California the past four years. The building process has been slow due to the high cost and strict state requirements. Katy has been milking her Jersey cows the past three years and building the herd, once the dairy and creamery are complete she will milk her three cows to start and then slowly grow to a maximum of seven cows. Her cows names are Patience, August and Autumn. Patience is the mother of August and Autumn and Katy has raised them since birth. Katy will milk her cows herself and produce cheese from the milk. Katy has been making cheese the past 8 years, while working at the local university creamery and renting facilities to produce her cheese, but her ultimate goal has always been her own farmstead facility and cows. In order to finish the project they need your help! 

Chad and Katy believe it is important to know where your food comes from, how the animals are cared for and what they are fed.  Their Jersey cattle are pasture raised and have many acres to roam, during the dry season they are supplemented with the highest quality alfalfa. 
Meet Autumn & August

Below is a picture of the current building status, they are about  halfway complete and need a little extra help to finish the project! The money raised will go to remaining processing equipment that is needed and remaining construction of the dairy and creamery.
Creamery & Dairy

Chad and Katy love the land they live on and  plan to raise a family there.  The ultimate goal is to pass on the farming and ranching lifestyle to their children. If you love local food and local farmers, please give whatever you can to complete the project and keep small dairies alive in California.
Meet Patience- Katy's first cow
Donate

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $50 
    • 9 yrs
Donate

Organizer

Katy Lees
Organizer
Santa Margarita, CA

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.