Finish the Mount Rainier Creamery & Market

Hello! We are the Mensonides Family (Ryan, Haylee, Luke, Noah, Jacob, and Titus)

We are asking for your help to remodel our drive-thru creamery and market in Buckley, WA.

In 2012, Haylee and I cashed in our 401 Ks and secured a USDA Farm Service Agency "new farmer" loan to buy our first herd of Jersey cows. We then rented a farm in Enumclaw, Washington, and 10 years later, here we are. At the time, there were 22 dairy farms on the Plateau. In the ten years we have been in business, that number has dwindled to 7 remaining dairies. We just heard word this month that more local dairies are seeking buyers for their cows. Sadly, they will most likely be added to the increasing number of small family farms forced out of business due to decreased margins and industry consolidation.

We ask your help to avoid being another local dairy that closes its doors. The way we are working to prevent such a sad moment is to integrate our farm veritcally. We will grow the feed the cows eat, milk the cows, process that milk in our new on-farm creamery and then sell to you through our convenient drive-thru market in Buckley, WA. Along with our own locally grown and processed organic dairy products, we will carry an assortment of locally grown and sourced products. Not only will your benevolence directly impact our family and farm, but it will also help sustain and possibly save many more local small businesses that provide goods to our farm and store. We are passionate about this community on the Plateau and our dream is to connect people to those growing our food!

We have secured the bulk of the funds needed for this venture through the banking industry, USDA Grants, and good old fashion hard-earned equity. As you are all aware, we had a pandemic hit, and with it came massive inflation. We have come up short of funds to push through to the finish line. Our goal is to get our amazing store location up to city code standards so we can open.

So here is where we turn to you. We don't take asking for money lightly; rather, we shy away from it. If there were any other routes we could take, we would. But after exhausting all other avenues, we feel this is the direction God is leading us, and we trust in His will and your hearts. We know you could spend your money on many things, and we greatly appreciate your consideration of supporting us.

To see more of our journey, visit us at www.mountrainiercreamery.com or on Facebook & Instagram!