Aubrey Matthews, 2, sips a cup of chilled chocolate milk from Legacy Dairy, a Hiseville-based dairy farm. Matthews visited a gathering held on the steps of the Barren County Courthouse to celebrate June Dairy Month on Monday, June 20, 2022. Pictured also is her mother, Emily.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
BY BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Searching in the beaming evening sun, Aubrey Matthews found her way to a cup of chilled chocolate milk Monday as locals gathered to observe June Dairy Month.
Matthews, 2, accepted the milk from Doug Jones, a co-owner and operator of Barren County’s Legacy Dairy. The toddler was in attendance with her mother, Emily, both of whom hail from the home of the dairy – Hiseville.
The Joneses have an extensive tradition of dairy farming in their family. After selling their milk to a cooperative for several years, they began bottling and selling it to retailers in March 2020.
“We’ve just been amazed with the phenomenal support of the community for our dairy,” said Genelle Jones, a co-owner and operator of Legacy Dairy. “We just love being able to give back to our community.”
Local agriculture proponents and community members gathered at the steps of the Barren County Courthouse, too. Most attendees were walking upright, but there was one guest on all fours – Becca.
The five-year-old Jersey cow stood within the confines of a mobile dairy classroom, which is operated by Southland Dairy Farmers. She spends most days traveling across Kentucky to help further educate youth and communities about the nutritional value of homegrown milk.
“Our kids love it. This gives them a firsthand look at what our dairy farmers do day in and day out,” said Haley Fisher, instructor of Southland’s Mobile Dairy Classroom. “With a live cow on site, we do that process for them. They love it. They love being able to see where their food comes from.”
Cow-shaped gimmicks, fresh milk and a proclamation were among the aspects of the celebration held Monday to honor June Dairy Month. County government issued a proclamation to bring attention to the importance of dairy to local lives.
Barren County Judge/ Executive Micheal Hale said opportunities to educate and expose the community to local agriculture and dairy farming is a step toward keeping Barren County’s legacy as one of the state’s top milk producers. It is the official drink of Kentucky, after all.
“As county government, we’re here to support our dairy industry in Barren County any way we can,” he said.
