Meadow Creek Dairy is a seasonal grazing dairy that produces award-winning raw milk artisanal cheeses in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. For over a quarter-century, they have dedicated themselves to cultivating rich mountain pastures, nurturing sturdy and healthy cattle that thrive in their environment, and crafting cheeses that compliment both. For a raw milk cheesemaker, ensuring the quality and integrity of the milk is paramount. As a farmstead cheesemaker, Meadow Creek Dairy enjoys the privilege of overseeing every step of the process, from cow to cheese.

Apprentices would have the opportunity to work alongside their experienced staff in their aging facilities, gaining insight into the fundamentals of cheese making and aging using seasonal raw milk. Each of their three signature cheeses—Grayson, Appalachian, and Mountaineer—has its own unique recipe and specialized making process. With their seasonal raw milk, apprentices would experience the variability inherent in cheese making, as no two makes are identical.

Seasonal grazing and mountain pastures have been integral to Alpine cheesemaking for centuries. Situated high in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, Meadow Creek Dairy benefits from similar topography, characterized by high, rolling land and temperate climates. Through careful management, their mountains have been transformed into a sanctuary for robust, diverse perennial pastures.