LIFT UP LOCAL 046
Written by Pamela Patton
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
Mio is a small, quiet unincorporated community and the county seat of Oscoda County in north-central Michigan, famous for the Au Sable River, and a local Amish community that settled in the area in 1970, and has grown into a vibrant, traditional community known for its craftsmanship, sustainable farming, and distinct cultural practices.
Within the community, you’ll find The Farmers’ Creamery. Founded by local Amish families, it serves as a central hub for the area's agricultural community and a famous roadside stop for travelers. And shoppers “down-state” can find The Farmers’ Creamery products in the Capital City Market.
One of the first questions David Weaver Jr. of The Farmers’ Creamery is asked is, “What’s it like to be Amish?” David explains, “Being Amish is very simple. It’s a culture or a lifestyle. The biggest visual difference between us as a culture and general society is that we do not have any electricity and we do not drive cars.”
That question is likely to be followed by a second: “How do you operate a dairy farm like The Farmers’ Creamery without electricity?” David laughs. “We run a diesel engine to generate power, and a compressor to create a vacuum, and attach milkers to the cows. Or we might use air or hydraulic. When we use power tools, they’re battery operated. And then everything is horse-drawn. When we need to travel, it’s either horse and buggy, or we hire someone to drive us.”
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
The Farmers’ Creamery was started in 2020 by three Amish dairy farmers with a mission to offer top-quality, fresh, clean dairy products while supporting their family farms. The cooperative has grown to include seven family farms, each milking herds of 40-50 cows, all 100% grass-fed.
David explains, “Our cows produce A2 milk, which is the original, ancestral form of milk protein. It is naturally found in human breast milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk, and certain cattle breeds like Guernsey or Jersey cows.” VAT pasteurization heats milk 150 degrees for 30 minutes and then is quickly cooled. This retains a high percentage of the milk’s natural protein, enzymes and beneficial bacteria, which adds to the “farm-fresh” flavor and health benefits of the milk.
“Our cows produce A2 milk, which is the original, ancestral form of milk protein.””
In comparison, conventionally pasteurized milk is heated anywhere between 180 and 280 degrees for 15 seconds, then rapidly chilled to 39 degrees in two seconds, creating a shelf-stable product but altering some heat-sensitive, which can alter a person’s immune system and impact a milk protein allergy.
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
Dairy products from The Farmers’ Creamery include over 40 products. In the Capital City Marketplace, shoppers can purchase whole, skim, 2%, heavy cream, half-and-half, and buttermilk, as well as raspberry, strawberry, peach, and blueberry yogurt smoothies.
The Farmers’ Creamery products came to Capital City Market almost by accident. “We knew we needed to grow, so I grabbed a bunch of samples, got in the car, and we drove to Lansing looking for health food stores. My driver, Alex, Googled a bunch of stores and said, let's go to Capital City Market. I had never been in the store, but I started a conversation with one of the managers. He tried some of the samples and decided to carry our products! So far, they’ve placed four orders with us, and we’re hoping to get into the other Meijer Market Store locations as well.”
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography
Prior to joining The Farmers’ Creamery, David had worked in retail for 20 years. He didn’t have a college degree or experience; he learned everything he knows while on the job. “I hadn’t answered a phone before I started working in a store!”
David is the third generation to operate The Farmers’ Creamery. “Looking down the road, it’s difficult to say. Dairy farming is such a commitment. Others can take an afternoon off and come back to work the next morning. We can’t. Those cows must be milked, fed, and taken care of morning and night. But if you enjoy it like I do, it’s not a bad life; not a bad life.”
📷 courtesy of Amber Rose Photography