Fairview Farm - Dairy Goats

Terry and Laurie Carlson, along with their grandson Brian and 38 dairy goats, work as a team, making raw milk aged cheeses on a seasonal basis. It’s a small-scale farm in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. The family sells at farmers markets, outlets in Portland, and at an on-site farmstand.

The Carlsons focus on sustainability and high animal standards to create excellent quality milk, which is central to good cheesemaking. The herd rotates grazing among the small pastures, nibbling occasional wild berries. Their pasture diet is supplemented with flax, kelp, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and certified organic alfalfa hay. The does are bred naturally in autumn, and enjoy a two-month rest period in winter, when they are not milked, to strengthen them for kidding in early spring.

The Carlsons relied on the Animal Welfare Approved standards to create their farm plan and animal management practices, wanting to create an optimum farm for both animals and family. Cheese customers appreciate the extra work and care they take with their animals, knowing the milk comes from healthy, naturally-raised animals. The Animal Welfare Approved seal validates how the Carlson family and their customers believe animals should be treated.