Right at home

Smith Mountain Laker Magazine isn’t the only lake-area icon celebrating a decade of achievement in 2011. Just a few miles away in Burnt Chimney, Homestead Creamery is looking back on its own 10-year journey.
    In 2001, local farmers Donnie Montgomery and Dave Bowers embarked on an entrepreneurial mission to supplement their farms’ earnings. Today, Homestead Creamery products are being sold in grocery stores up and down the East Coast, into the Midwest and several northeastern states through Kroger, Whole Foods Market, Fresh Market, Earth Fare and other food distributors. Montgomery said he considered creating his own products long before necessity demanded the endeavor.
    “I had thought before about how it would be interesting to try to process our own milk, but at the time it was about trying to save the family farm,” he said. “There were a lot of people moving into the area and that made it hard to have enough land in one spot for a big farm. We decided if we diversified a bit, processed our own products, maybe we’d give added value to our farms.”
    Added value began with processing all-natural milk and building a business model based on the trending buy-local consumer movement.
    “There are a lot of people looking for local food. We wanted the business to have the ideal of a small, local company, and we want to keep it that way.” said Montgomery.
    The vision inspired the Mayberry-like method of delivering glass-bottled milk to customers’ doorsteps and a welcoming company name.
    “We sat around a table, all the owners and my son, and we talked about what we were going to name the place,” said Montgomery. “I still have the pad of paper we used to write down the ideas. We wanted a homey name and Homestead Creamery had a good ring to it.”
    Before long, Homestead Creamery was more than a few milk truck routes. The owners bought and converted a friend’s meat-processing plant into a dairy-processing center and turned the property’s house into a retail store compete with deli counter and ice cream display. Between the plant, milk-delivery routes, office and store, the business employs 30 people.
    Jeff Beckner, delivery and retail manager, said the site sees a steady flow of traffic all year, including a stream of educational tours.
    “School children will come through a lot in the spring, but also home-school groups, daycare centers and senior citizen groups will come through to see the plant,” said Beckner. “It’s another way we can serve the community.”
    In 10 years, the Homestead Creamery line has expanded to include several milk flavors, including the popular chocolate and seasonal eggnog, a wide variety of ice creams and yogurt.
    “People can come here and get a sandwich for lunch, buy local products and sit and eat our ice cream outside on a nice day,” said Beckner. “Favorite ice cream flavors are the butter pecan, coffee espresso and black raspberry.”
    The brand gives nod to the tastes of the holidays by producing special seasonal products such as gingerbread, peppermint or eggnog-flavored ice cream from October through December. Beckner said some bosses treat their employees to Homestead Creamery eggnog as a holiday gift.
    Montgomery said another way they like to be involved in the community is by attending locally sponsored charity events and donating part of their proceeds to organizations such as the March of Dimes. An annual Customer Appreciation Days event offers hayrides, free samples and a petting zoo.
    “We have had tremendous local support ever since we opened,” Montgomery said. “It is rewarding to be able to do something that somebody can enjoy. We’re really proud of the business.”

WANT TO GO?

Homestead Creamery

Address: 7254 Booker T. Washington Hwy. in Burnt Chimney

Phone: 540.721.2045

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

TRY THIS

Babybru Sandwich
Turkey, white American cheese, bacon, tomatoes, onions and jalapenos drizzled lightly with ranch dressing with chips or macaroni salad. Cost is $4.99 or $7.99 for a larger portion.

Ice Cream
Choose from a wide range of flavors, including the seasonal peppermint, eggnog, pumpkin, ginger bread and apple pie. One scoop served in a sugar cone for $3.49.

Milk
All-natural milk packaged in Homestead Creamery’s signature glass bottles. White milk is $4.89 for a half gallon and flavored varieties (chocolate, strawberry, orange cream) as well as buttermilk are $5.39. The bottles can be returned for a $2 refund.