Seehafer Farm Creamery: A tradition of keeping it local

By Matthieu Vollmer

Contributor

MARSHFIELD — Seehafer Farm Creamery, a specialty grocery store and ice cream parlor located on State Highway 97 outside Marshfield, was opened on Aug. 28, 2014 by owners Ken and Karen Seehafer.

“We try to stay as local as possible. We make our own milk and distribute it all over Wisconsin. Our cheeses come from all across the state. We have lots of specialty cheeses,” said Karen Seehafer.

The creamery employs five people and is managed by Stephanie Seehafer, Karen and Ken Seehafer’s niece.

The Seehafers process their own milk right from the farm, which includes whole, skim, 2 percent, and soon to be 2 percent chocolate milk, which is available by the gallon in the creamery. One gallon of whole milk costs $3.49.

Ken and Karen Seehafer own and operate a third generation farm that was started by Ken’s grandparents, Elmer and Alma Seehafer. The 900-acre farm, home to 280 cows, hosted Farm Tech Days in 2011 where approximately 60,000 people attended and recently received a quality award from the Marathon County Dairy Heard Information Association.

In 1939 Ken’s grandparents opened Seehafer Corner Cheese Factory at the intersection of Galvin Avenue and State Highway 97, which is no longer in existence.

Scott Hertel, a Seehafer Farm Creamery customer, said, “I come in for the cheese curds or an ice cream cone. Last time I tried the taco seasoning cheese curds. They also have different flavors like vegetable herb. The taco seasoning curds were pretty good.”

Countless types of cheese arranged neatly in a cooler at the Seehafer Farm Creamery. One pound blocks of cheese range in price from approximately three to five dollars per block.

Seehafers sells a wide variety of cheeses including Colby, Monterey, medium cheddar, horseradish, onion, bacon, hot pepper, garlic, mozzarella, Smokey Swiss, marble, and provolone. One pound of cheese costs three to five dollars depending on the type of cheese and weight.

“I drive by every day on my way home. It’s good to support local businesses. I recommend the ice cream cones and curds,” said Hertel, a Stratford resident and Marshfield native.

Other items available in the creamery include honey from Brian Prust’s Honey Farm on Eagle Road in Marshfield, floral arrangements by Mary Michlig of Garden Pride Cache in Edgar, Wis., and various meats such as hickory smoked bacon and mushroom and Swiss brats supplied by Pete’s Meat Service, LLC. Frozen chicken pot pies by The Farmhouse Bakery in Auburndale are also available.

The creamery’s top selling products include cheese curds, whole milk, ice cream during the summer months, Swiss cheese, and cheddar cheese.

Karen Seehafer said, “We also carry hard serve ice cream, a premium ice cream, and pride ourselves on fresh, quality products.”

When asked why a potential customer should visit the creamery, Karen Seehafer said, “Come stop by. Enjoy the friendliness, quality products, and variety.”

During autumn the farm offers wagon rides, features a corn maze, and has pumpkins available for purchase. In the months of December, January, and February, weather depending, they also offer sleigh rides. The cost of a sleigh ride is $100 for 16 people and $5 per additional person.

The sleigh ride is about 45 minutes round-trip with a stop at a cabin warmed by a 100-year-old wood stove. The Seehafers have offered sleigh rides for 14 years, which can be scheduled by calling 715-384-3928.

The creamery is open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 12-5 p.m. on Sundays. To learn more about the creamery, visit www.facebook.com/seehafercreamery, call 715-384-5152, or email seehafercreamery@gmail.com.