Tucked away on a quiet backroad, a herd of black and white milk cows lounge contentedly in the shade, chewing cud and making the delicious Happy Cow milk that has been called "The Best" in the Upstate.
Happy Cow Creamery's dedication to quality shines in every sip.
Exclusive Photography: FishEye Studios, Greenville, SC
In 2015 Farmer Tom was named South Carolina Farmer of the Year. He has traveled the world teaching and learning new sustainable dairy practices to ensure that 12 Aprils Dairy and Happy Cow Creamery remain good stewards of the land for future generations.
The Happy Cow Creamery store is packed full of gorgeous garden produce, local meats, cheese, and of course, Happy Cow milk!
It should come at no surprise that Farmer Tom was once a grocer himself, bringing that experience to the small shop which even has a drive up window for shopping ease.
Thanks to two cows, Tarzan and Nosey, who showed Farmer Tom what cows like to eat the most, the 12 Aprils Grazing Program was born.
Farmer Toms revolutionary pasture rotation allows for top milk production with minimal stress for the cows and minimal impact on the land he nurtures, which flourishes without chemicals or pesticides.
The dairy consists of 90 milk cows that are milked twice a day. After a hard morning’s work of grazing, the hot afternoons are best spent under cool shade trees. Each paddock has access to its own ‘forest’ to keep the cows cool, comfortable and……. happy!
Each of the surrounding 29 paddocks has been planted with a mixture of yummy pasture and is grazed for 24 hours. By the time the cows circle back to the first, the pasture has regrown with lush, nutrition-rich food. In South Carolina, that means 12 months of quality growth for Farmer Tom’s Girls to munch.
Happy Cow Creamery is an amazing example of local sustainability and family farming perseverance. Visit for a farm tour, a sample of The Best Milk in the upstate, and to meet the cows for yourself.
Read more about 12 Aprils Dairy’s history.
Get more insight into the 12 Aprils Grazing Program.
Writer: Jamie Rose Lewis, Off the Grid Greenville
