Solo Travel: Hatcher Dairy Farm

I recently had the opportunity to tour the Hatcher Family Dairy Farm in Nashville, Tennessee on behalf of The Dairy Alliance.

Undeniably Dairy Tour

It had been years since I had visited a farm so I was pretty excited. I had no idea that I’d leave with a brand new understanding of not the journey milk takes before it arrives at your local grocery store, but the truth behind the many myths surrounding dairy.

The Hatcher Family has been in the dairy farming business since 1831 and has continued to farm on that same land for the last 5 generations. From grocery stores to coffee shops, the Hatcher Family Dairy’s milk is in such high demand in their community that they currently serve over 80+ vendors in the area – and they still have a waitlist!

Before the tour we learned all about the history of the Hatcher Dairy Farm by Charles Hatcher, whose father, Charlie Hatcher, is State Veterinarian turned Tennessee’s 38th Commissioner of Agriculture.

We also enjoyed a Hot Chocolate Bar stocked with Hatcher Family Dairy milk, cookies, and other goodies as we marveled at the pride that the Hatcher family takes in the art of dairy farming, as well as their rich family history.

One of the most unique things about the Hatcher Family Dairy Farm is that each of their cows is given a unique name. There is even a ‘Hall of Fame’ for the cows that have passed on. During the tour, we got to see how the cows are milked and where the actual bottling takes place.

After our tour of the Dairy Farm, we had a delicious, dairy-inspired dinner at the Farm’s Loft. We enjoyed a cooked-to-perfection filet & Panne Chicken with delectable sides that included Macaroni & Cheese, Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Petite Carrots, and Sautéed Green Beans. For dessert, we enjoyed chocolate mousse brownie shots, bread pudding, and cheesecake shots.

During our dinner, we also got to discuss the current state of the Dairy Industry and debunk a ton of myths regarding Dairy and the overall nutritional value of milk.

As a mom, I know just how hard it can be to sift through all of the information out there. I learned so much valuable information about milk that goes against the current narrative that has become increasingly in favor of plant-based alternatives.

So before I share my delicious, dairy-inspired No-Bake Mini Cheesecake recipe with you, I want to give you a few comparisons between Dairy Milk and popular Plant-Based Alternatives, as well as the truth about some common dairy myths.

Dairy vs. Plant-Based Alternatives

+ A single serving of cow’s milk contains 8g’s of protein compared to the 1g found in almond and rice beverages.

+ Cow’s milk provides nine essential nutrients compared to the four essential nutrients that are naturally occurring in most almond beverages.

+ A single serving of cow’s milk provides twice as many nutrients and vitamins as fruit juice.

Dairy Myths Debunked

+ Organic milk isn’t healthier than regular milk. In fact, there is no nutritional difference.

+ Cow’s milk isn’t filled with antibiotics. If for some reason a cow has fallen ill and needs to be on antibiotics, they are separated from the herd and their milk is discarded.

+ Raw milk does not have more health benefits than regular milk. Contrarily, raw milk can pose serious health risks including potential exposure to E. coli.

To learn more about Dairy Milk and Dairy Farming, visit TheDairyAlliance.com