At Home in Arkansas: Define your personal style in 6 words.

Laid back, hard working hippie affineur

-What are your current obsessions?

Breaking Bad, Cheese Aging Techniques, Building our tasting room

-What color could you not live without?

Green, being in nature cheers me up

-Tell us about why you make what you make…a history, timeline or some sort of list.

I make cheese because it makes people happy.  Also the pride of making the best high quality cheese I possibly can

-What is your greatest achievement or goal for your brand?

Our greatest achievement so far is simply making it to the level we have

-What is your go-to for a quick burst of inspiration?

Working the farmers markets is very encouraging.  Meeting all of the people who are excited about the cheese is great!

-Which of your tools is most important for your work? Describe it, how long you’ve had it, etc.

Our three most important tools are our cheese vat, press and aging cave.  I’ve had the vat for about 9 months, it is a 12’x4′ vat(larger than a hot tub.  I custom built my press about 2 years ago and am in the process of building a second one.  Our cave is a big walk-in cooler.  We will have an underground cellar at our new location

-What makes your workspace, studio, etc. uniquely yours?

As the sole owner I get to make the decisions defining our processes.  I love embracing the old world style of cheesemaking, this shows up in the types of tools we use.

-To an aspiring artisan, what would you say is the most important part of doing creative work?

Just starting!  And continuing again and again.  Your first products won’t be perfect, they might not even be good.  Just keep doing it and you will learn a ton.

-How does your lifestyle support your work?

My lifestyle is defined by my work.  I sometimes need to be at the shop at 2am to receive milk.  When cheese is on the press, it has to be flipped ever few hours, so I have to head back in for 15 minutes a few times in the evening.

-What do you want your customers to know about you/your work?

We are working so very hard to create a product that can bring joy to people.  Everything we do is to improve the food scene in the US and to make something that creates happiness in the world.

-Within the field of your work, who is your greatest inspiration/influence/role model, etc?

New Belgium & Sierra Nevada because they have grown to a large size without sacrificing their morals or their quality.

Sean Minor & Montinore Wineries because they have great family businesses and amazing products!