Easter Greetings from Our Dairy: Join Us for a Homestead Day!
Hey there, dairy friends! We hope this Easter afternoon finds you surrounded by love, joy, and plenty of delicious treats. As we celebrate the Risen Christ and the blessings of this season, we're excited to invite you to a special event at the ranch!

Homestead Day at the Ranch: April 6th, 2024 at 10AM
Mark your calendars and saddle up, because on April 6th, we're throwing open the gates to our small dairy for a day of fun, learning, and community bonding. Whether you're a seasoned dairy aficionado or just curious about farm life, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Here's a sneak peek of what's in store:
Outside Station:

• Bring the kids to help us halter break and gentle our 2026 family milk cows in the making and help us give some of them names!
• Meet Arrow & Frisky born the spring of 2022 and Phoebe, Mocha & Sammy all in production. 
• Watch as we DNA test 2 heifer calves.

Inside the Dairy:

• Taste what we have created this week!
• Share recipes, including our sourdough bread, cinnamon rolls, pancake and more from an old sourdough starter, sauerkraut, maple kefir, chocolate milk, yogurts, cheeses, butter, milk and chocolate milk.
• Read results from DNA tests of girls in production
• Show and tell.  We have much to learn and hope you will bring your successes or failures to share with us.  
• Worm discussion: How these little critters are a big part of our regenerative ag and how to get started.

​Lunch will be on us! We'll be serving up some mouthwatering grass-fed beef, crisp salad, and freshly baked sourdough bread to fuel our day!
Make sure you bring indoor and outdoor shoes as we will be switching between the two throughout the day. We would like to keep dirt and mud out of the dairy!
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RSVP: Everyone's Welcome!
We want to make sure we've got enough goodies to go around, so please RSVP by Thursday the 4th. And hey, even if you're not currently on our monthly list or have found raw milk closer to home, we'd love to have you join us. Feel free to bring a dish to share if you're feeling extra generous!
So there you have it, folks – a day of homestead adventures, delicious food, and good old-fashioned fun awaits. We can't wait to see you there!

Hello Friends! Your Weekly Update is Here!
Hey there, everyone! We've got some important updates to share, so grab a cuppa and settle in for a quick read.
Tensleep Delivery Update and Options
We are trying a new way to get dairy orders to Tensleep as of this week. We are coordinating with one person, weekly, to grab orders from the ranch and drop them off at the vet. Big shoutout to Barbara "Babs" Williams for stepping up to coordinate this weekly task. Babs will be taking next week, April 2nd and Misty McIntosh is up after on Tuesday, April 9th. And hey, if any of you fancy joining the list for a monthly Hyattville pickup run, where you’d leave Tensleep by or before 1 PM with bottles from the vet clinic and head to the ranch to grab orders, give Babs a shout at (808) 213-8449. Let's coordinate this to make sure we're not interrupting Nichole's lunchtime when you’re picking up bottles, okay?
If you're up for doing this once a month, or maybe once every 6 weeks, get in touch with Babs. And hey, if you do decide to volunteer, be sure to click "Hyattville delivery" to dodge those delivery charges since you’ll be picking up. Just drop a note in your oder saying you're on the delivery list and list your pickup date. Easy peasy! This will be a work in progress, but hoping this will help coordinate deliveries for folks and for us to avoid the trip out every week.
April's a Bit Slim, But We've Got You Covered!
We're keeping things simple this April with just a few items in our store. But hey, if you're missing your go-to favorite, don't be shy! Let us know in the notes, and we'll add it to our make list for the following week. As soon as we've got the milk, we'll give you the scoop on when it'll be delivered or ready for pickup. If you weren’t aware that you could do this and you’ve already placed your April order, shoot Kris a text (307-272-5334) and she will edit your order for you and send an invoice for what you owe. And fear not - as we gear back up, we'll be adding more goodies to our store. Stay tuned!
Save the Date: Homesteading Day!
Psst, mark your calendars! Our homesteading day here at the ranch is coming up sooner than expected. We're thinking April 6th or 13th (both Saturdays) from 10AM to 2:30PM? If you're keen to bring the kids for some calf playtime or share any creations you've been working on, come on down! We'll be dishing out recipes and working on some dairy items that we have in progress. Bring a dish to share if you wish and let's make it a day to remember! Reach out to Kris via email or text if you are interested.
Phew, that's it for now, folks! As always, let us know if you're interested in anything or have any questions. Your support means the world to us.
Catch you later, friends!


P.S. Please enjoy the pics of all the new additions to the ranch! They sure are a funny bunch and we love having all the new babies around!

Get Your April Orders in Soon!
Mark your calendars! Our April order dates are set to change around the 20th, allowing you to get your orders in for April after that. Keep an eye out for the update on the website and place your orders so we can accommodate your requests for the upcoming month.
Exploring Limited-Time Offerings
While our product offerings remain limited for another month, we're still trying to accommodate those additional requests you all have. We currently just finished aging Gouda and Cheddar cheese over the course of the last three months, so grab that up while supplies last. They both turned out really nice!
If you're intrigued by our Schmeirkase cheese spread, creamy cottage cheese, yogurt, or marinated feta, simply leave us a note with your order. We'll whip up these delights using any extra milk we have on hand. Plus, we'd love to hear your favorites! If multiple customers express interest in the same product, we'll make sure to prioritize it.
A Peek into Our Process
With the arrival of twin calves in our beef herd, our dairy ladies are working tirelessly to meet the demands of both milk production and calf care. Unfortunately, this means our capacity for producing extra dairy products is currently limited. Each gallon of milk yields only a small batch of cheese, with the majority of the yield being whey. However, we're excited to announce that we're freeze-drying our whey for future use, so stay tuned for more details on this innovative addition to our product lineup.
Your Feedback Matters
We value your input and encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions with us. Whether it's a product you miss or an idea for a new offering, we're all ears! Leave us a note with your order, and together, we'll continue to create a dairy experience that delights and satisfies.
Join Us for a Day of Homestead Sharing
Calling all homestead enthusiasts! We're planning a special Saturday event here at the ranch for kids and parents alike to come together and share their homesteading ideas, successes, and aspirations. If you've ever wanted to learn the art of dairy product making or simply connect with fellow homesteaders, this is your chance! Keep an eye out for details on a Saturday session in late April or early May, where we'll demonstrate the magic of transforming milk into an array of delicious treats.
We can't wait to embark on this journey with you and continue to grow and thrive as a community. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements in the coming weeks. Until then, keep enjoying the goodness that only farm-fresh dairy can bring!

Unlocking the Flavor of Local Beef: Your Opportunity to Support Our Dairy
At Diamond S Ranch, we are always looking for ways to provide our community with the freshest and healthiest products straight from the ranch to your table. While we focus on providing top-quality milk and dairy products, we again are excited to offer our grass fed and finished beef. Whole or half beef is what is offered on our website but if you have a neighbor or friend that would also like a 1/4 we are happy to help you make this happen, as long as you both have the same cutting instructions.
Reserve Your Side of Beef Today
We understand that committing to a side of beef is a big decision, which is why we're asking for an initial deposit of $200 to secure your order. Deposits will need to be made by May 1st to ensure availability, and we are asking for additional payments of $200 each on June 1st and July 1st, with the last payment being the remainder of your balance around August when the order is picked up. 
To reserve your side of beef or for more information on pricing and cut options, please look on our website here. 
More Than Just Milk
As we begin our Spring & Summer, we are still concentrating on mainly milk sales as we have not more than 4 gallons of surplus milk to create our extra products. It takes at least 8 gallons to make one of our wheels of cheese. 
Hopefully you all got to taste our spicy schmeirkase cheese at Bee Healthy last Thursday and Friday, and in TenSleep as well. See last week’s blog post to learn more about schmeirkase/Amish cup cheese). This is similar to Velveta cheese and made with 100% with healthy ingredients e.g. A2A2 milk, cultured butter and organic herbs. It’s wonderful on nachos, throwing some burger, onions, tomatoes and lettuce gets you a dang good meal! We also suggest putting it on a slice of sourdough bread or as a dip for pretzels. 
This week, in addition to our milk and other recent offerings, we have some other items available to add to orders.

• 11oz containers of cottage cheese: $8
• Quart or pints of marinated feta $30 for Q and $15 for pt
• Quarts or pints of plain yogurt: $5 for Q and $3 for pt
• Large lemon yogurts: $6

Please reach out to Kris (text or call 307-272-5334) to add any of the above items to your order while supplies last!
New Additions to the Family
As some of you probably have seen on the Facebook page, we are welcoming the arrival of calving season with two new calves! As we eagerly anticipate more calves to drop in the coming weeks, we’d love for folks to come out and bring the kiddos to visit with the calves if you’d like. We just ask you reach out to Kris to make sure she is around when you want to visit! 
Support Local and Save
As part of our commitment to sharing things at the dairy and ranch life with our local community, we encourage our customers to pick up their orders directly from the ranch. We mentioned this last month, but we have implemented delivery fees for orders that are not picked up at the ranch to account for the constant increase in gas and transportation costs. Picking up your orders gives you a wonderful opportunity to come to the ranch and see where your dairy comes from and you could even have one person come and grab multiple orders to save on delivery costs.  
We welcome your feedback regarding the delivery service and fees, as we consider this a bit of an experiment. We are open to suggestions on how to reduce delivery expenses while still maintaining the financial sustainability of our small dairy operation and meeting the needs of our customers within an extensive delivery area.We are proud to be a part of and serve this community and grateful for your continued support in all that we do!
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Place Your April Orders!
As we gear up for the upcoming month, we want to remind everyone to get their orders in by March 20th to ensure we have enough supply for all orders and to accommodate any special product requests. We are still taking orders for the month of March, but with limited milk, later orders will be bumped first. Monthly orders are always filled first, then weekly, then late orders. Since calving is soon upon us, we will be adding more cows to our milk supply and  should be able to fill more orders. 
If you don't see your favorite product available in our store or have a specific request in mind, simply leave us a note when you place your order. Whether it's a particular type of cheese, a specialty yogurt flavor, or any other dairy delight, we'll do our best to fulfill your request. As they say the squeaky wheel gets the grease!
Lastly, we would sincerely appreciate anyone paying for their order via Vemno, check or cash to PLEASE include your order number that the payment is associated with. For Venmo put the order number in the notes for the payment and for check/cash we will try hard to keep envelopes at all drop sites so you can include the order information on those when you pay. This really helps us out when we are tracking down payments for orders and saves us a bunch of time. We appreciate your help with this ask. 

Clabbered Milk: A Traditional Dairy Delight
We have been working on something unique this week that we’d like to tell you all about! Have you ever heard of clabbered milk? This traditional dairy product holds a special place in culinary history and offers a unique taste and texture that's worth exploring.

What is Clabbered Milk?
Clabbered milk, also known as clabber or clabber milk, is essentially milk that has naturally fermented due to the presence of lactic acid bacteria. This process occurs when raw milk, and it can only be raw milk, is left at a warm room temperature, allowing beneficial bacteria to proliferate and acidify the milk, leading to its characteristic tangy flavor and thickened consistency. This type of milk was very commonly used in the older days due to lack of refrigeration and was used as a great base for many recipes.  

How is Clabbered Milk Made?
Making clabbered milk is simple and requires minimal effort. Start with fresh, raw, whole milk and allow it to sit at a warm room temperature for a period of time, typically overnight or up to 48 hours. During this time, the naturally occurring bacteria in the milk begin to multiply and ferment, gradually transforming the milk into clabbered milk.
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What Can Clabbered Milk Be Used For?
Clabbered milk has a versatile range of culinary uses and can be incorporated into various dishes and recipes. Here are a few ways to enjoy this traditional dairy delight:

1. Cooking and Baking: Use clabbered milk as a substitute for milk or yogurt in recipes for pancakes, biscuits, muffins, and other baked goods. The acidity of the milk has proven to react better with baking soda and baking powder, making it a wonderful ingredient for your baked goods. Its tangy flavor adds depth to savory and sweet dishes alike. It can also be used a replacement for condensed soups, including it in soups, casseroles and even gravies to thicken up your meal.
2. Dressings and Dips: Blend clabbered milk with herbs, spices, and other flavorings to create creamy dressings and dips for salads, vegetables, and snacks.
3. Smoothies and Shakes: Incorporate clabbered milk into smoothies and shakes for a probiotic boost and added creaminess.
4. Cheese Making: Clabbered milk can also be used as a base for making fresh cheeses, such as cottage cheese and Schmeirkase (Amish cup cheese). Its thickened consistency and tangy flavor provide a perfect foundation for homemade cheese creations.

Incorporating clabbered milk into your culinary repertoire adds a touch of tradition and flavor to your meals and expands your appreciation for the rich diversity of dairy products.
If you’d like to know more or want a walk-through of how to make Schmerikase, we recommend this YouTube video. It has a ton of good information and step by step process on how to make the clabbered milk and the different type of cheeses/dairy products you can make from it.