Meet the Westmeadow Family | a family-owned business

The question we hear most often these days, as Westmeadow Creamery thrives and becomes a central part of our community, is a simple one: who are we? Well, wonder no more!

Westmeadow is a family-owned and operated dream, built from the ground up by the five of us: Tom (patriarch extraordinaire!), Patricia (our creative mom!), Braenaan (the eldest, always there to lend a hand), Nakiska (our passionate farm manager), and Torin (our youngest, with a heart of gold). We’re incredibly grateful for the amazing team members from our local community who join us in making Westmeadow a reality, across the creamery, farm, and retail store.

We’d like to introduce the mastermind behind Westmeadow Farm and Creamery – our very own Tom! He’s not just the boss; he’s the patriarch who nurtured the dream of Westmeadow from its seed.

Tom’s agricultural roots run deep. Growing up on his grandfather’s Irish crop farm instilled in him a burning desire to continue the family legacy. While fate wouldn’t allow him to take over his grandfather’s land directly, Tom’s entrepreneurial spirit found a new path – aviation.

A self-made man, Tom channeled his determination and work ethic into building a successful aviation engine repair business. This success provided the springboard to finally return to his agricultural calling. In 2017, years of tireless effort culminated in Westmeadow’s beautiful reality.

While you might find Tom in the creamery’s raw room, ensuring the quality of our products, his true passion lies outdoors. He’d much rather be at the helm of a tractor, traversing the fields of Westmeadow. But his dedication extends far beyond the land. Tom is a devoted teacher, patiently guiding his children as they forge their own paths in life.

We all owe Tom a huge debt of gratitude. His intelligence, unwavering commitment, and dedication to his dream laid the foundation for Westmeadow’s success. He’s the heart of our family farm, and a true inspiration to us all.

Meet Patricia, the heart and soul of our family, and the mastermind behind Westmeadow’s stunning product labels! A pillar of strength and love, Patricia’s background as a Montessori teacher and homeschooling mom instilled in her a deep passion for clean, wholesome food. Fueled by this passion (and perhaps a few childhood food allergies!), Patricia champions the importance of good food, especially after witnessing the negative effects of processed options on her own children.

Today, Patricia’s talents extend far beyond the kitchen. She’s a vital part of the Westmeadow retail store team, actively researching new products to offer, ensuring a steady supply by ordering essentials, and fostering strong relationships with vendors. But her contributions don’t stop there. Patricia’s artistic eye is evident in the gorgeous, updated product labels that now grace our shelves, perfectly capturing the essence of Westmeadow’s fresh, vibrant flavors.

A true team player, Patricia actively participates in family brainstorming sessions, offering invaluable ideas and unwavering emotional support for the business’s growth. In her free time, Patricia’s creativity extends beyond labels. She’s an avid crafter, often found knitting, sewing, or quilting beautiful creations. When she’s not unleashing her creativity, Patricia finds solace in her garden or spending quality time with her loyal German Shepherd companion, Toga.

Patricia’s warmth and genuine love are evident to all who know her. While she might not always see her own amazing qualities, her family recognizes her incredible strength and dedication every single day. (Thank you, Jen Kuhn, for capturing this beautiful woman’s essence in such a stunning photo!)

Braenaan, the eldest sibling, embodies the spirit of a protective older brother, both for his family and the Westmeadow business. His dedication runs deep, following the family transition from aviation to creamery operations in 2021.

Braenaan’s expertise is multifaceted. He’s the mastermind behind customer contracts for co-packing products, ensures a steady supply by ordering supplies, and even contributes to new product development like the popular ice cream.

His keen eye for detail extends to helping the store crew with pricing, making him an invaluable asset. While his technical prowess might be more behind-the- scenes (he’s a whiz at computer coding!), Braenaan’s the first person colleagues turn to for tech assistance. Certified to code, he’s not just intelligent but also passionate, driven, and well-rounded. Consider him Westmeadow’s unsung hero – the glue that keeps the creamery running smoothly.

Despite his crucial yet often unseen contributions, Braenaan is as friendly and approachable as they come, always ready with a joke to lighten the mood. A history buff with a soft spot for his rescue cat, Mara, you might even catch him at some of the farm events!

The face (and voice!) behind Westmeadow Farm’s social media. Nakiska’s passion for farming permeates every aspect of her work, from managing the goats and their forage to overseeing business development and everything in between.

Before officially returning to the family business, Nakiska’s path took her to veterinary technician school and even a Bachelor of Science degree, all with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. However, fate (and perhaps a global pandemic) intervened, leading her back to the farm where she’s truly flourished.

While managing a multifaceted operation might seem daunting, Nakiska thrives on the “blue sky thinking” it entails. She’s constantly brimming with new ideas for the farm, including bringing agricultural education back to the mainstream.

The burgeoning state of the goat industry in the U.S. presents its own set of challenges, but for Nakiska, it’s the thrill of being on the cutting edge that fuels her excitement. There’s no doubt, farming is Nakiska’s true calling.

Westmeadow’s youngest member, Torin, boasts one of the longest histories with the company. He was practically part of the crew that built the original robot barn and creamery projects, having worked for the original contractor!

After a short stint in sales (that wasn’t quite his cup of tea), Torin found his calling in production. He’s a multi-talented asset, having bottled milk, cream, yogurt, and more, and now skillfully handles pasteurization and cream production in the creamery. Torin’s not afraid to get his hands dirty with new ventures like ice cream, and even provides valuable input on customer contracts.

Licensed by the state, he excels at his core duties, and along with his friend Trevor, ensures a steady supply of fresh goat milk by picking it up directly from the farm.

But Torin brings more than just skill to the table. He’s known for his big heart and comedic spirit, always ready with a joke to brighten someone’s day. Hardworking and unfailingly positive, even on tough days, Torin exemplifies the heart of gold that makes Westmeadow special.