Herdshare
Our Herdshare Program
A herd share is a program where individuals can invest in the care and maintenance of livestock—such as cows, goats, or other milk-producing animals—without needing to own the animals or take part in the day-to-day care. Instead, participants buy a "share" in the herd, which gives them a legal right to receive a portion of the milk or other products produced by the animals, like cheese, ice cream, caramel, or fudge.
Herd shares are a popular way to access fresh, raw milk and other dairy products, particularly in areas where selling raw milk directly to consumers is restricted or illegal. In states like Virginia, for example, the sale of raw milk is prohibited, but herd share programs are a legal loophole, as participants technically own a share of the animals, making it legal for them to consume the milk from those animals.
For those interested in the health benefits of raw milk, resources like Weston A. Price Foundation and Real Milk offer information and support for people who want to learn more about the advantages of drinking raw milk.
Some key points about herd shares:
Investment in animal care
By purchasing a share in a herd, you are helping fund the maintenance and care of the livestock. You don’t have to take care of the animals yourself, but you’re part of the cooperative effort to provide them with quality care.
Ownership of a portion of the milk
In exchange for your investment, you receive a portion of the products the animals produce—milk, cheese, ice cream, and more. This can be an ideal solution for people who want access to fresh, high-quality raw dairy products.
Legal Framework
A herd share is a legal way to obtain raw milk, especially in states like Virginia, where selling raw milk to the public is restricted but consuming it from an animal you own (or have a share in) is permitted.
Herd shares can be a wonderful option for people who are interested in supporting local farming, getting fresh dairy products, and investing in sustainable and ethical agriculture—without needing to run their own farm.
Herdshare Waitlist Information
At this time, our herd share is full and closed. As we acquire more milking does, we will open additional shares.
If you would like to be added to our waitlist, please note the following details:
- Waitlist Order: We will contact individuals in the order they were added to the waitlist when a spot becomes available.
- Response Time: If you are contacted, you will have 3 business days to respond. We will reach out only once when a spot opens up. If we do not receive a response within that timeframe, we will move on to the next person on the list.
- No Response Policy: If we contact you three times regarding open spots without receiving a response, we will remove you from the list and forfeit your place-holding fee.
We deeply appreciate your patience and interest as we expand our herd and work toward providing a stronger, more robust herd share experience. We’re excited for the opportunity to welcome you to the fold when a spot opens up, and we thank you for understanding that sometimes, like milk, things need a little time to come to a full boil.
Waitlist Holding Fee:
- A $20 place-holding fee is required to secure your spot on the waitlist. This fee will be credited toward your buy-in fee once a herd share becomes available.
If you choose to remove yourself from the waitlist, rest assured that you will receive a full refund of the $20 place-holding fee—no hard feelings, we promise!