Wildcat Mountain Cheese

Creating Artisan Cheese in Laurel County

Ronnie and Clara Patton have always been passionate about cheese. In 2014, they decided to share that passion by making cheese to sell through their business Wildcat Mountain Cheese in East Bernstadt, Kentucky. Now, the business sells over 7 types of cheeses from their on-farm store and at several farmers markets in the region.

"Ronnie is a third-generation dairy farmer in Laurel County," explained Clara Patton, owner of Wildcat Mountain Cheese. "The Patton Family Dairy Farm has been in his family since 1939, and he continues to keep milking with our children, the next generation of the dairy men and women.”

The Patton Family Dairy Farm provides all of the milk for the cheese produced by Wildcat Mountain Cheese from a herd of around 50 cows. The herd, a variety of breeds including Holstein, Red Holstein, Ayrshire, and Jersey-crosses, are pastured, supplementing with grain and minerals to provide proper nutrients.

"We have a love for cheese," said Clara. "Our cows are kept out on pasture and are fed hay during the winter months, which gives the white cheeses the buttery color.”

Wildcat Mountain Cheese produces a wide variety of pasteurized cheeses including Colby; Gouda; a line of Cheddars: white cheddar, traditional cheddar, and garlic pepper cheddar; and fresh cheese curds. The cheese curds come in three flavors: Plain, Italian Herb, and Red Hot.

“Patton Family Dairy Farm is the last operating dairy in Laurel County. Wildcat Mountain Cheese is keeping the tradition of making cheese with farm fresh milk in Laurel county going," explained Myrisa Christy, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Project Director. "Clara and Ronnie are meticulous in crafting their product and carefully thinking about their business expansion.”

Wildcat Mountain Cheese first contacted the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) in 2013 about developing a business and marketing plan. In 2016, Wildcat Mountain Cheese applied for the USDA Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) to expand their cheese products.

"KCARD helped us look at our business and determine what the costs of expansion were," explained Clara. "We originally worked with KCARD to develop a business to use for a loan, but through our work with KCARD they mentioned the Value Added Producer Grant.”

Wildcat Mountain Cheese worked with KCARD and its Agribusiness Grant Facilitation Program (AGFP) to complete a USDA Rural Development Value-Added Producer Grant application, which was awarded in late 2016 to assist with the expansion of their cheese products. The application for this program requires the producer to consider which product lines to expand, what markets are underserved or untapped that would benefit from the business's products, and how best to reach those markets.

"To understand how deliberate Clara is with her business, know that I met her over two years ago at a grant workshop," explained Myrisa. "Many people jump at the opportunity to apply for a grant, but the Pattons waited over a year, making sure the time was right for their business.”

Wildcat Mountain Cheese continues to work with KCARD beyond the grant and initial business plan. KCARD helps Wildcat Mountain Cheese with yearly updates to their business plan, as well as recordkeeping for their grant.

"We will continue to look to KCARD to assistance for revisions to the business plan as we grow, and to review our business decisions," said Clara. "KCARD has been such a valuable resource to us, and their expertise is unmatched.”

Wildcat Mountain Cheese sells its products through their on-farm store, open Monday through Friday. Products can also be found at the Whitley County Farmers Market, Knox County Farmers Market, and the Downtown Richmond Farmers Market. Wildcat Mountain Cheese also sells its products at Market on Main in Somerset, KY, Herb & Olive in Elizabethtown, and several stores in London, KY, Lexington, KY, and Northern Kentucky.

"Making cheese enables me to combine art and science. The science comes from what steps to take when making the cheese and choosing the various cultures. The art comes from what types of cheese to create and what our customers want," states Clara.

To learn more about Wildcat Mountain Cheese, check out their Facebook Page or contact Clara and Ronnie directly at wildcatmountaincheese@windstream.net.