Published: June 08, 2008 11:19 pm      

Vale Wood anniversary draws crowd

LORETTO – Vale Wood Farms celebrated 75 years of producing and selling milk to generations of customers in the region with hay rides, children’s games and a cow-milking contest won by a Cambria County commissioner.

Cambria Commissioner Bill Harris defeated state Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Patton, by two ounces when he out-milked the legislator Sunday afternoon. Both men received a commemorative milk bottle for their efforts.

“They were great sports about it,” said Carissa Itle Westrick, spokeswoman and fourth-generation family member of Vale Wood Farms. “We are really pleased with today’s turnout.”

Westrick said more than 1,000 people visited the farm located between Cresson and Loretto. Guests had a chance to play games, ride a hay wagon and more.

“This was an opportunity for us to thank our customers and the local community for their 75 years of support,” Westrick said.

She said the family-owned farm started in 1933 when her great-grandfather began delivering milk by horse and wagon to Cresson. Today, the business boasts 35 full-time employees and 15 part-time.

“We are still very much family-owned and operated,” Westrick said. “Our employees include third- and fourth-generation family members.”

The farm processes about 5,000 gallons of milk each day, three days a week, from 200 Vale Wood Farms cows.

“We also buy milk from about three or four other family farms nearby,” Westrick added.

The farm has thousands of customers, Westrick said, who buy milk and milk products, such as cottage cheese, ice cream and french onion dip, at local grocery stores or via home delivery. The farm also delivers milk to area school districts for student lunch programs.

Westrick said many of Sunday’s visitors enjoyed ice cream to combat the afternoon’s heat. Proceeds from hay rides were donated by the farm to Cresson Ambulance. Cambria County Farm Bureau representatives also were on hand making homemade french fries.