Nearly three decades ago, Milky Way Farm decided to open their fields up to the public for one month a year to sell pumpkins. Right off the Schuylkill Expressway, families would come to ride the hay wagon, get lost in the maze, walk through the fields and partake in some ice cream. Eventually customers inquired about the origin of the ice cream and the Matthews family decided it was time they made it themselves, launching the Chester Springs Creamery in 2001.
To help with the milking process, the creamery installed a Lely Astronaut Robotic milking system in 2001.
“We were actually one of the first seven farms in the U.S. to get a robot,” Eaglehouse said. “It has changed the course of history on our farm.”
The farm is now on its second Astronaut, which resides in a 200-year-old barn. Eaglehouse said having the robot in the barn is a unique melding of cutting edge technology with traditional structures.
Not only does the Milky Way Farm serve as dairy, but Eaglehouse classifies it as an agricultural education facility.
“We want to educate people as much as we want to make dairy products,” she said. “The robot is helping with that. When we first had the robot installed, we put in a viewing window so visitors could see it in action.”
“Having the flexibility of the robot to take care of the cows needs allows us to work and manage the other programs on the farm that support the dairy,” she said. “We need the cows and the robot, and the cows and robot need the other programs.
“Honestly, we wouldn’t still be in the dairy industry if we didn’t have the robot,” Eaglehouse said. “It allowed our farm to transition into the next generation and continue our farming traditions.”
Eaglehouse said the farm has seen a production of increase of 10 percent to 15 percent per cow, without a drop in quality to the milk. Not only have they seen an increase in production, but Eaglehouse said the robots have been incredibly reliable, and in the instances when they need support, Lely Center Fisher & Thompson Incorporated have been there to provide support and maintenance.
“They’ve given us a great support network,” she said. “They’ve been great and really responsive to our needs.”
For more information about Milky Way Farm and Chester Springs Creamery, visit www.milkywayfarm.com. There you can find out about the programs they offer, the products they make, and where to purchase your own Chester Springs Creamery ice cream.
You can learn more about Fisher & Thompson Incorporated at www.fisherthompson.com.