Murdock Farm, Smith’s Country Cheese make Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail

Murdock Farm & Dairy Bar in Winchendon.

Murdock Farm & Dairy Bar in Winchendon. PHOTO BY GREG VINE

Smith’s Country Cheese in Winchendon.

Smith’s Country Cheese in Winchendon. PHOTO BY GREG VINE

By GREG VINE

For the Athol Daily News

Published: 08-02-2024 7:35 PM

WINCHENDON — On July 25 the Healey-Driscoll administration announced the launch of the Massachusetts Ice Cream Trail, two stops for which can be found in Winchendon.

A release from the governor’s office said the initiative celebrates the rich history of ice cream in the Bay State and urges “residents and visitors to explore the flavors and experiences offered by more than 100 ice cream destinations across Massachusetts.”

The trail was developed by the Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism.

Among the farms included on the list are Murdock Farm & Dairy Bar and Smith’s Country Cheese, both located in Winchendon.

Murdock Farm has been providing cold, sweet treats for 60 years. Asked about their inclusion on the Ice Cream Trail, co-owner June B. Girouard said, “I think it’s going to have people be interested in stopping by to see us. I’m sure that will happen. So, yes, it’s a good thing.”

As for the farm itself, she said, “My husband (Kenneth) and his family have owned it since 1959, but the farm has been here since 1885. I married into the family in 1963 and we opened the dairy bar in 1964.”

The increasingly warm summers, said Girouard, are nothing but good for business.

“Business is very good,” she said. “We’re busy, busy every day. We make ice cream five days a week. We make about 50 flavors, so it keeps us pretty busy.”

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Girouard said that not long ago, Murdock was an active dairy farm. The family milked the cows and produced, processed and delivered the milk. It came to where they had a surplus of milk, so her father-in-law decided to open the dairy bar. About 20 years ago, they sold off the herd, as it had become cost-prohibitive to keep that aspect going.

Girouard now operates the dairy bar with her grandson, Andrew Brooks Jr., who is also her business partner.

Smith’s Country Cheese was purchased by brothers Mike and Jake Catlin and their spouses, Leah and Allie, in 2016. According to the company website, the 43-acre farm now boasts 200 Holsteins producing milk that is the main ingredient for their award winning cheeses. But don’t swing by Smith’s for a cone on a hot day.

Mike said that Smith’s doesn’t operate an ice cream bar, nor does it produce its own ice cream – yet.

“We’re on the list because they wanted to honor the dairy farms that produce milk and cream and all that,” he said. “But we also sell pints of ice cream that other local ice creamers make. For instance, Maple Valley Ice Cream (of Hadley) is sold here. And that’s one of the reasons we’re on the list; we’re not making any of our own ice cream. It’s a goal of ours, but the purpose of the trail is not just to highlight those who are making ice cream, but the dairy farmers who support it with their milk, and those who sell the ice cream.”

Mike said the state is trying to promote the “few dairy farms that are left” in Massachusetts. As for the family farm business, he added, “Things are going good – things are going very well. We’re continuing to grow our food business.”

Smith’s Cultured Sea Salt Butter and Smoked Gouda Cheese have each captured the gold medal at the Big E, formerly the Eastern States Exposition, held each year in West Springfield. Their products can be found from Eastport, Maine, to Kahoa, Hawaii. Locally they can be found in Adams Farm and Hannaford Bros. in Athol, The Country Store in Petersham, Flis Market in Erving, and Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, among others.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.