Farm History
Now seven generations strong, the Danforth Jersey Farm began with the dreams, hard work, and love of Nahum and Esther Danforth. They built a farm that they passed down to their son, George Washington Danforth, who died at a young age, widowing his wife, Martha. Martha was Shannon’s great-great grandmother and, as the original Danforth milkmaid to make and sell butter, was the inspiration for Cowbella. Her only living son Everett took over when he was old enough to run the farm. In 1925, he and his wife Anna endured a fire set off by a lightening strike that burned the original barn, but they persevered and rebuilt enabling their son George Russell Danforth and his wife Marietta to continue on. With intelligence and dedication, George R. and his son Russell focused the dairy on the great Jersey cow and built a herd of purebred, registered animals that became one of the most prestigious in the country. George and Marietta’s daughter Gail and her husband Dave Peake had a daughter Shannon who grew up on the farm with her parents, Uncle Russell, and beloved Grandpa George. When he passed away at 88 years of age, Shannon joined forces with Russell to run and manage the farm. From breeding the cows that have the calves that we raise to turn into the cows that we milk to make the butter and yogurt to sell to you, a family member is involved in every aspect of our business. We use many traditional methods (as well as modern ones such as solar power at our processing plant) and old fashioned values in our farming that have worked for generations. Shannon and her husband Hamilton Mason are the proud parents of the 7th generation to grow up on the farm, Gus and Daisy. Hamilton works off the farm as a high school teacher, but everyone in the family works together to help with the farm and keep the family traditions alive.
Second generation Martha's butter award she won at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. It still hangs proudly in the Danforth farmhouse kitchen.
Dairy Products
Made with Love in the Heart of the Catskill Mountains
Cows are beautiful!
