Heather Moore of Moore Local in Maquoketa, Iowa, knew her family dairy farm, More Family Farms, needed to diversify in order to keep their dream of milking cows alive. After exploring multiple avenues and alternative income streams, Moore made the investment in 2017 to have their milk crafted into cheddar cheese.

“We looked at every single option before having some cheese custom made,” said Moore.

The cheese was first sold through a Christmas pop-up, but the response from local customers revealed a larger opportunity. What started as a small seasonal venture steadily grew into a year-round business.

Today, Moore Local features a creamery, coffee shop, retail space and USDA-inspected meat locker. Moore credits that growth to the people who supported the business from the beginning.

“We give so much credit to our community because we essentially created a market,” said Moore.

That support remains at the heart of Moore Local's success. “Our community has been with us every step of the way, and their support has been second to none,” said Moore. “Our community is what makes us who we are.”

What began as an effort to diversify a family dairy farm has become a community hub built on local support and entrepreneurial spirit.

To hear the full story, watch Part 2 of Heather Moore's feature on Moore Family Farms and Moore Local here.