Young’s Jersey Dairy blends agritourism, family fun, and tradition

By Wyatt Morrow, OCJ Field Reporter

For nearly seven decades, Young’s Jersey Dairy has been creating memories for families while connecting consumers to agriculture. What began as a small farm store selling milk directly to customers has grown into one of Ohio’s most recognized agritourism destinations, welcoming close to 1 million visitors each year.

Located just outside Yellow Springs, Ohio, Young’s Jersey Dairy traces its roots back to 1869. The operation visitors know today, however, began after World War II, when Hap Young repurchased the family farm after it had been lost during the Great Depression. Alongside his sons Carl, Bob, and Bill, Hap farmed the 60-acre property while renting additional acreage to grow grain, raise hogs and milk dairy cows.

In 1958, the family began selling Jersey milk directly from a small room attached to the milk house. Customers grabbed glass bottles from a refrigerator, left payment on the honor system, and headed home. The concept quickly proved successful, leading to the first dedicated dairy store in 1960 and an expanding lineup of milk, cheese and ice cream throughout the following decades. One unique feature was the opportunity for visitors to watch products being made, creating a connection between consumers and the farm.

Today, the same commitment to agricultural education remains. The original production space now serves as an educational area for school tours, giving students a firsthand look at food production and modern agriculture.

“That’s why we have a lot of school tours out here, because there are very few places like us that you can go visit,” said John Young, the fourth-generation in the family business and CEO, or as he is better known, the CIEIO.

Young’s official title reflects the playful atmosphere of the business. He serves as Chief Ice Cream, Entertainment and Inspiration Officer, or C-I-E-I-O, a title born from a joke during a podcast he hosted with his daughter.

“C-I-E-I-O was the punchline to a joke,” Young said. “I don’t remember the joke anymore, but I remember that was the punchline.”

The joke may have faded, but the title stayed around. Young said his marketing team quickly latched onto the idea and insisted it needed to become official.

“The marketing team said, ‘That has to be your title,’” Young said. “So I said, ‘Okay, then you need to come up with what the acronym means.’”

While the dairy operation continued to grow through the decades, the Young family noticed a shift in customer behavior during the early 1990s. Visitors were no longer stopping solely for milk, cheese, or ice cream. Instead, they wanted to spend more time on the farm. Young said the realization came after the family operated several satellite stores in nearby communities.

“People were coming here more often than they were going anywhere else because they wanted the farm experience,” Young said. “People want to come here. People are pretty detached from farm life, but it’s even more so now. There’s just not a lot of places to visit that are an active farm.”

That insight sparked a transformation that would shape the future of Young’s Jersey Dairy.

In 1993, the farm introduced its first miniature golf course, Udders & Putters. The idea originated during a family vacation to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

“It was a weird idea to tear down a cornfield and build a miniature golf course, but we convinced the bank, and the bank was like, ‘Let’s give it a shot,’” Young said. “It turned out to be the right thing to do.”

The miniature golf course was followed by a driving range in 1995 and batting cages in 1996. Additional attractions eventually included train rides, pumpkin picking, a corn maze, children’s play areas, and seasonal events. What started as a dairy farm had become a destination where agriculture and entertainment worked hand in hand.

Despite the growth of the entertainment side of business, agriculture remains at the center of the operation. Young’s continues to milk Jersey cows on-site and uses the milk to produce farmstead cheese. Since launching the Young’s Farmstead Cheese in 2009, the dairy has produced varieties including cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Gouda and fresh cheese curds.

In 2021, Young’s opened a new state-of-the-art Dairy Store, relocating from the building that had served customers since 1968. The facility more than doubled the available space for guests and includes viewing windows that allow visitors to observe cheese and ice cream production.

The expansion reflects the operation’s ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience while maintaining connections to agriculture. One of the newest additions to the farm is Cowtherine’s Carousel, which opened in 2024. The project was led by John Young and features custom-designed animals inspired by the dairy’s history and homemade ice cream flavors.

The carousel includes custom Jersey cow figures, hand-painted horses, and other animals inspired by popular ice cream flavors, along with several unique features that celebrate the farm’s heritage. The attraction has quickly become a favorite among visitors.

Beyond entertainment, Young’s remains committed to serving its community. The business employs hundreds of seasonal workers each year, many of whom are working their first job.

“We’ll peak out at 350 in the summer,” Young said. “We’re a great first-time job.”

Today, Young’s Jersey Dairy welcomes approximately one million guests annually. Families visit for ice cream, cheese curds, miniature golf, seasonal attractions and opportunities to experience life on a working farm.

While the business has evolved significantly since its humble beginnings in 1958, its mission remains largely unchanged.

“While we sell a lot of food and ice cream, our main product is fun, entertainment, and helping to create memories,” Young said.

For generations of visitors, Young’s Jersey Dairy has become more than a place to buy ice cream. It has become a destination where agriculture, education and family traditions come together, ensuring that each visit creates a new memory while preserving a connection to Ohio agriculture.