Facebook Pixel Hilltopper Creamery & Farm Market | Western Kentucky University
Hilltopper Creamery & Farm Market

Hilltopper Creamery & Farm Market


The Hilltopper Creamery & WKU Farm Market is a value-added retail location that displays farm fresh products produced alongside students as part of their educational experience within WKU’s Agriculture & Food Science Dept. We sell a variety of award-winning artisan cheeses, fresh & dry aged beef, greenhouse plants, and seasonally available fruits & vegetables directly to the community, wholesale to local businesses, and to be served to students on campus! 

The Hilltopper Creamery was established to demonstrate that The small family dairy farm is not a relic of the past. Producers do not need a large herd to be successful in the dairy industry because they can thrive by producing and selling value-added products. Our facility puts this concept into practice by producing up to 500 lbs. of award-winning artisan cheese a month from our 50-60 head milking operation and still having additional fluid milk to sell or create other products.

Value-added products, direct consumer sales, and Agritourism are becoming and increasing percentages of farm profits. This unit allots students the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in these areas by gaining experience in dairy handling, food production, food safety, packaging, marketing, customer service, direct sand online sales, and event management. 

Students gain a variety of guided Agritourism experiences through facility and farm tours, event management, community workshops, educational seminars, and conferences. In 2022, we welcomed over 450 visitors for more than 45 tours and 15 special events and participated in more than 15 off-farm community events. Events include student and community group tours, cheese making classes, guided cheese tastings, charcuterie board grazing events, farmers markets, community fundraising pop-up markets, local festivals, and hosted conferences.

We co-hosted 2 community workshops alongside the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (SDBII) Program and the Dairy Product Association of Kentucky (DPAK), that welcomed dairy farmers and cheese makers from across the state and covered topics including foodborne illness, food safety hazards (biological, chemical, physical), pasteurization, plant cleanliness, and a hands-on day of cheese making.

Award Winning Artisan Cheese

Our award-winning cheeses are handmade by students guided by a skilled fromagère adept in the art of traditional small batch artisan caseiculture. In 2019 our inaugural debut at the Kentucky State Fair we earned a ribbon in every class entered! Bringing home 6 Blue Ribbons and 1 Gold Medal Award. Our 2019 award-winning varieties are the Garlic & Dill Cheese Curds, Mild Cheddar, Aged Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Cracked Black Pepper Cheddar, and Sharp Cheddar (Gold).

This foundation of excellence continued in 2022 where we brought home the Gold Medal Award for each of our 4 entries! Our 2022 award winning varieties are the Fresh Cheese Curds (Gold), Colby (Gold), Mild Cheddar (Gold), and Jalapeño Pepper Jack (Gold).

We are proud to announce our history of excellence continues in 2023. We brought home 4 Blue Ribbons and 1 Gold Medal Award! This year’s winning varieties are the Mild Cheddar, all new Taco Cheddar, all new Garlic Cheddar, and Jalapeño Pepper Jack (Gold).

Shop Today, Shipping & Pick-Up

While in the Bowling Green area, we invite you to stop by our retail store located at the WKU Agriculture & Research Education Center (AREC) a.k.a the WKU Farm off of Nashville Road. If you don't have time to browse around, we offer online ordering & pickup options daily and FREE local delivery on Fridays. Our retail store is open Tuesday-Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM.  

Shop online today via our online store where cheese can be ordered and shipped anywhere in the U.S. during the winter months.

Take advantage of Free Delivery Fridays!

Every Friday we offer FREE delivery to your home or office in Warren County.

Shipping

Cheese shipping options vary depending on product and weather restrictions. Due to seasonal temperatures, shipping is available during the months of November to Early/Mid March. Start planning your holiday shopping lists for your events, friends, and relatives today!

Your support is the key ingredient to our success! THANK YOU!


Shop Online


Agriculture & Food Science logo


New Product & Restock Alerts

Cheese

  • Jalapeno Pepper Jack Queso Dip
  • Mild Cheddar
  • Sharp cheddar
  • Vintage 5 Year Cheddar
  • Jalapeno Pepper Jack
  • Fresh Cheese Curds
    • Plain-Sold Out
    • Garlic & Dill-Sold Out
    • Cajun Spice-Limited Quantity
    • Ranch-Sold Out
    • Buffalo-Sold Out

Meats

  • Frozen Dry-Aged Beef
    • Sirloin Steak
    • Ribeye Steak
    • New York Strip 
    • Flat Iron Steak
    • Tri Tip Steak
    • Flat Iron Steak
    • Brisket
    • Top-Round Steak
    • Bottom Round Steak
    • Bone-In Shank
    • Ground Beef
    • Hamburger Patties
  • Pork
    • Chops
    • Spare Ribs
    • Whole Tenderloin
    • Leg Roast
    • Picnic Roast
    • Ground
    • Cubed
    • Belly
    • Leg Roast

Produce

  • Seasonal

Greenhouse Plants

  • Seasonal

Kentucky Proud


 


Some of the links on this page may require additional software to view.

 Last Modified 2/20/24