Page 10 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2020

Generous Grant for Stepladder Creamery
By Valery Larson
In the world of artisanal and handcrafted cuisine, there is a
highly sought-after grant to honor deserving individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in artisan dairy and cheese production, the Jennifer Bice Artisan Dairy/ Cheesemaker Grant. This generous grant is in its third year of recognizing and promoting the hard work of
To tell the story of the grant
the cheesemakers, and the love and care they bestow on their animals, creameries, and farms.
and a woman’s desire to give back
to her community, one must return
to 1968 when a young Jennifer Bice moved with her family from southern California. Her parents chose to live life away from an urban world of cement and noise, to give their kids a back-to-the-land connection in the rich earth of Sonoma County, where fruit orchards flourished, and farm animals were as plentiful as people.
Deciding on the grant recipient is
always a challenge and 2019 has been
no exception. The grant recipient
is chosen by a selection committee
and administered by the California
Artisan Cheese Guild. All the
cheesemakers are so dedicated and
hard-working. With a 40 plus year
history of commitment to creating a caring and thriving business, Jennifer Bice can clearly see the same passion she has felt, in each of the Artisan Cheese Guild members who have applied for the grant.
Gradually Jennifer embraced her new life and learned the art of animal care by taking part in 4-H projects and life on the farm. Though there were many other kinds of animals in their lives, Jennifer and her siblings were drawn to the goats and their playful curiosity.
This year’s winner was Michelle and Jack Rudolph
she attended college and business school. In the early 1970’s she met Steven Schack, another southern California transplant. When her parents eventually moved to Hawaii, Jennifer and Steven purchased the business, and in the process of refining all aspects of the farm and creamery, they became skilled animal breeders and won the Premier Breeder of Show award at the American Dairy Goat Association National Show.
The Jennifer Bice Artisan Dairy/Cheesemaker Grant is a culmination of Jennifer’s rich heritage, knowledge, and life. It has given past winners opportunity to grow their businesses. It will give present and future grant winners a distinct advantage as they create a more sustainable world and share their love of everything dairy.
Jennifer Bice,
Artisan Cheesemaker and Owner of Redwood Hills Farm & Creamery
with her goats.
of Stepladder Creamery and ranch, from San Luis Obispo County. Stepladder has been family-owned and operated for
three generations, and with the grant money,
Michelle and Jack’s goal is to achieve
Michelle and Jack Rudolph with their goats at Stepladder Creamery and Ranch Image courtesy of stepladdercreamery.com
“Michelle and Jack’s goal is to achieve certified humane status for their farm.”–Valery Larson
When Jennifer’s siblings gradually moved away, Jennifer remained in Sebastopol with her goats as
certified humane status for their farm. It will enable them to build a 1200 sq. foot loafing barn for their goats, which will give the goats more room and allow
the business to expand.
10 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 1/20