HENRY COUNTY, Ky. — Curtis Coombs has poured a lot into his family farm over the years, but the work hasn’t always been sweet. 

“I mean, we had to go through the grieving process, and I don’t know that it’s over yet. And it probably never will be,” Coombs, a co-owner of Jericho Farmhouse, says. 

In 2018, the multigenerational dairy farm in Henry County was one of 19 to close in the state. The farm’s dairy processor shut down in Louisville. 

With no one to sell the dairy to, the nearly 50-year-old farm needed to sell its 250 cows. 

“There was a lot of feelings of just let down, you know, that there was nothing that me or this family did wrong that justified us not being able to share milk,” Coombs said.

Coombs, his wife and his parents opened Jericho Farmhouse after the dairy farm shut down. Now, they raise cattle and sell beef along with ice cream.  

Their main goal is to give others a taste of farm life.

“Give people a place to take their kids or themselves. And, you know, either remember what the farm was like when I was growing up, the grandparents’ farm or even just get acquainted with the farm,” Coombs shared.

He says the transition to running the farmhouse has been mentally challenging, but the family is grateful for the community support. 

“The community, for the most part, you know, has stuck with us and supported us through all this. And we, in turn, have tried our best to do the same.”

Jericho Farmhouse sells ‘Kentucky Proud’ products. The ice cream trailer brings a taste of the farm to events.