YELLOW SPRINGS--It has been a familiar site for decades along Route 68 in Yellow Springs. The story began with a red barn, constructed by members of the Young family in 1869.
- The Dayton-area favorite is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region
- Young's Jersey Dairy has been family-owned for five generations
- The farm expanded from a little red barn to a large family fun venue
Back then they specialized as a dairy farm, milking jersey cows.
“I wish my parents could see it now. It was just a quiet little farm, a bunch of cows and a barn that's been added to so many times. I have two older brothers, and we all decided we wanted to be part of the farm, and in order to feed four families we decided we had to do something besides just milk cows," said farmer Bill Young.
Fast forward to the 50's, when the farm began selling fresh milk to the public.
In the decades since, Young's has expanded to multiple restaurants, an ice cream parlor and several entertainment venues.
Although the world and farming industry have changed so much over the decades, one thing remains constant, the Young family name.
“It's a tradition and our customers come here and they've been coming here as kids, now they're bringing their kids and then their grandchildren. Really have a shared family experience, maybe pick your own pumpkins, or see the animals, or play a round of miniature golf and of course enjoy ice cream," said co-owner, Ben Young.
All 40-some flavors of their award winning ice cream.
“Family operated, and they're easy to work for and they're fun to work for. So when people come in, some people we know personally, some people they just come in all the time and we'll get to know them and they become family," said long-time employee Ashton Quinton.
“Nobody here acts like its a job or a paycheck. The employees here make you feel like you're welcome and they're glad that you came back," said patron and Springfield resident Walter Mock.
This year, Young's Jersey Dairy expects to serve well over one million customers.
There are currently over three hundred employees and 14 members of the Young family working at the farm.
The Young family is looking forward to expansion and the next century plus.
“That is one of our goals as a family, we want Young's to be able to go on for at least another 150 years," says Ben Young.