Rufus Musser, owner of Milton Creamery, grew up in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania where he married Jane High. In 1992 they moved to southeast Iowa, due to the high land prices in Pennsylvania, where they with their five children they started milking cows (until they found something better to do).

  In 2002, Rufus was approached by two Amishmen, who wondered if he would buy their milk and make cheese. After four years of research, numerous discussions, and lots of hard work, they made their first batch of cheese on May 8, 2006.

  The Mussers started making cheddar cheese and fresh curds, adding many flavors as they became more experienced. Then in the fall of 2006, they made their first colby cheese.

  Their 16 year old son, Galen took over the cheese making process in February 2007, so Rufus would be free to make deliveries and spend time marketing the cheese. At the same time, they were also experimenting with their first specialty cheese, the Prairie Breeze, which is a bold cheddar with its own twist. In late summer of 2007, Milton Creamery introduced the now famous wheel cheese, Prairie Rose.

  Milton Creamery currently is picking up milk at five farms three times a week, which brings in 18,000 to 20,000 pounds of milk per week.

  Even though Rufus is general manager of the plant, you may get to meet him at cheese shows and other demos. Jane is kept busy with accounting, their retail store, and helping to make cheese. Galen is still in charge of the cheese making process with the help of two employees. Another son Rufus IV, manages a dairy farm with the help of his brother Mark. Both married daughters, Jane Marie and Rose live near Withlee, Wisconsin.

  Remember to find Milton Creamery’s cheese stand at the farmers market in Davenport, every Saturday from May through October.

 

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