Before & After: A Space Worthy of the Mission
If you've tasted Agnes cheese over the years, you know something special has always been happening inside Gould Farm's creamery.
This summer, that 'something special' received another wonderful affirmation. Agnes was awarded a Gold Medal at the Big E in the 2026 Northeast Gold Medal Cheese Competition in the Eastern States Originals category, placing Gould Farm alongside some of the region's most respected artisan cheesemakers. For us, the award is gratifying—but it also tells a deeper story.
At Gould Farm, our creamery has never been simply a place where cheese is made. It is one of the Farm's therapeutic work teams, where guests -- adults recovering from serious mental health challenges -- learn skills, develop confidence, discover purpose, and contribute to something larger than themselves. Every gallon of milk, every wheel of cheese, represents meaningful work that supports recovery.
Creamery Before Photos
Matthew McMahon, Farm Manager, notes,
"We've always believed the quality of our cheese begins long before it reaches the aging room. It begins with caring for our cows, caring for each other, and creating a place where people can do meaningful work with pride. This renovation gives us a creamery that matches the quality of the work happening inside it every day. It's an investment in better food, better craftsmanship, and most importantly, in the people whose recovery is strengthened through this work."
With Matthew’s steady leadership and thoughtful vision, over the past year, we have been investing in that work by completing the most significant renovation of the creamery in decades. The transformation has been remarkable.
Where aging walls, worn finishes, and outdated systems once stood, there is now a bright, clean, efficient production space designed for the future. The renovation included new insulated walls and ceilings, food-grade wall panels, new flooring, updated electrical and plumbing systems, improved ventilation and air quality, a renovated cheese aging room, and an accessible entrance. The result is a creamery that better supports food safety, energy efficiency, and the daily work of guests and staff alike. Looking at the before and after photographs, it's hard to believe it's the same room!
Creamery After Photos
This ambitious project was made possible in large part through a Massachusetts Food Security Infrastructure Grant, along with generous support from private foundations (Harold Grinspoon Foundation Local Farmer Award and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Green Pastures Fund) who believed in strengthening both Gould Farm's agricultural operation and its therapeutic mission.
Like many construction projects over the past year, however, ours was not immune to rising costs. Tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and escalating construction expenses significantly increased the overall cost of the renovation. As a result, we have postponed the purchase of one remaining piece of equipment -- a commercial bottle washer -- which will allow us to transition from single-use plastic bottles to reusable glass bottles once additional funding becomes available (donations are welcome!).
Even with that final step still ahead, the creamery is once again alive with activity. Cheese production has resumed, and we are currently awaiting final approval from the Massachusetts dairy licensing authority before bottling milk begins again in the renovated facility. Each day, guests and staff are settling into the new space, discovering how thoughtful design, improved workflow, and a healthier environment make their work more enjoyable, efficient, and rewarding.
Perhaps that is what makes this year's Gold Medal especially meaningful. The award recognizes the quality of Agnes cheese -- but it also recognizes the people behind it.
Seeing Gould Farm's name among so many outstanding artisan creameries across New England is a reminder that our guests are creating products that stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best. Every wheel of Agnes cheese tells a story -- not only of skilled craftsmanship, but of the courage it takes to recover from serious mental health challenges. The quality of the cheese reflects the care, perseverance, and pride that our guests bring to their work every day, and those same qualities lie at the heart of life at Gould Farm.
As we look ahead, the renovated creamery will help us continue producing exceptional dairy products while expanding our ability to nourish our own community, strengthen the local food system, and provide fresh, nutritious dairy products to neighbors experiencing food insecurity through local food pantries. It is an investment in quality, sustainability, and opportunity -- one that will benefit both the people who call Gould Farm home and the communities we serve for years to come.
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