Picture Connecticut: A Merry-Go-Round For Cows

ELLINGTON, CT — This week's entry into the Picture Connecticut series takes us to Ellington and the cow carousel at Oakridge Farm.

The farm is home to 3,000 cows and Oakridge employs a modern system of milking — a 72-stall carousel that services each cow every eight hours and can produce 25,000 gallons of raw milk each session.

"The cows actually like it," Oakridge CEO Seth Bahler said.

During one session this week, he pointed out that one cow was loading all by herself.

"After eight hours, they really want to get rid of all that milk and this makes it comfortable for them," Bahler said.

The majority of the milk produced at Oakridge is sold to the Guida's label, a major presence in the region's dairy product market. Oakridge also operates its Modern Milkman division, a throwback concept that employs milk trucks and staff members delivering products to homes in traditional glass bottles.

The customer base is now about 3,000 for the Modern Milkman, Bahler said.

The biggest seller is whole milk and then 2 percent, followed by chocolate, Bahler said. Other flavors are coffee and strawberry.

____

Picture Connecticut is a weekly Patch series featuring unique images of the state, past and present.
Previous featured images:

• Charles Island, Milford
• State Veterans Cemetery, Middletown
• Glastonbury-Rocky Hill Ferry, Glastonbury/Rocky Hill
• The Old County Jailhouse, Tolland
• Agent Orange Monument, Andover
• The Sunken Garden, Farmington
• Lafayette Tour Monument, Vernon
• The Pinchot Sycamore, Simsbury
• Bob's Discount Furniture Studios, Manchester