Community outreach, ice cream production and selling directly to consumers with Lolly Lesher

Community outreach, ice cream production and selling directly to consumers with Lolly Lesher

Author: Progressive Dairy editors November 19, 2025 Duration: 35:43

Pennsylvania dairywoman Lolly Lesher from Way-Har Farms joins host Kimmi Devaney on this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast to discuss on-farm processing, selling directly to consumers through their farm market and other retail avenues, farm tours and community outreach. 

Connect with Lesher on Facebook

Here is a breakdown of the episode:

  • [~1:00] About Way-Har Farms and Lesher’s family
  • [~1:50] Differences between their old freestall barn and the new one they built in 2016
  • [~3:30] Farm market
  • [~4:50] On-farm processing
  • [~5:40] How they develop new flavors
  • [~7:00] Marketing 
  • [~9:30] Product distribution
  • [~9:55] Ice cream trailer for events
  • [~10:45] Employee recruitment differences between the dairy and the farm market/on-farm processing 
  • [~11:40] The part of her farm Lesher is most proud of
  • [~14:05] Advice for other dairy producers interesting in trying on-farm processing 
  • [~20:00] Employee training
  • [~20:40] About their farm’s open house in 2020 
  • [~25:30] School tours
  • [27:00] Internships
  • [~28:30] Helpful resources
  • [~29:15] Their Airbnb
  • [~30:45] Agritourism advice for other producers
  • [~33:00] Rapid-fire questions

For those who live and work in the world of milk production, the day doesn’t stop for a deep dive into industry news. That’s where the Progressive Dairy Podcast comes in, extending the trusted editorial voice of the magazine into an audio format you can take anywhere. Hosted by the Progressive Dairy editors, this series is crafted specifically for U.S. dairy producers and the network of professionals who support them. Think of it as a conversation with well-informed colleagues, breaking down the latest trends, operational strategies, and business insights that matter at the farm gate and beyond. You’ll hear straightforward discussions that translate complex topics into actionable advice, whether the subject is herd health, market dynamics, sustainability practices, or technology adoption. Released every other Tuesday, each episode is designed to fit into a busy schedule, providing a dose of relevant information during a morning commute or an afternoon walk. It’s more than just a business podcast; it’s a practical resource built on the same foundation of reliability that readers have come to expect, now available for your ears instead of your eyes. Tune in to stay informed and connected to the pulse of the dairy industry.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Progressive Dairy Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Jim Van Patter: Decades of experience dairying around the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:30
Jim Van Patter has managed large dairy herds from Wisconsin to Turkey to Australia to Mississippi and back again. He's now the dairy manager at Nehls Brothers Farm near Juneau, Wisconsin, and he's brought home some hard-…
Targeted Reproductive Management – Explained (Sponsored Podcast) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:47
What is Targeted Reproductive Management (TRM)? And why should producers care about this new approach to dairy reproduction? Listen in to this Progressive Dairy sponsorcast as a team of reproductive health experts and en…
Dave Saunders: Getting ready for the global financial reset [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:17
This episode's guest is Dave Saunders. Dave has spent years in business development and ag technology — many might remember his work helping create My Dairy Dashboard, the analytics tool that helps farmers track and impr…
Large Farm Roundtable with Lely (Sponsored Podcast) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:41
Hear how large-herd producers scaled with Lely automation at a roundtable that was held live at Miltrim Farms in Athens, Wisconsin. Listen to three large-herd producers share best practices, real-world ROI, barn design a…
Dairy farm profitability with Brad Guse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:03
Brad Guse from BMO returns to the Progressive Dairy Podcast to discuss various financial topics ranging from the key aspects of a risk management plan to economics of diversification, profitability strategies, what to ex…