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
Robotic milking with dairyman Jacob Twohey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:40
In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Walt Cooley is joined by Jacob Twohey of Twohey Dairy. Like 95% of farms in Olmsted County where they dairy, their farm is family-owned, and Jacob represents the nex…
Bonus episode: What is the Real Producer Exchange? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
Introducing the Real Producer Exchange – a new, interactive experience where we go live, face-to-face with producers who are tackling the same challenges you face every day. It's your chance to get real answers from real…
Beef-on-dairy research with Tara Felix [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:03
In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Matti McBride is joined by Tara Felix, associate professor and beef extension specialist at Penn State University. Felix has been feeding dairy steers and beef-on-da…
One Big Beautiful Bill and what it means for dairy with Danny Munch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, learn about the dairy provisions included in the One Big Beautiful Bill. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Economist Danny Munch joins host Kimmi Devaney to discuss…