First Light Farm & Creamery

I haven’t been to the farm but I have been a customer for a couple years now. First Light chèvre is the best goat cheese I have ever had. Creamy, tangy, but not overwhelming «goaty» like some of the other brands I have had. There are a few varieties of flavors, but my favorite is the plain. I have used the chèvre in salads, on fruit, pastas, mixed into grits, and even plain spread on a baguette or cracker.
This year I joined the yogurt/​cheese share (there is also a share that includes milk). Their yogurt is a cream-​top yogurt and is so decadent. Love their products so far, can’t wait to try the rest.

I purchased a full milk/​cheese/​yogurt share that is available thru Elm Street Bakery (for pick up). After a rocky start, Elm Street Bakery sent my daughter home saying the actual CSA program started tomorrow, I contacted Trystan (First Light). No worries.
Trystan contacted me within the hour and everything was taken care of. Elm Street apologized. My daughter picked up two half gallons of PURE/​UNADULTERED MILK for my grand children. The yougurt is so freaking good, not as sweet as many. More like a crème fraiche or sour cream. More to my liking.
Feta, our choice for the week, is a combo of goat/​cow milk. In a block and very, very good.
I didn’t know what to expect since I detest milk. I am pleased. Milk looks wonderful and grandbabies LOVE IT!
I need to qualify one statement… the milk is pasturized so it is manipulated to a certain degree.
I am very pleased to have jumped on board with this CSA!

You’ve got to love this place. I have been out for two Cheese Workshops now and have to say it was a delightful experience each time packed with great information on everything from making amazing artisanal cheeses to how and why to pick the proper ingredients and know where they come from. The farmers (brothers Trystan and Max Sandvoss) have certainly put their time in as to how to run a clean farm and properly care for all of the creatures (goats) living there. You can tell they take care to make sure each animal is properly cared for with good diets, clean shelters, and open rotated grazing spaces.
As for the cheese. If you love cheese (even if you just like cheese), you MUST try ALL cheese coming out of this Creamery. I have yet to meet one that I don’t like. Even if you don’t like goat cheese at all, try the Chèvre. It is so ridiculously light, creamy, and NOT «GOATY»; it’s exactly the way it should be. Because they take such care in making sure this cheese is made properly and fresh you are ensured a great cheese every time.
New to Farm this year is a Dairy CSA with several options to choose from: Full Dairy, Half, Cheese, and Yogurt shares available (detailed on their website). The milk comes from their family’s farm down the road and is Whole (cream on the top) Jersey Milk; the yogurt is from this milk, yum!
If you decide to take the workshop, it is a day well lived and worth every penny. You leave with a boatload of knowledge AND a cheese making kit. We received yogurt and granola for breakfast, a home-​cooked meal for lunch (made by their mom– how cute is that?!!), each portion made with a different kind of their cheese (including one you make during the class!), dessert, AND cheese samples while you are taking the class!
Get to this place and check it out. You won’t regret it.

I was at Letchworth State Park’s Fall Festival and goats caught my eye (it’s a craft festival). After wandering over to take some cute pictures, I realized it was a local cheese vendor when a friendly face asked if we wanted to try some. Finding out that the very people I was talking to were the owners/​farmers and goats were some of the cheese contributors was a highlight to my day!
The cheese was AMAZING. I had to stop myself from buying them out, perhaps it was lucky I was returning to Washington, DC the next day which prevented me or no one else would have been able to try such great FRESH cheese. They did provide me with a reusable cooler bag for me to take my cheeses on my flight back home.
My cheeses made it back to the District and my husband, who is a big goat cheese aficionado, loved them. I haven’t been a big goat cheese fan in the past but First Light’s hits one out of the park.
The next time I am in Buffalo I will be checking out First Light’s market schedule to pick up more and I hope to take one of their cheese making classes too!
A bonus: they take credit cards including American Express!