Mayfield Dairy Farms

About a year ago my family took a family vacation to Tennessee. My family lives all around the US, but we usually pick a state where no one lives and we travel to it. One of the things we found to do for entertainment was take a tour of the Mayfield Dairy Farm in Athens, Tennessee. We had about twenty-​five people that we needed to keep entertained, included some little kids, so we headed out to the farm. We got there by car since the farm was out of the way of where we were staying, and it also not really near anything.
We had such a large group that our family were the only ones on the tour together. To start off the tour guide took us to a room and gave us some rules and history about the farm and production line through a slide show. All of us had to wear hair nets, which the little kids thought was very cool. Our mode of transportation was by foot, because the factory has many machines going everywhere and that is the only feasible way to get to see everything they had to offer. Going into the tour we knew the experience we were going to get was an intangible product, but we were all pleasantly surprised at how great it actually was.
Our tour guide was very knowledge. As we went around to the different parts of the factory she explained what every machine did, how it worked, and what it was making. She was even able to answer all of the questions that my family threw at her, even the silly little kid ones. I could tell that the corporation definitely instilled the hospitality spirit into their employees, as she was all smiles and doing anything she could to make us feel welcome. I could also tell that they empower their employees, because when we asked to see something that wasn’t originally on the tour she said yes without hesitation, and took us over to see what we had asked for. She spoke slowly so that we could take in all of the information she was saying, and even took breaks so we could look around at what exactly she was talking about. She was polite and treated us like we were guests in her home. She captured our full attention, and therefore no one wondered off or did something they weren’t supposed.
The best part of the tour was the end when we went back to the front of the factory. There was a cow simulation area, where the kids could see what it is like to milk an actual cow. They also let everyone of us try an ice cream flavor for free. It was good promotion of their products, although we probably would have bought ice for ourselves anyway. For the low price of the tour, the free ice cream was very generous. Not having to pay for our ice cream prompted us to buy other things for ourselves from the gift shop that they had conveniently located next to the ice cream shop. Some of us bought a t-​shirt, while I bought an eraser that was shaped like a cow and one that was an ice cream cone.
The Mayfield Dairy Farms has had a major local impact of the nearby towns. It has made a not so visited area more popular by offering tours. It is one of the major attractions of its area. It has also made an impact on my family. Whenever we go to the grocery store we make sure to buy Mayfield ice cream, and help support their business. Recently they discontinued it from our grocery store, so we go out of our way to another one just to get their creamy ice cream. Whenever I see a carton of Mayfield ice cream on the shelf, I can’t help to think back to the tour and what that ice cream went through to end up in our grocery store.

The creamiest and fluffiest ice cream ever.
If you have out of town visitors, you gotta bring em here.
Come for the tour, get a few knick knacks in the store.
Get a double scoop and a rocker on the porch and enjoy it.

Be advised that this tour is an hour of your life you can never get back. It is possibly one of the most boring tours I have ever been on in my life. The tour guide had absolutely no personality and no sense of humor to even try to bring a shred of fun into this collosal waste of time. The gift shop is full of overpriced junk similar to a Cracker Barrel. It takes about 10 minutes for someone to get you one scoop of ice cream. Save yourself some time and just go get ice cream from the store. Absolutely terrible!!!

Cute place but it’s NOT a farm, so no cows and no pastures. Glad we went but the kids were a little bored during the tour and intro movie. And they pitched a fit about wearing hair nets. Probably better for kids over 8. Ice cream at the end was so good and fresh.

Love the fact this is truly FRESH ice cream :) nothing beats it.

Great business. Informative tour and free ice cream. We’ve been several time and it’s great fun.

The tour was somewhat short lived. I remember it was different, but then again, that was when I was in 3^rd grade many years ago. Lol. The tour started out with a 10 minute film of Mayfield’s history and humble beginnings. After this, the tour guide explain about what the tour encompassed. He also informed us that due to health regulations, a hair net was necessary. A beard net was also passed out to the men in the room. Really. That’s not a joke even though we all thought it was. Lol.
The tour guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and friendly. The tour itself was interesting and informative. Although we only got to see about ²⁄₈ of the plant, it was interesting to see how most of the manufacturing and packaging was automated. And did you know that there isn’t any cows on site?! This Mayfield is a processing plant, and so, there aren’t any cows out in the back even though the name does suggest a farm – Mayfield Dairy Farms.
Parking was plentiful. There’s a little gift shop here if you’re wanting to pick up some memorabilia items. Ice cream was also for sale, but with the tour ($ 4.50 for an adult ticket), you can either choose a single scoop cone or cup. A single scoop is more like three. Seriously.

I’m so glad the Visitor Center has reopened! I’m a local and enjoy visiting on hot days with my daughters. The prices on the scoops have gone up a little, but it’s so worth it if you love Mayfield ice cream! One scoop is $ 2.50 in a cup and double scoop is $ 3.50 in a cup. They have most of the popular flavors available, and you can also choose a cone if you don’t want a cup. The ladies behind the counter are always so friendly.
There’s seating inside or you can sit outside in a rocking chair or picnic tables with an umbrella.
Don’t forget to bring your camera so you can get a picture of yourself standing beside the giant cow!
If you’re in the area I highly recommend that you stop in for a visit!

THIS IS NOT A FARM) Mayfield Dairy is open today though many say it is Closed. Maybe the facility as far as touring. I don’t know but the Ice cream stand is Open and scooping ICE CREAM FOLKS!
6÷3÷2014 On a hot Tuesday we, mom/​daughter decided on stopping by for some rich, creamy Ice Cream.
So Glad to know our favorites were on the board like Butter pecan, strawberry cheesecake, and cookies&cream! I remember the cones being much cheaper but now it is $ 7.51 for Two cones which looks like a Double scoop on each…
As for the cost I’m Not complaining because my family loves Mayfield from the milk to the Ice cream and other products. You can come out and sit in a rocking chair or at a table with umbrella to enjoy your delicious treat.
We have never been on the tour but hear we aren’t missing much! We only Came for the Ice cream and really enjoyed it.

Bummed. They recently changed the tour for «safety reasons.» No more free hairnets.
You watch a film about the company. Then you go into the factory where you see the homogenizers, pasteurizers, etc through a window. Then you look into the lab. Next, you look out into the garage at the tanker trucks unloading their milk.
After that, you watch a film on how the milk jugs are made and filled. The end. It’s all about 28 minutes. You do not get to watch them make the jugs, fill/​package them anymore. :-(Go somewhere else for a real tour.

Yep. To be sure, this is not a farm. But, getting past that, they do have some awesome ice cream! Mayfield Dairy has it’s HQ in Athens, TN and has touring and tasting at that facility also.
Unfortunately, the dollar scoops are a thing of the past, though you still get a huge scoop for your little-​over-​a-​dollar price, and it’s great fun to order your scoop in a cup or cone at the outside window and sit and rock on the porch, people watch, and just enjoy the day.
This is a great place to bring out-​of-​towners when they come to visit. Be aware, though, of their hours. They are only open until 2PM on Saturdays and are closed on Sunday.

Mayfield Dairy «Farm» is a cool place to visit. Don’t be fooled, though. This is no farm. I grew up in Michigan where we actually have them and this isn’t one. It’s a Milk processing facility. There are no cows to be found!
The place is pretty cool, though. You get to see them unload those huge milk trucks and you learn about the process of cleaning the milk. You’ll also get to see them package the different types of milk and view the testing steps. All in all, its worth the drive.
The best part is that you get to wear a yellow hair net and eat some ice cream after the tour!

I love Mayfield ice cream. They don’t make it here, but they do process the milk, which is some great milk. I would definitely direct fans of milk and ice cream here, mainly for the ice cream. It’s $ 1 for a big cone, and while the tour is quick, it’s a fun activity. Did I mention that it’s A DOLLAR for an ice cream cone?!? It’s well worth the drive for some of the best ice cream in the world. My favorite? The Moose Tracks and the Blueberry Pie… mmmm, nothing else can compete! Head south for good ice cream!