Dairy Delicious event debuts at Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton

The Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton is hosting its first ever Dairy Delicious event over the August long weekend.

CHCH News took a look back at the history of the dairy industry from the mid 1800s to the early 1900s – and how things like butter and ice cream were made without the convenience of technology.

Ben Loewith owns Summit Station Dairy near Copetown. His family has been milking cows for 76 years.

And on Sunday Loewith showed the crowd at the Westfield Heritage Village how his grandfather milked cows back in the day.

“Something like this gives them an appreciation of the entire story. This is how it was 70 years ago, and they can have those discussions of what’s changed right up to the modern era,” said Loewith.

Milking demonstrations are part of the August long weekend’s Dairy Delicious event at the Westfield Heritage Village.

The event showcases how early pioneers made food like butter, cheese, and ice cream before technology made life easier.

“We have an exhibit of antique butter churning equipment. We’re making butter, making ice cream. You get to taste them all. And we’ve got some cheese curd sample, talks on stories about dairy farms and a carnival. A very fun carnival,” said Manager at the Westfield Heritage Village, Rondalyn Brown.

“The hours are still very long on a dairy farm, but not nearly as physically demanding … Still getting up at 4 a.m. in the morning, but not quite as physically demanding as when my grandfather was working,” said Loewith.

The Dairy Delicious exhibit is expected to draw 600 people a day to the village.

People CHCH News spoke with say it’s great to see how their ancestors made food.

“If you don’t learn then you don’t know where we came from, and where we came from is where we’re going,” said one woman.

“We’re from Hamilton so we’re just making sure that the kids get an education on farming and cows and dairy production and stuff like that so they can get a better understanding and appreciation for their food sources,” said one father, Michael Proba.

The event will also be running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 4.

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