Chesco Farmer Of The Year: Owners Of Birchrun Hill Farm

WEST CHESTER, PA – The 2023 Chester County “Farmers of the Year” award winner is the Miller family, owners of the Birchrun Hills Farm, a dairy and cheesemaking business based in Chester Springs.

The Chester County commissioners and the Agriculture Council presented the award Tuesday to Ken Miller, and his wife, Sue, and their sons, Randy and Jesse.

The family was recognized for their dynamic business model, commitment to sustainable farming practices, and local food system advocacy.

First-generation dairy farmers Ken and Sue Miller started farming in 1980 when Chester County farmland was plentiful to lease and milk prices were strong.

After weathering years of volatile milk prices and rising land costs, they took a chance on cheesemaking in 2006 to secure a more stable future for their farm.

Sue, the primary cheesemaker, credited support from Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, cheesemaking mentor Peter Dickson of Parish Hill Creamery in Vermont, and Di Bruno Brothers, gourmet shops in Philadelphia, for her success.

“It wasn’t easy for us to start making cheese,” Sue recalled. “Randy and Jesse were so young back then, and it took many special relationships with fellow farmers and a lot of family cooperation to allow us to explore this new venture.”

Ken Miller oversees crop growing, using sustainable farming practices to feed an 80-cow herd.

Birchrun Hills award-winning cheeses have a following with chefs, food critics, and specialty retailers across the region including Phoenixville, Bryn Mawr, Kennett Square, and Headhouse farmers markets.

The Millers host regular cheese and wine on-farm happy hours and virtual cheese-tasting events.