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The History of Redwood Hill Farm

Redwood Hill Farm Goat Dairy started by the Bice Family

The goat dairy at Redwood Hill had roots in the “back to the land” movement, when in 1964 our parents Kenneth and Cynthia moved their family from urban southern California to rural Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California.

As children, we were accustomed to the sounds of city traffic, skating on sidewalks and proximity to Disneyland. However, we slowly adjusted to living in the rural countryside. Membership in the Sonoma County 4-H chapters, a national hands-on agricultural youth organization, introduced us to farm animals of all sorts. Goats – engaging, smart and personable animals – became the favorites of many us, and we raised them as our 4-H project. The goat herd steadily grew, and as a result in 1968 we built a Grade A dairy to supply raw goat milk, packaged in glass bottles, to area health food stores. Redwood Hill Farm Goat Dairy was born.

Jennifer assumes ownership of Redwood Hill Farm

As we grew up, most of my brothers and sisters developed other interests and moved on; and as a result, the family dairy closed. The eldest of the Bice siblings, I remained in Sebastopol with my dairy goat herd while attending college and business school. Meanwhile in the 1970s, I met Steven Schack, a fellow southern California-to-Sonoma County transplant. When my parents moved to Hawaii with the younger siblings, Steven and I married and became business partners. We purchased the Redwood Hill Farm goat dairy and consequently re-launched the Redwood Hill Farm business. In doing so, we brought together two herds: Steven’s “Compañeros” herd of Saanen, LaMancha, Alpine and Toggenburg dairy goats; and mine consisting of Alpines, Nubians, and LaManchas. Redwood Hill Farm became the home of the newly combined herds.

20 years of passion and hard work

During the late 1970s to the late 1990s, we worked nonstop developing the business while enjoying our shared passion for dairy goats. We were proud of the recognition when in 1982 we were awarded the “Premier Breeder of Show” at the National Dairy Goat Show. (Redwood Hill Farm has gone on to win that coveted honor on six subsequent occasions.) Dairy goat breeding continues to be an important component of the business. As a result, we supply nationally renowned breeding stock and dairy goat semen to dairy goat farmers around the United States. Learn more about the prize-winning dairy goats of Redwood Hill with Farm Manager Scott Bice, my youngest brother.

Sadly, after a brief illness, Steven died in 1999 of pancreatic cancer. To honor his memory, we still use the Compañeros herd name for our Saanen herd, his favorite breed.

We love the photo above of Steven Schack’s parents who helped us through the years and sold our products at the famed, Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.  The banner behind them shows our original logo.

Jennifer builds the Redwood Hill Farm Creamery

At the turn of the century, the herd continued to increase in size. In addition, awareness of the health benefits of goat milk and its great taste increased as well. To meet ever-increasing demand for our products, in 2004 I built a state-of-the-art creamery in Sebastopol. We produced award-winning artisan cheese and cultured dairy products including yogurt and kefir. Today, Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery products are widely distributed to natural and specialty stores throughout the United States.

After almost 40 years of leading and growing the Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery business, I found the right partner to carry on the business so that I could retire and our wonderful goat milk products could continue to be available to our loyal customers. In 2015 the over 100-year old Swiss dairy company Emmi took the helm. Emmi is a highly regarded, majority-owned cooperative of small-scale dairy farmers. Most importantly for me, they matched our business values of quality and sustainability. Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, now a part of Emmi’s dairy business, remains a premier presence in the Sonoma County community today.

Back to our roots: the goat dairy and so much more

I fully retain the original Redwood Hill Farm property and animals as my farm business. Today, the farm also known as Capracopia, is home to dairy goats, an olive grove, hop yard, fruit orchard, flower field, vegetable garden, and chicken flock. Coming full circle, several of my siblings and the next generation — two nieces and a nephew — are involved. As a result, farm life and artisan food production at Redwood Hill Farm ~ Capracopia continues to thrive.

Redwood Hill Farm Matriarch Cynthia Bice, early 1970’s

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Young Steven Schack

Steven Schack discovered an early love of dairy goats as a boy in the early 1950s.

The Bice family building a milking stand for the family's first dairygoat

Three generations! Grandpa Harold Bice builds a milking stand for the family’s first dairy goats while Sharon helps and Dad Ken takes a picture in 1965.

Redwood Hill Farm co-founders Ken & Cynthia Bice at the Sonoma County Fair with Nubian breeder Mabel O'Dell

Ken & Cynthia Bice with an early Nubian and the Santa Rosa breeder, Mabel O’Dell. Late 1960s.

Ken Bice breaking ground for his Sebastopol goat dairy.

Breaking ground on the original dairy milking parlor in 1970.

The original cinder block dairy barn under construction

The Grade A cinder block milking parlor under construction at the original Redwood Hill Farm, 1970.

Young Jennifer Bice with future Redwood Hill Farm herd sire

Jennifer Bice with young buckling and future herd sire, Laurelwood Acres Class, circa 1971.

Redwood Hill Farm founder Ken Bice showing in the 1970's

Ken Bice and Judge Wes Nordfeldt with an early Champion Nubian at the Sonoma County Fair, late 1960s.

Bice family kids showing their goats at the fair circa 1970

Bice Family 4-H kids at the California State Fair, early 1970s. L-R: Jennifer, Steven, Sharon, Shelley & Kevin Bice. This picture was featured on the cover of Dairy Goat Journal.

Jennifer Bice with her champion Nubian doeling

4-H teen Jennifer after receiving a champion award with her Nubian kid.

1972 ADGA Princess Jennifer Bice with her Nubian kid

Publicity photo for the 1970 California State Dairy Goat Princess, Jennifer Bice.

The late Steven Shack posing his Saanen doe for an archive picture.

Steven Schack with one of his prized Compañeros Saanen does, circa 1976.

Jennifer Bice and Steven Schack

Steven and Jennifer winning Premier Breeder of Show in 1982 at the ADGA National Dairy Goat Show.

Fiesta market congratulates Redwood Hill Farm on 40th Anniversary

One of Redwood Hill Farm’s early supporters, Fiesta Market, helped us celebrate our 40th Anniversary as a family farm in 2008.

Redwood Hill Farm matriarch Cynthia Bice

Family matriarch Cynthia on the farm in 2007 helping care for the new spring kids.

Jennifer Bice with an early rack of Camellia cheese.

One of the first farmstead cheeses, Camellia, crafted by Jennifer at the original farm cheeseplant, circa early 1990s.

Cheesemaker Jennifer Bice crafting Feta cheese at her new Sebastopol creamery

Cheesemaker Jennifer crafting award-winning Raw Milk Feta in her new Sebastopol creamery, circa 2005.

Cheesemaker Jennifer Bice turning wheels of Gravenstein Gold aged cheese

Jennifer turning wheels of Gravenstein Gold, a washed rind cheese, 2009.

Jennifer Bice in front of the farms new solar array

Jennifer with toddler nephew Colton, in front of the new solar array installed in 2010 and now powering the farm.

Young Colton Bice showing his own goat at the local fair

The next generation growing up on Redwood Hill Farm: Colton Bice showing his goat Dark Stripe.

Carton of Black Cherry Kefir, an early dairy offering.

One of Redwood Hill Farm’s first products produced in the early 1970s. Packaging was illustrated by young teenager Sharon Bice.

Early pasteurized goat milk carton

Redwood Hill Farm’s first 8 oz. pasteurized goat milk carton, circa 1980.

Vintage quart packaging for Redwood HIll Farm Plain Goat Milk Yogurt

Redwood Hill Farm Goat Milk Yogurt packaging design, 1986.

Redwood HIll Farm goat milk dairy products in the mid 1980's

Redwood Hill Farm offerings by the mid-80s: Fresh goat milk, Goat Milk Mozzarella, Goat Milk Ricotta, Yogurt in 32 and 8 oz sizes including plain, strawberry, blueberry.

The Redwood Hill Farm yogurt packaging redesign, 2006

In 2006 the yogurt packaging gets an updated design. Flavors include Plain, Vanilla, Strawberry, Blueberry, Cranberry Orange and Apricot Mango.

2008 packaging of Redwood Hill Farm's Goat Milk

After the new Sebastopol creamery was finished in 2004, Redwood Hill Farm began offering fresh goat milk again as well as goat milk kefir in 2008.

The full line of Redwood Hill Farm artisan cheeses

The full line of Redwood Hill Farm artisan cheeses including Cheddar, Smoked Cheddar, Feta, French-style California Crottin, Bucheret, Camellia and Fresh Chevre, 2004.

The Tradition Line of goat milk cheeses

Redwood Hill Farm Traditional Line of cheeses, L to R: Smoked Cheddar, Cheddar, and Raw Milk Feta.

Redwood Hill Farm's French-style cheese collection

The Signature Rind-Ripened cheese collection, L to R: Bucheret, California Crottin, Terra, Cameo and Camellia.

The 2011 new packaging for the goat milk quart

Redwood Hill Farm Pasteurized Goat Milk gets an updated packaging design in 2011.

The Bice family on the farm in 2018.

Still farming after all these years! Celebrating 50 years of family farming in 2018. L to R: Scott Bice with son Colton Bice and daughter Nicole Bice, David Bice, Jennifer Bice, Scott’s wife Cristi Bice, Sharon Bice.

The 2011 new packaging design for Redwood Hill Farm cultured dairy

A sampling of the 2011 new cultured dairy packaging design, L to R: Blueberry Kefir, Wildflower Honey and Plain yogurt.

© 2022 Redwood Hill Farm ~ Capracopia
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