First generation:

Brenda and Dean Jensen started the farm when Dean bought his wife 50 sheep for Christmas.  Over time the flock grew, and Brenda discovered she had both a deep love and talent for making top notch cheeses. Brenda grew the flock and the business to about 350 milking sheep and has a long list of awards her cheeses have won. She became the person everyone associated with great Sheep Milk Cheese.  Thankfully, as Brenda and Dean started exploring what their next great adventure would be, Amy and Travis found them and have agreed to take the reins. Brenda and Dean are not moving far, just up the road to allow for visits to the ladies and anytime Brenda gets an urge to make some cheese, she is not far.

The pieces that make the relationship so perfect is that all the things that mattered to the Jensen’s, matter to the Forgues as well so they can move on knowing that both their farm, the ladies and the community they have called home are in capable and caring hands. 

We are a farmstead creamery, meaning that our cheeses are made in small batches right here on the farm where our sheep are born, raised, milked and graze our lush pastures. Because of this, care and attention to the purity, quality, and flavor of the milk and health of our flock is a vital part of our process.

We take pride in being stewards of the land and farm in a way that is harmonious with nature. Giving back to the land and helping build soil instead of depleting it is something we take very seriously.  

We avoid tilling the pastures in order to prevent erosion and continue to build rich organic matter.

Our ladies enjoy Wisconsin summers grazing our hillside farm, munching on a salad bar of greens if you will.  We chose not to spray herbicides or pesticides on our farm and are currently working to certify our land organic.  

Future projects for Hidden Springs will be to work to install solar power to offset our energy use.

We believe happy, healthy sheep will produce the best quality milk.  Not to mention, we just love our sheep want them to live their best lives while at Hidden Springs. 

Our flock is mostly composed of the Lacaune breed of sheep. The breed originated from the area of Lacaune in southern France and was named after its place of origin.

The breed is mostly utilized as dairy sheep. They are the predominant breed of sheep used for Roquefort cheese production in France.

We are committed to giving our flock their best life here at the farm.  We take care to provide them a natural lifestyle where they roam outside, enjoy frolics with friends, nutritious and healthy diet and are lovingly cared for by our family. 

The first argument Travis and I had about the farm is who would get the title “Chief Sheep Cuddler”.  He won!  But I still put Sheep cuddler on my business cards!