Nash Family Creamery has become a beloved destination in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, since the Nash family brought their multi-generational dairy farming expertise to the community in 2014. Located along Highway 41 in Chapel Hill, within Bedford County, Nash Family Creamery isn’t just a dairy farm; it’s an immersive experience. They offer farm tours and a delightful on-farm café where visitors can indulge in hand-dipped ice cream and savor made-to-order food. The creamery also proudly features a variety of value-added products from neighboring farms, fostering a strong sense of community support. Since opening its retail space in 2020, Nash Family Creamery has become renowned for its impressive and ever-expanding menu of over 100 unique ice cream flavors.
Cody Nash, owner and operator, emphasizes their commitment to quality and customer experience: “We feel like we’ve got the product down pretty good, although we’re always tweaking it and adding new flavors, but creating more and more of a reason for people to drive what could be 30 minutes to an hour out of their way to visit us.”
A Dairy Farming Legacy Across Generations
The Nash family’s journey in dairy farming began long before their move to Tennessee, stretching back to 1929 in central California. Wallace & Ida Nash established their dairy herd during the challenging years of the Great Depression, building a livelihood through hard work and resilience. This perseverance became a defining characteristic of their family farm story.
For over eight decades, the Nash family cultivated their California farm, growing it into a 1,200-cow operation. However, facing increasing water scarcity and unfavorable market prices, they made the monumental decision to relocate their entire farm across the country in 2014. They chose Chapel Hill, Tennessee, as their new home, where the family continues to thrive more than ten years later.
Front view of the Nash Family Creamery retail space in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, showcasing its welcoming and farm-fresh atmosphere.
Investing in Growth with SDBII Support
The Nash family has strategically invested in their Tennessee venture, focusing on both financial growth and professional development. Cody and his wife, Kara Nash, have actively participated in educational programs offered by the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (SDBII) since 2019. Their commitment to learning and improvement is evident in their two-time receipt of the SDBII North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) Professional Development Scholarship. This scholarship enabled them to attend the annual NAFDMA Convention & Expo, gaining valuable insights from agritourism and value-added business operators throughout North America. Most recently, they attended the 2024 NAFDMA Convention & Expo in Boston, Massachusetts, continuing to expand their knowledge and network.
Nash Family Creamery also believes in giving back to the community and sharing their experiences. In October 2023, they hosted a “Developing Your Value-Added Marketing Strategy” workshop, facilitated by the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture on behalf of SDBII, at their farm. Cody Nash shared firsthand insights into their business growth and the intricacies of marketing value-added dairy products. Sarah Cornelisse from Penn State University Extension also contributed her expertise to the workshop.
Workshop attendees engaged in a discussion about value-added product marketing inside the Nash Family Creamery retail space in October 2023.
The Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (SDBII) grant funding has played a crucial role in the expansion and diversification of Nash Family Creamery’s value-added operations. Receiving SDBII grants in 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Nash family has implemented key operational improvements. In 2021, grant funds facilitated the custom printing of new containers, enabling them to expand their reach into wholesale and retail ice cream markets.
Cody Nash highlights the transformative impact of processing their own products: “It’s been really great adding that extra revenue stream [the creamery] and to have that extra interaction with the public to where we’re not just a dairy that’s off the road, that’s making raw milk that people are kind of disconnected from. We’ve been able to tie everything from growing feed to making ice cream back to the customer.”
The 2022 SDBII Specialty Processing & Equipment Grant further empowered Nash Family Creamery to enhance their infrastructure. They invested in increased chiller capacity, expanded walk-in cooler space for the retail store, and acquired an ice cream hardening and storage freezer, ensuring product quality and efficiency.
Ice cream tubs neatly arranged inside the chiller at Nash Family Creamery, maintaining optimal temperature for freshness and quality.
In 2023, the SDBII Precision Technology and Management Grant enabled Nash Family Creamery to adopt cutting-edge technology for their dairy herd. They acquired Genex wearable technology, enhancing animal health management and contributing to reduced energy costs through improved herd monitoring and efficiency.
A cow from the Nash family herd proudly wearing Genex wearable technology, showcasing the farm's commitment to animal well-being and data-driven management.
Furthering their commitment to growth, Nash Family Creamery was awarded another Specialty Processing and Equipment Grant in 2023. These funds will be strategically used to purchase a batch freezer, allowing the creamery to supply additional retail locations and facilitate further product innovation. The grant will also support the acquisition of a new walk-in freezer, improving energy efficiency and storage capacity.
Looking Towards a Sweet Future
Nash Family Creamery is continuously focused on enhancing operational efficiency through automation, with ongoing support from SDBII funding. Cody Nash explains, “We’ve certainly been expanding kind of vertical integration in terms of raising more of our own heifers on the farm, growing more of our own feed, and having those types of automated tools like what we got through the grant that helps the manpower that you have go further.”
He emphasizes that technology acquired through the SDBII grants is instrumental in monitoring animal health and streamlining farm logistics, enabling them to manage a larger herd effectively. Looking ahead, Cody Nash envisions deepening the customer experience at Nash Family Creamery, aiming to “give them [customers] more and more of a reason to visit…”.
Discover more about Nash Family Creamery and plan your visit by exploring their website at https://nashfamilycreamery.com/ and connecting with them on social media via Facebook and Instagram.
