S*1444 Resolution, By Alexander
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND SPLIT CREEK FARM IN ANDERSON,
 SOUTH CAROLINA UPON WINNING BEST IN CLASS FOR ITS GOAT CHEESE ENTRY IN THE
 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHEESE CONTEST.

   05/13/10  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-7

TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND SPLIT CREEK FARM IN ANDERSON, SOUTH CAROLINA UPON WINNING BEST IN CLASS FOR ITS GOAT CHEESE ENTRY IN THE 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CHEESE CONTEST.

Whereas, the members of the Senate are pleased to learn that Split Creek Farm in Anderson, South Carolina won Best in Class for its goat cheese entry in the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest held in March 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin, the largest world championship cheese contest ever held; and

Whereas, with 2,313 entries representing twenty nations worldwide and competing with European cheesemakers, winning the Gold in their Class was exceptionally rewarding, as many of the Second, Third, and Fourth place winners were from Spain; and

Whereas, Split Creek Farm is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains' scenic foothills of South Carolina. The Grade A Dairy is in a barn designed and built by the owners to include the milking and cheese operations and a kid nursery; and

Whereas, Split Creek Farm became a commercial Grade A goat dairy in 1985. A small-scale cheese operation started in 1988 in response to a growing demand for domestic goat cheeses and as a means to utilize seasonal excesses of milk. Production progressed from the original four-gallon vat batches to the current 150-gallon vat operation, which began in August 1990; and

Whereas, Split Creek Farm's certified goat herd produces all the milk used for its cheese and fudge. The herd, which is mostly Nubian, competes nationally in the show ring and for milk production records; and

Whereas, the farm started with three goats and a piece of land. The herd peaked at 750 goats, and fences, pastures, and barns were built over the years; and

Whereas, currently the farm population averages about 350, with half of those being milked twice a day; and

Whereas, hormones are never used to get the does bred or to produce more milk, and herbicides and pesticides are not used on the pastures in keeping with the commitment to produce an all natural product. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, recognize and commend Split Creek Farm in Anderson, South Carolina upon winning Best in Class for its goat cheese entry in the 2010 World Championship Cheese Contest.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Split Creek Farm.