Alise now serves as president and cheesemaker of Redhead Creamery, which occupies a state-of-the-art, $750,000 facility.
Its an idyllic setting to say the least.
Her daughter, Lucy, loves to play saleswoman, happily handing customers their packaged cheese purchases.
The focus of these tours is on how they take care of their cows and on cheesemaking in general.
The purpose is to bring people togetherand closer to the process of how their food is actually made.
So whats Alises secret?
Why does something that is so difficult for most peoplefinding your lifes purposecome so easily for her?
Throughout the day that I spent with Alise on her farm, I learned so much about her.
Cheese connects Alise to nature.
Theres something about animals and humansthat connection is very gratifying.
Were really coming to understand that now as we give more and more farm tours.
The connection Alise has with the animals she grew up with is obvious to anyone who visits.
An authentic connection to animals, Alise argues, is absolutely essential for a good cheesemaker.
You have to start with a really good milk to end up with good cheese.
Cheese connects Alise to her family.
I never knew what it was like to have parents whodidntwork with their kids growing up, Alise says.
At an early age, she observed her parents love for their lifes work.
She also valued the experience of being raised in a close knit family.
As an adult, Alise wanted that life too.
This wasnt a head-in-the-clouds dream.
Land that can support one family successfully cannot necessarily support two.
Opening up a creamery on her parents dairy farm in rural Minnesota wasalwaysher end goal.
Cheese connects Alise to her community.
A big part of Alises success belongs to the surrounding community.
Theyre also devoted to supporting her business by purchasing her trusted products.
At Redhead Creamery, you will actually discover more than Alises own creations.
Alise showcases products made by local vendors she partners with, too.
Cheese gives Alise a chance to experiment and be creative.
At least, thats the way it is at the Redhead Creamery.
Alises artisanal cheeses are as creative and fun as they are tasty.
One such crazy cheese that Alise favors is a French-style muenster that she washes with Minnesota 14 whiskey.
Its an incredibly creamy, pungent cheese that is soft on your tongue and powerful to your taste buds.
This cheese is a testament to how an artistic touch can make something great that much better.
Everybody say cheese!
Alise is enthusiastic about cheese because for her, cheese is so many things.
Cheese is a connection to her beloved family farm and the animals that live there.
Cheese is a connection to her parents, her siblings, her kids, and her husband.
Cheese is a connection to the community.
Cheese is her work.
And cheese is her outlet for creativity.
