WESTFIELD, Pa. — Nestled in the Endless Mountains of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, the Painter family is building more than a dairy legacy for Painterland Farms—they’re shaping a vision for the future of sustainable farming and rural entrepreneurship. Across generations and ventures, their story blends back-to-basics animal care with forward-thinking innovation.
From healthy calves and comfortable cows, to shelves stocked nationwide with Painterland Sisters yogurt, this family farm is proving that tradition and innovation can grow side by side.
On the farm, simplicity is more than a philosophy—it’s a strategy. Cleanliness and comfort are prevention priorities for the farm that has been certified organic since 2003. Three generations farm and graze 5000 acres and milk 450 cows in what has always been a primarily grazing dairy, with supplemental ration ingredients raised on cropland here too.
When it comes to raising calves, Bradley Painter and his daughter Courtney keep it straightforward: “Ventilation and cleanliness are top focus,” says Bradley.
Open on all four sides with adjustable top and bottom curtains and overhead natural light, the calf barn has delivered seven years of healthy, thriving calves. Designed after visiting farms across the country, it is naturally ventilated and fan-free. Even in the depths of winter, only the lower curtains are closed to keep the chill at bay while allowing continuous airflow.
“There are no shortcuts in calf care,” says Bradley. “Healthy calves start with good air, dry bedding, and hands-on management.”
The calves are fed through an automatic system that self-cleans and adjusts portions to each calf’s needs. Green lights mean milk is on the menu; red lights mean a calf has met its quota. This smart system lightens the labor load but not the attention to detail—Bradley and Courtney remain hands-on, monitoring calves closely and maintaining a barn environment that’s consistently clean and dry, which also improves their ventilation goals.
Raised from birth to about 400 pounds in this barn, the mixed breed calves covering the spectrum of dairy breeds in a methodical way are the future of the herd, where heifers are grown as replacements and bulls for their organic beef business. Supporting calf health is essential, not only because veterinary options are limited in organic systems, but because they’re an investment in the farm’s long-term success.
Prioritizing prevention is also a strategy for the cowherd, managed by Clinton Painter along with the pasture management to optimize dry matter intake from grazing. His brother Johnny leads the overall farm business management, and he also helps where needed around the farm.
Lately, Johnny’s been in the parlor more. The Painters had started using Udder Comfort in 2023. While helping with the milking, Johnny says he quickly saw the importance of the product, noting: “We’ve used some brands in the past, but I have seen better results with this one.”
It makes him smile when he sees their milking employees reach for the Udder Comfort and apply it to an udder. “I’m confident if the employees are willing to get it and use it, then they know it works too. We use it for fresh cows and any swelling or hardness to soften and soothe. The bonus is it makes our hands feel good too,” he laughs.
Beyond the Barn: A Yogurt Brand Rooted in the Land
Painterland creativity extends beyond the farm, thanks to Clinton’s daughters Hayley and Stephanie—the sisters behind the Painterland Sisters Organic Icelandic Skyr Yogurt brand. Launched in March 2022, their product now is on shelves in over 2,000 stores across all 50 states with a growing and loyal following.
“It’s a nutrient-dense food, a whole milk yogurt, that’s easier to digest and rich in essential fats and protein,” says Hayley. The yogurt features added lactase enzymes, live probiotics, and a high-protein Icelandic skyr recipe. The plain variety offers a whopping 21 grams of protein per serving, with flavored options close behind.
But this business is more than just milk turned to yogurt—it’s a mission to sustain family dairy farms. “We grew up farming with our 13 cousins. We’re connected to the land and animals,” Stephanie writes in a blog post. “Now, we want to connect directly with consumers and help sustain this way of life.”
In February of 2024, Hayley was able to give her grandmother Lynda her first tour of Reykjavik Creamery, where Painterland Sisters products and other unique yogurt brands are made on different days.
Using milk from their own farm and other Organic Valley co-op member farms, the sisters have partnered with this Pennsylvania yogurt plant, which keeps the entire process PA-Preferred.
With input from artisan experts, they developed flavors through family kitchen experiments and real-time taste tests. Vanilla, strawberry, meadowberry, blueberry-lemon, peach, and more—each flavor is family-and-friend-tested before launching farm-to-fridge. They even designed the packaging.
Carrying the Message and the Mission
What makes their brand especially powerful is its story—told with a mix of transparency and positivity. Though firmly rooted in organic and regenerative farming practices, Hayley emphasizes positive messaging.
“We want to be factual, not divisive,” she says, noting not all the farms around them are organic, and that’s okay. “There’s more that unites farmers than divides us, and consumers win when we support each other.”
Through social media, speaking engagements, and even the Pennsylvania Governor’s Team PA Board, Hayley and Stephanie use their platform to amplify the voices of rural America. Their yogurt is not just food—it’s a vehicle for advocacy, sustainability, and connection.
The world is noticing. The sisters have been featured in many home and food magazines and were recently named in the Forbes Top 40 entrepreneurs under age 40.
A Family-Driven Future
Back on the farm, Johnny says he’s proud to see the younger generation finding new ways to make dairy viable. From the milking parlor and grazing management to a thriving calf program and crop rotations, the farm remains a family effort, with each member playing a part in a system that works.
“We’re building something here,” says Hayley. “It’s more than a product. It’s a way of life.”
— Photos and story by Sherry Bunting
Interested in learning more? Visit Painterland Sisters to discover their story, find store locations, and follow their farm-to-yogurt journey.
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