NEWPORT, Maine — Each year on the Sunday before Indigenous People's Day, dairy and cream farms open their doors to the public to see the behind the scenes of Maine's dairy industry.
Open Creamery Day is organized by the Maine Cheese Guild, a nonprofit which connects over 20 dairy farms and supports Maine's cheese industry.
In Newport, Kaili Wardwell co-owns Abraham's Creamery and welcomes the community every year.
"It means a lot because it's start-to-finish. We milk the goats, we make the cheese, and now we get to showcase it and show everybody how we do it," she said.
The seven-person operation oversees a troop of more than 70 goats plus chickens, horses and herding dogs.
Sara Stevens works full-time at Abraham's but also runs her own farm "All in Thyme." Every year, she values educating non-farmers in the work behind food.
"Only 1 percent of the population is still farming," Stevens said. "So, it's important that people come and that they see where their food comes from, how their food is raised, the work that goes into it and that is it people that are doing the work."
For guests, the open house lifts the veil on products they love. Josphine Rousell loves the woodfired pizza and cheeses from Abraham's. However, it was not until Sunday she saw where the magic happens.
"I've just never been able to see the inside of the creamery before so i am really happy to be here for open creamery day," Rousell said.
Also working the event, Jessa Michaud-Bell has been learning the ropes behind her dream of owning a farm over the past four years she has worked at Abraham's.
"Now I am in a position where I have my own goats, and I am making my own cheese and doing my own thing. It’s worked out, it’s kind of nice," Michaud-Bell said.