Down a quiet rural road just outside of Rushsylvania, where the noise of everyday life fades into the calm of open fields and a simpler pace, sits King Dairy — a farm built on family, faith, and hard work.
From the moment I turned into the driveway, I had a feeling this visit would be something special.
No relation to this King family, I grew up with grandparents who owned cattle — and even milked at one point — so it felt like stepping back into a familiar rhythm, a comforting echo of childhood memories.
I was greeted by Zoey, a friendly black Labradoodle, tail wagging and eager to say hello.
Soon after, Ella King appeared, walking up from the barn with her baby tucked into a front carrier — the perfect picture of a modern farm mom.
Warm and welcoming, she was ready to show me around.
Our first stop was the newest barn, home to about 100 Holstein heifers.
These cows, raised from bottle-fed calves, are now full-grown and as friendly as ever.
They even posed for a few photos — a true farmyard photo shoot.
Ella explained that she and her husband, Jonathan, purchased the farm from an Amish family, keeping it organic and rooted in tradition while bringing in their own modern touch.
Both come from dairy backgrounds, and choosing to stay in that world felt natural.
“We wanted to build something lasting,” Ella shared. “Organic milk gives us a consistent income, even if it’s more demanding. It’s worth it.”
As we moved from barn to barn, with Zoey happily tagging along, Ella told me how their young kids give the cows names like “Marshmallow, Corn, Weedeater, Rosie, Rope, and Vanilla” — creative choices only little ones could dream up.
Technology plays an important role in the Kings’ operation.
AI systems help detect signs of illness in the herd before symptoms appear, allowing for early treatment.
Their milk is picked up every other day and taken to an organic processor right here in Ohio.
While we sat at a picnic table overlooking the milking parlor, Ella talked about her favorite time of day — when the cows are let out to pasture.
“They love going out,” she said with a smile. “It’s cool to see them, they they kind of run out to the to the pasture and there’s no problem getting them out especially at night when it’s nice and cool!”
That simplicity is something the Kings value.
Life on the farm is full of early mornings, long days, and hard work — but also deep purpose.
Yeah I mean like I said back to the legacy it’s it’s something that’s we get to do with our kids with our family working together. Which like I said there’s hard days. But at the end of the day when you get to be with your family it’s very cool. It’s very cool to have that. We have a huge passion for the cows and at the end of a long day seeing the cows happily grazing on pasture and nothing’s. More comforting than seeing a cow eating and it’s a it’s a good life. It’s a peaceful life. It’s busy but it’s very good
“We’re building a legacy,” Ella said. “One we hope our kids will be proud to carry on.”
As our visit came to a close, Jonathan pulled into the driveway on a piece of equipment, two kids in tow — a perfect reminder that on this farm, family and work go hand in hand.
Many thanks to the King family for the warm welcome — and for sharing a glimpse into the beauty of farm life here in Logan County.
