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The Cheese Guide 19 Erika McKenzie-Chapter, co-Owner and Head Cheesemaker of Pennyroyal Farm, located in Boonville, California (Mendocino County), has been chosen from a field of 10 California Artisan Cheese Guild member applicants to receive the first Jennifer Bice Artisan Cheesemaker Grant Award, a $10,000 gift of Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery Founder Jennifer Bice. Applications were reviewed by the California Artisan Cheese Guild's Selection Committee, and the grant will be administered through CACG. Bice proffered the award with the intention to mentor and support newer cheesemakers and dairy farmers in California. Bice helped establish the California Artisan Cheese Guild in 2006 and served as a founding board member. Only CACG members are eligible for the grant award, which requires that the funds be used for creamery or farm infrastructure or for education that relates to improving farming or business practices. "I remember how difficult it was when I started my own business many years ago," says Bice. "I want to give back to the artisan dairy and cheese industry to help educate cheesemakers whenever I can." Pennyroyal Farm, named for the wild pennyroyal mint that carpets the 60-acre farmstead and vineyard in Anderson Valley, began making farmstead goat cheese in 2012 under McKenzie- Chapter's leadership. Pennyroyal Farm is home to more than 100 goats, and 100 percent of their milk is used to make award-winning fresh and aged goat cheese. McKenzie-Chapter manages the dairy and creamery. Business partner Sarah Bennett oversees the vineyard, a flock of chickens, and a tasting room that sells their cheese and wine. A graduate of UC Davis with degrees in animal science and animal biology, McKenzie-Chapter dedicates time to teaching cheesemaking and animal care to hobbyists while contributing timely milk component data to research. "I am thrilled to receive this magnanimous award from Jennifer Bice," she says. "We are a young, growing company, and these funds will help us purchase equipment, some of which I thought would take years to be able to afford, that will improve productivity and efficiency on the farm and allow us to increase production of our farmstead cheeses." she adds. Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery Awards Grant to Pennyroyal Farm Cheesemaker "I remember how difficult it was when I started my own business..." —Jennifer Bice