Date of Visit: July 14, 2024

Pennsylvania is one of the biggest states for dairy production in the country. And in recent years, there has been a delicious trend at PA dairy farms. Not only are they producing milk, but many have added creameries and farm-made ice cream to their businesses.

One such place is Klein Farms.

Located about 15 minutes north of downtown Easton in Northampton County, Klein is not far removed from the vibrant downtown. Instead, it feels like the farm is in the middle of the suburbs, located just behind a local career and technology school.

But pulling into the busy parking lot at the Dairy Store, it is clearly a working farm.

The barn-shaped building adjacent to the parking lot features a range of products including milk, cheese and yogurt made from the farm’s own dairy, plus baked goods, meats and other locally sourced products.

But the highlight is the ice cream. The menu at Happy Holstein Ice Cream – as the ice cream side of the business is known – is simple. Cups and cones with 1-2 scoops. Cone options include cake, waffle (two sizes) and sugar. There are no milkshakes, sundaes, or parfaits. But there are a dozen unique flavors.

We tried the mint chocolate chip, pistachio pizzaz and black cow (dark chocolate). All three flavors were excellent. The ice cream felt extra creamy. My pistachio pizzaz was loaded with the green-tinted nuts. And there was no shortage of chocolate chips in my son’s mint chip.

And we were lucky to get a seat on one of two benches inside on a hot day. There is also one high-top table.

There are plenty of seats outside in covered pavilions – one at the top of a small hill, the other at the bottom. Both overlook the playgrounds and small petting zoo on the property.

One playground has a ship-themed playset with ladders and a sliding/climbing pole in the middle. The other is simpler with a slide and swings.

Next to these are the animal enclosures. The first houses a mini mule named Licorice – whom I was told by another guest is 47 years old. She still looks to be a happy, healthy animal and she wasn’t shy about coming up for snacks and pats on the head.

Licorice was sharing an enclosure with a few cows, but they were more interested in huddling up in the shade on a hot day than venturing out to greet the guests.

We were greeted, however, by the sheep and goats in the next enclosure. That’s where my oldest son, Jakob, used a quarter to get a handful of feed which encouraged the hungry and curious animals to come to the front of the enclosure.

That same pen was also home to a pair of pigs and a pair of ducks.

At the top of the hill there was also a sign for a corn maze. However, the corn was only about knee-high so if we want to take a trip through the maze, we’ll have to wait a few months, at least.

Still there was plenty of activities to keep our little family busy for the better part of an hour. And I know we will be making Klein Farm part of our itinerary for future visits to Easton.

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