DATE:     10/16/02
CONTACT:  Tom Trantham, (864) 243-4801
WRITER:   Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

Trantham converts dairy farm
into fresh milk market

     PELZER -- Tom Trantham raises "happy cows" on his 100-acre dairy
farm in Pelzer.
     In fact, "Happy Cow Creamery" is the label for his new venture.
     His dream to market milk directly to the community through an
on-site store has come true, and it didn't just happen overnight.
     It was a lot of hard work and help from his family and Clemson
Extension that made his dream possible, according to Trantham.
     Trantham purchased a used processor and designed a system to pump
the milk just once - from the milking parlor into two pasteurizers
placed in his old silo. From there, the milk flows by gravity to his
bottling room. Pumping just once should preserve the milk's freshness.
     Trantham's fresh milk is available for purchase at his store. He
hopes to also have for sale, the highest quality organically grown
orange and grapefruit juice from Florida. Customers will also be able
to purchase fresh alfalfa honey, pure uncut maple syrup from Vermont
and cheese from Wisconsin.
     "The 'Happy Cow' name actually came from Dan Ezell, the former
Extension director," said Trantham. "He introduced me at a meeting as
the man with the happy cows and the name just stuck."
     Terry Sudduth, Extension dairy specialist, helped Trantham find
the right Clemson experts to answer a lot of Trantham's questions.
     "The fat content in Trantham's milk contains a higher percentage
of a beneficial fatty acid that has cancer fighting benefits," said
Sudduth. "Feed that is grown on his farm for his cattle is produced
organically."
     Trantham's farm is a family affair.  His son, Tom III will be
running the store operation.
     Trantham will be having a grand opening on Saturday, Oct. 19, from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  People will get a chance to tour the facility. It is
the only processing plant to be built inside a Harvest Store silo in
the world. There will also be a milk and cheese tasting.
     For more information, call Trantham at (864) 243-4801.
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