Happiness From Farm To Table
Milking The “Cowlebrities” At TMK Creamery
By Katie and Houston Vandergriff
Downs & Towns
Some travel days are filled with world-famous landmarks and epic views. Others are about simple joys, like sunshine, laughter and cheese.
Our visit to TMK Creamery in Canby, Oregon, was one of those perfectly down-to-earth days that remind us why we love to travel.
Houston and I met Marc, the dairy manager of TMK. He showed us around the barn and explained to Houston about the creamery as a family operation. Their basic goal is to have happy cows. Marc said he is happy when all the cows are happy. If the cows are happy, they are either eating or chewing their cud, and ready to be milked twice per day. And when the cows are happy, they can give 75–120 pounds of milk per day!
Houston taking photos of the Cowlebrities at TMK Creamery in Canby.
We first joined in with a school group of about 20 third graders. Marc let all the kids feed the cows. Houston took photos. Marc told the kids how the creamery started with a single 4-H cow that was supposed to be sold the following year. They never sold the cow; they started milking cows in 1997 and today the creamery milks 20 happy cows. It's not every day you get to meet a herd of “Cowlebrities.”
TMK Creamery calls itself “dairy done differently,” and we quickly found out why. Marc introduced us to each Cowlebrity and shared stories about their lives on the farm. Houston’s favorite cow was a beautiful brown-eyed girl named “Abby.”
Marc said that he doesn’t have kids, but we could tell he is great with kids, maybe because he is actually just a big kid himself. One of the cows started peeing and the kids were like “Oh! Yuck! Gross!” but Marc smiled and said “YOU PEE!” The kids all laughed and then learned a little about cow biology and anatomy.
The school group finished, and we went with a small group of adults to milk the cows ourselves. In our group, there was a mom and her teenage daughter, a young couple with a baby and a grandma to help and a party of four nicely dressed women who had come for the cow alcohol, but also decided to join our group.
Marc showed us the milking stalls and gave us a thorough rundown on what to do. At this point, the cows really do most of the work. They let themselves in the stalls as they know there is feed there. They know what to expect and know what to do. They were gentle and patient with our rag-tag group of rookie milkers. We got to go through the full milking process and help milk all 20 cows. It was awesome!
This Trip Through Houston's Camera Lens
After the milking, we followed the path of the milk to the creamery next door, where TMK turns that fresh goodness into artisan cheese, milk and ice cream. It’s farm-to-fork in the truest sense.
By the time we reached the food truck, we were more than ready. Farm work is hard work! We shared a delicious pizza topped with TMK's homemade cheese. Each bite tasted like the sunshine of Oregon itself.
Sitting outside surrounded by green fields and happy cows, it felt like we were part of something truly special: a small family business that celebrates the truly important things in life: community, sustainability, connection and happiness. Travel isn’t always about how far you go; it’s also about how deeply you connect. At TMK Creamery, we were reminded that adventure can be found anywhere, especially when you slow down long enough to enjoy it.
We left with full bellies, full hearts and a camera full of smiles — both ours and the Cowlebrities’.
Art. Adventure. Advocacy. Changing the world — one photograph at a time.
Houston Vandergriff is a globe-trotting photographer, travel leader, and creator rocking an extra 21st chromosome. Houston and Katie (mom) Vandergriff are the dynamic duo behind Downs & Towns, LLC.
Houston’s camera opens doors and builds relationships around three pillars of travel, photography, and advocacy - and the magic that happens when you combine all three. The Vandergriff family journey inspires both inside and outside the disability community. They have shared their story on local, national, and international stages. By working together, Houston and Katie are helping to redefine outdated stereotypical views on disability.
Houston’s photography and personal story have inspired a global audience. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee Houston has traveled to 30 countries and all 50 United States. Houston's camera is a voice for inclusion. His award-winning photos have been featured in books, art and travel magazines, and have been curated in gallery shows. His work has been exhibited in group and solo shows in Venice, Rome, Lisbon, Paris, New York City, Los Angeles, Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Estonia, Perth, Scotland and even on the surface of the moon.
Houston is a Nikon Creator with Nikon USA.
Using photography as a metaphor for life, their message encourages others to throw away the impossible dream of wanting “normal.” They share fun ways to break the “rules,” and embrace the crazy. Houston and Katie share the challenges and joys surrounding disability on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X. The entire family works together to offer his photography and NFTs via his website DownsAndTowns.com.
Through sharing the gift of photography, they share gifts of hope and beauty.
