Herd Share Member Welcome Guide
Welcome to Golden Valley Farms. This guide brings together everything shared throughout the full welcome email series and expands on it so new members can understand not only what to expect, but why our system works the way it does. Our goal is simply to help you feel confident and prepared as you settle into our weekly rhythm.
1. Welcome to the Farm
Golden Valley Farms is a small, family-run dairy farm owned by Samuel and Katie Fisher, who are raising their five young children while working the land using traditional, time-honored methods. Their approach is deeply influenced by Weston A. Price principles, which center on nutrient-dense foods, natural farming, and respecting the land.
Our cows and goats are 100 percent grass fed. They are never given grains, soy, antibiotics, or growth hormones. This means milk production is lower than industrial farms, but the quality is dramatically higher. Everything about the process is slow, intentional, and hands-on.
Your herd share makes you a part-owner of the dairy herd. As a member, you receive fresh milk every week based on the number of shares you purchased. Milk is bottled in half-gallon jugs, which stay fresh longer and are easier to handle and store.
Why Herd Shares Exist in Virginia Raw milk cannot be sold in Virginia. A herd share is the legal framework that allows you to obtain raw milk by owning a portion of the herd itself. Instead of purchasing milk, you are receiving your share of the milk produced by the animals you co-own. Your monthly herd share fee covers care, boarding, and management of the herd rather than the sale of milk.
Your shares are billed on the first of each month, and your milk is sent automatically every week so you never need to place a weekly order or do anything extra to receive it.
Becoming a herd share member means joining a small, community‑supported farm where your food is produced with care, intention, and transparency. We are grateful to have you here and look forward to supporting you as you settle into this rhythm with us.
2. Delivery Day: What to Expect
Delivery day has a rhythm, and once you get into it, everything feels smooth and predictable. Every delivery day, you will receive two emails from me.
Email 1: Sign Out Sheets and FarmMatch Order Summary
The first email contains a link to a Google Drive folder for that delivery day. Inside the folder, you will find:
The Sign Out Sheet, which lists herd share milk and egg shares for each member.
A FarmMatch order summary if you ordered anything from the website.
A few important notes:
Herd share milk appears only on the Sign Out Sheet. It will never be listed on the FarmMatch order summary.
If you ordered FarmMatch items, the farm will adjust weights (for meats) and mark out-of-stock items before billing.
Anything the farm could not send will be marked as zero, and you will not be charged. If you want to try for that item again the next week, you will need to reorder it through FarmMatch because out-of-stock items do not carry forward automatically.
Email 2: Delivery Complete
Once Chris finishes unloading and takes photos at your drop site, you will receive a second email letting you know that the delivery is complete and you may pick up your items.
For smooth communication, add goldenvalleyfarmsllc@gmail.com and noreplygvf@gmail.com to your contacts.
3. Picking Up Your Order at the Drop Site
We rely on members to pick up responsibly so the system works for everyone. Here’s how to make sure things go smoothly.
Fill Out the Milk Sheet Properly
Check the sheet to make sure the correct amount is listed for you, then initial and circle the number of jugs of milk and cartons of eggs you take.
Only take what is listed under your name.
Please do not change quantities on the sheet or write notes or messages to me. I do not see the sheets after they are left at the drop site, so any concerns must be emailed directly.
If something seems off, take what is listed and email me so I can look into it.
Know Your Milk Types
Red caps = Cow milk
Blue caps = Goat milk
Glass jars will have your last name on a sticker on the jar.
Cooler Site Etiquette
Coolers are packed tightly when the driver arrives, but they are not pre-cooled before delivery. To help maintain temperatures:
Close cooler lids immediately after opening.
Bring your own ice or cooler if you plan to run additional errands that day.
Ice at cooler-only sites is not replenished during the day.
Glass Returns
Please rinse, dry, cap, and return glass jars and egg cartons. Reusing glass helps keep costs manageable for both the farm and our members.
4. Reporting Missing or Damaged Items
If anything seems wrong with your order, please reach out as soon as possible.
The 48-Hour Rule
You must report missing, spoiled, or incorrect items within 48 hours of delivery. After that point, too much time has passed to accurately determine what happened.
How Missing Items Are Handled
Missing items are handled carefully. If something is missing, I investigate what happened and resolve the situation on a case-by-case basis
How to Report an Issue
Email goldenvalleyfarmsllc@gmail.com with:
Your name
Your drop site
A photo, if possible (e.g., of the sign-out sheet or item)
A brief description of the issue
Quick communication ensures we can get to the bottom of the situation quickly and accurately.
6. Skipping Milk or Orders
Life happens,vacations, busy weeks, or times when you simply need a break.
Skipping Herd Share Milk
Use the Skip Request Form on the Member Dashboard. The key rules are:
Requests must be submitted at least one week in advance.
Late requests may not be honored depending on timing.
Skipping does not change your invoice.
You choose whether to receive the skipped milk before, after, or not at all.
Skipping or Canceling FarmMatch Orders
All FarmMatch skips happen directly through the store. A video tutorial is on the Member Dashboard. Skips must happen the week before delivery.
7. Member Dashboard Resources
The Member Dashboard is where you’ll find most of the tools you’ll use as a member. To access it:
Go to the website menu
Click Membership
Select Member Dashboard
Enter password RAWISBEST
This should be your first stop before emailing me, because almost every common situation is addressed there.
On the Dashboard you’ll find:
Skip Request Form
Cancellation form
Reduction form
Request to increase your milk shares
Egg Share signup
Colostrum signup
Glass jar request form
These forms allow you to manage most changes instantly, without waiting for email turnaround.
5. Billing and Ordering
Understanding the difference between herd share milk and FarmMatch orders will help everything make more sense.
Herd Share Milk
Billed monthly on the first.
Delivered automatically each week.
No weekly ordering required.
FarmMatch Orders
FarmMatch is our online store where you can purchase:
Extra milk, cream, butter, yogurt, and kefir
Local baked goods
Farm-raised meats
Produce when in season
Because everything is farm-made and often seasonal, availability can vary.
How FarmMatch Billing Works
The farm updates each order on delivery morning.
Meat weights are adjusted.
Missing items are marked with a zero.
You are not billed for any item marked zero.
If you still want that item, you will need to reorder it for a future week.
Recurring Orders
You can set any FarmMatch item as one-time or recurring, but recurring items are still subject to weekly availability.
8. Private Membership Association (PMA)
To order from FarmMatch (the online store), you must join our Private Membership Association. This is required because these foods are offered only within our private membership community.
Why the PMA Exists
The PMA protects:
Your right to access real food directly from our farm
Our ability to provide minimally processed foods privately
The relationship between the farm and its members
Joining the PMA
The cost is $20 per household, paid once
Required for any FarmMatch purchase besides herd share milk
After joining, you gain full access to all FarmMatch products and receive a 15 percent discount on your first order over $40 using code NEWCUSTOMER24.
9. Real Food Expectations
Golden Valley Farms is not a commercial operation and does not attempt to mimic one. We are a family farm producing real food in ways that respect animals, land, and natural cycles. This brings both rewards and realities.
Natural Variations
Because the cows and goats are grass fed and pasture raised, their milk changes with the seasons. You may notice differences in flavor, cream line, or richness,and that is a sign of truly natural food.
Seasonal Availability
We do not push production beyond what is healthy for the herd. Some weeks, the farm may not be able to send every FarmMatch item ordered. Herd share members will always receive their herd share milk since that is your portion of the herd’s production. This is why FarmMatch orders may occasionally be zeroed out.
Community Participation
With limited mechanization and hands-on processes, occasional errors can happen. Sometimes a member accidentally takes the wrong item, or a cooler unexpectedly warms. When this happens, we work together to make things right.
Different Communication Rhythms
Samuel and Katie are Amish and do not use phones, computers, or email. I serve as the communication bridge, which means email,not text,is the most reliable way to reach me. Patience and understanding keep everything running smoothly.
Choosing Golden Valley Farms means choosing authenticity, connection, and trust,not perfection. If you love real food and value traditional farming, you will feel completely at home here.
Need Help?
I want you to feel supported from the moment you join. Since I handle everything on the administrative and customer side of Golden Valley Farms, here is what you can expect from me.
About Me
I’m Mindy, the office manager for Golden Valley Farms. I manage member communication, delivery notifications, herd share billing, FarmMatch questions, account adjustments, and anything you need help navigating as part of our farm community. My goal is to make things clear, organized, and smooth for you, so you always know what to expect.
The Best Way to Reach Me
The most reliable and preferred way to contact me is email: goldenvalleyfarmsllc@gmail.com
Email ensures nothing gets missed. It allows me to track details, follow up accurately, and keep all member communication organized. Because delivery days are very busy and I work through high volumes of messages, email is required for all non-urgent communication, including:
Questions about your account
Billing or herd share changes
FarmMatch questions
Skip requests
Any administrative issue
When You May Text Me
You may text me only for urgent issues at the drop site, such as:
Something is missing in real-time
You are standing at the drop and something is clearly wrong
My text number is: 540-339-7544
Please note that texting for routine questions, changes, or non-urgent matters may result in delays or missed information, so it should be avoided. Email will always receive the most accurate and timely response.
If you must choose between texting and calling, texting is always better. Many deliveries happen in the evening, and I am not always at my computer. A text allows me to see the issue, get to my computer when I am able, and start working on a solution without interruptions or missed details.
I’m here to help you feel confident and supported as you settle into the rhythm of Golden Valley Farms.