My Grandmother told me that the first year of making ice cream was a learning experience.  My Grandfather built up an inventory of ice cream, which was sold on the 4^th of July.  With this money, he built a new creamery on Green Street in downtown Athens.  Not only did he make ice cream, but he installed the first milk pasteurizer between Knoxville and Chattanooga.  The high quality of both his milk and ice cream made the business successful from the start.  The ice cream business covered East Tennessee, Western North Carolina and the North Georgia mountains.  Customers dipped bulk ice cream and sold novelties.  The milk business was much more localized – mainly glass quart bottles for home delivery.

My Grandfather was both a successful farmer and business man.  He was also a generous person, who gave away buttermilk and other items to people during the great depression.  By the time of his death, the farm had three large dairy barns and over a hundred Jersey cows.  The creamery also purchased milk from thirty-four other farms.  Daily milk processing was over four hundred gallons and annual ice cream sales were over 60,000 gallons.  Weekly payroll was nearly $500 for the thirty employees.  There were five ice cream trucks and three milk trucks.

We’ve already mentioned eating ice cream at the St. Louis fair as a reason for getting into the dairy business, but something else he did changed the focus of the family farm.  You see, my Great Grandfather’s principal business was horses and mules.  My Grandfather came home from college with a Model A Ford!  Time to focus on Jersey cows and the dairy industry. 

Hi, I'm Tiffany, and I work in Consumer Affairs with Jan.  One of the best parts about my job is hearing funny stories from Mayfield fans.  You never know when you're going to hear one that brightens your day and maybe even add a little laughter.  I recently received an e-mail from a customer who was looking for Hog Heaven.  Unfortunately, it is discontinued and I had to break the bad news to her.  Fortunately though, she took the upset in stride and her response back to me was a story that I want to share with you all...

I must run with Ice Cream aficionados!  My son, when he was about 15, told me to speed up to catch up with a Mayfield truck.  He climbed up out of the window and yelled "Pull over.  I've got a spoon and I'm not afraid to use it!" while he pointed his spoon at them!  Then one day, my friend and I pulled into a gas station where we saw a Mayfield truck, and (although she is tiny) she said "Pull up by him, I am pretty sure we can take him!"  I wondered how many people think the same thing when they see a Mayfield truck.

We wonder too!  Do you get an overwhelming urge to do something silly when you spot one of our bright yellow trucks?  Tell us your story.  We would love to hear it!

Tiffany