Finney Farm
- Alex Cabrero
- Dec 11, 2023
- 3 min read
(Hildale) This is certainly one of the smallest eateries you could do to in Utah. It's a small red barn surrounded by some of the most beautiful red rocks in Southern Utah. Even though it's not quite a traditional restaurant where you sit down, Finney Farm is everything that feels right about mom and pops shops.
The landscape is what first gets your attention. That red rock mountain is the backside of Zion National Park. We visited on a misty day and the fog coming from the red rocks gave this place an mysterious kind of feeling. The bright red barn stood out in all that misty gray. Hildale is well known for its polygamists and the dictatorship-like rule of its former religious leader. We don't need to get into all that here, but it's safe to say Hildale has come a long way since that man was arrested and put in jail. You can read about it elsewhere, I won't even mention his name here. The people of Hildale are starting to trust outsiders more and want to be more welcoming to the world. I think Finney Farm is a perfect example of that.
Inside the barn, you'll find all sorts of cheese and milk. There are lots of different flavors of cheese and every one I have tried has been great. My favorite is the smoked applewood cheese. It's important to note Finney Farm is a big believer in raw milk and raw milk cheese. It's a different taste, but the folk here believe in the health benefits of raw dairy products. There's a good chance you won't even notice the difference because of the different flavors of cheese.
Kylie loves spending money here and getting all different types of cheese. Her favorite is the cheddar squeaky cheese. I had never heard of squeaky cheese until I met Kylie. I guess it squeaks when you bite into it. It's a memory of her dad when Kylie was young. Her dad would take her to Loa to get squeaky cheese and it's a fond memory of her dad she has today. So, whenever we see squeaky cheese, she must buy some. The young lady who was helping Kylie was a little shy, but was very excited to mention a sale they had going on. I think Hildale has learned the rest of us like sales.
A sign out front says Finney Farm is state certified for Grade A raw milk. The sign also says the milking is registered with brown Swiss cows. That's good enough for me. I think the Swiss know a lot about cheese making. Finney Farm's prices are a little higher than what you would probably find in grocery chain stories, but I like knowing the money you spend here is going to help a local family. If you read a little bit about Hildale, or know some of its past, then you know there is no doubt families here could use a little extra money. Plus, it helps to continue gaining trust with the outside world. I'm all for that.
ADDRESS:
1320 N. Canyon St.
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