Ryfylke Farm Dairy

Ryfylke Gardsysteri, run by Hilde and Joar Hauge, is idyllically located in Hetlandsbygda, Hjelmeland.

Joar, who grew up on the farm, is a full-time farmer, while Hilde combines her role as a farmer with her work as a photographer under the name Feien og Fjong. Together they have three children, Jonah, Frida, and Lyder, who are all engaged young farmers with an interest in various aspects of the farm.

The couple took over the farm in 2008. To make Joar's dream of being a full-time farmer possible, they established a henhouse for 7500 free-range hens the same year. In 2019, they realized another dream by building a new barn on Rabben, which includes a modern milking parlor. The dairy, which is an integrated part of this new barn, was completed in the fall of 2020, and they started selling their products just before Christmas that year.

Joar, with a background in hotel and food management and a passion for cooking, is the brains behind the farm dairy. He is both the farmer and the cheesemaker, with a love for aged white cheese, which is now one of the prides of their product range. Hilde, on the other hand, contributes much more than just the website design. She is responsible for the production of Ryfylkeosten and Ryfylkeyoghurten, and is often the one who travels around with their cheeses.

Ryfylke Gardsysteri represents a perfect harmony of traditional farming and modern cheese-making. Joar's commitment to milk production and Hilde's creativity in product development ensure that each cheese and yogurt reflects the farm's unique character. With a short distance from barn to cheese vat, the freshness and quality of the milk are ensured, which is essential for producing premium dairy products. Ryfylke Gardsysteri is not only an example of innovative farming, but also a living proof that passion and hard work can create exceptional local products.