FRANKLIN, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — What started with a shared love of dairy goats has grown into a family-owned dairy, creamery, and agritourism operation just outside Nashville.
Dustin and Justyne Noble, owners of Noble Springs Dairy, recently joined Shark Farmer on RFD-TV to share the story behind their Tennessee farm.
The couple first met at a national dairy goat show in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2003. Both had been raising and showing dairy goats from a young age.
Dustin grew up in the greater Nashville area and became interested in agriculture as a child. His parents got him goats when he was about 8 or 10 years old, partly because he had been allergic to cow’s milk as an infant and his parents had goats at the time.
Justyne raised goats in Kansas as a 4-H project.
“That’s kind of what brought us together,” Dustin said of meeting through their shared interest in dairy goats.
Building Noble Springs Dairy
Today, Noble Springs Dairy focuses on making cheese and selling it throughout the Southeast while also welcoming visitors to the farm.
“We like to focus on educating the public and letting them come out and see the farm and interact with the animals and learn about agriculture,” Justyne said.
The goal is to give visitors a better understanding of farming and the work that goes into getting food from the farm to the refrigerator.
Protecting Tennessee Farmland
The Noble Springs property includes several valleys and natural springs and is part of a conservation easement through the Land Trust for Tennessee.
The Nobles own about 55 acres in the middle of a 260-acre property protected by the conservation easement.
Dustin said the conservation easement is especially meaningful as development continues in the greater Nashville area.
“There’s so much development going on in the greater Nashville area,” he said. “It’s great that there’s property around here that’s been protected that can never be developed.”
Under the easement, only three houses can be built across the entire property, protecting 260 acres of green space.
Agritourism Brings Visitors to the Farm
Agritourism has become a major part of Noble Springs Dairy’s operation, giving visitors an opportunity to experience a working farm firsthand.
Located about 10 minutes from downtown Franklin, the farm welcomes people who may not otherwise have an opportunity to see how agriculture works.
Justyne said visitors can learn about the animals, the farm, and how products such as cheese are made.
“It’s always good to let people see and see them learn and be enlightened about what agriculture we do and how the things that they eat are made and get to their house,” she said.
Sharing the Farm on SharkFarmer
The Nobles are also featured in the latest episode of SharkFarmer.
The couple said they enjoyed working with Rob and Emily and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about agricultural operations they have visited across the country.
“We had a blast. They’re a lot of fun,” Dustin said.
For the Nobles, being part of the program is also an opportunity to encourage others to consider agriculture, even if they do not come from a farming family.
Justyne said she hopes viewers see that they can pursue an agricultural dream even if they do not have traditional farming roots.
“I hope that people see like, if they have a dream to do something and they’re young and maybe farming isn’t part of their family,” she said. “I hope that people see like and are inspired to do something with agriculture.”
She added that people can dream big and go for it.
Catch the Nobles on SharkFarmer TV tonight, Thursday, Sept. 10, at 4:30 p.m. ET only on RFD-TV and streaming anytime on RFD+
