For us it’s always been personal, the place, the cheese, and the people. In a creamery that’s hardly grown in size since we built it 37 years ago, each individual in our small team is essential to the artisan processes we believe are essential to our cheesemaking. We are family, friends, and neighbors, and we love cheese!

Judy Schad

Judy is mother-grandmother-teacher-cheesemaker, and owner/founder of Capriole Farm.  Growing up in the summers on her grandparent’s southern Indiana farm, she learned the joy of fresh, wonderful food, simply and lovingly prepared.  With husband Larry and their 3 children, she moved in 1976 to their family farm in the hills above the Ohio River. A few years later, after being gifted with their first goat, the family had more milk than they could drink.  “Cheese,” says Judy, “was the result of plenty, like canning tomatoes or making jam and pickles". Along with her friends Mary Keehn of Cypress Grove, Paula Lambert of Mozzarella Co., and Allison Hooper of Vermont Creamery, she was one of a group of women who helped each other create a community of American artisan cheese.

During her early farm years, she continued work on a PhD in Renaissance Literature at University of Louisville, where she was both the fiction and general editor of the Louisville Review. Until 2012 she managed a herd of 500 goats, but now focuses on cheese and milk from the Indiana farmers. Over the years, she's been both a speaker and cheese judge at several national and international events in Italy and France; served as board member, conference chair, and vice-president of the American Cheese Society; served on the board of the American Dairy Goat Association and the Chicago Green City Market ; a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier and Slow Food USA; and a recipient of Women Chefs and Restauranteurs 'Outstanding in Her Field Award'. In 2015 she was made 'Maitre du Fromage', one of the highest honors accorded to a cheesemaker by the Guilde Internationale des Fromagers. Semi-retired from Capriole production, she still ‘preaches and teaches’ the crew.

Sam Schad

Friendly, upbeat, and a whiz with accounting, Sam maintains relationships with customers, distributors and milk haulers— and is the primary face of Capriole biz. Sam completed his MBA from Indiana University in August 2021. When he’s not ‘in the trenches’ in the office and creamery, traveling to promote Capriole, or working with his grandmother Judith Schad—he’s trying new recipes. With his wife, Rachel, he is a proud beagle parent to Ruger and Lady, and (warning) an avid fan of University of Kentucky basketball and football.

Dakota Conrad

Dakota Conrad (pictured above) is both Capriole’s Shipping Manager and Cheesemaker who’s always had a love for food — and is delighted to have found his place in cheese. Known for his friendly and talkative nature, he ensures every order is packed with care. When he’s not making or shipping cheese, he’s a proud partner and devoted dad to two girls.

Piper Schad

Piper grew up representing Capriole at events her entire life - from local farmers markets to Slow Cheese in Italy - and has recently rejoined the family business as a Brand Strategist. She studied journalism and marketing at DePaul University and spent the past few years of her career working as a marketing specialist for tech startups. Based in Chicago, Piper is always traveling and seeking out adventures wherever she goes. Her favorite cheese? Piper’s Pyramide, of course.