North Sky Farm ‘Tallgrass’ Organic Brie, Illinois

Luxuriously creamy and mellow, North Sky Farm ‘Tallgrass’ Organic Brie, Illinois is a cave-aged, bloomy-rind cheese made in small batches from certified organic, grass-fed cow's milk. Farmers and cheesemakers Mariah and Travis Hurt craft Tallgrass in their on-farm creamery, where careful affinage develops its soft texture and gently flavorful rind. A 2026 Illinois State Fair 1st Place Blue Ribbon winner, Tallgrass reflects the Hurts' commitment to traditional cheesemaking, organic agriculture, and a pasture-centered dairy farm built around stewardship of the land.

Product Details:

• Producer: North Sky Farm
• Owners: Mariah Hurt and Travis Hurt
• Cheesemakers: Mariah Hurt and Travis Hurt
• Style: Brie-style, bloomy rind
• Milk: Certified organic, grass-fed pasteurized cow's milk
• Rennet: Vegetable-based rennet
• Ingredients: Organic pasteurized cow's milk, vegetable-based rennet, salt, cultures
• Aging: Cave-aged
• Production: Small-batch, on-farm creamery
• Dietary: Vegetarian

Sensory Description:

Tallgrass opens with a mellow, fresh dairy character framed by its delicate bloomy rind. The interior is supple and luxuriously creamy, with a gentle flavor profile that favors richness and balance over assertive intensity. Careful affinage gives the rind additional depth while preserving the cheese's approachable character, creating a Brie that feels equally natural as a simple snack or at the center of a composed cheese board.

Awards & Accolades:

• 2026 Illinois State Fair: 1st Place Blue Ribbon

Producer’s Background:

Mariah and Travis Hurt are the farmers and cheesemakers behind North Sky Farm, a Certified Organic micro-dairy centered on pasture-based farming and small-batch cheesemaking. After farming on leased land in Virginia, the Hurts moved their operation to a 60-acre dairy farm in Northern Illinois in 2022 and developed an on-site creamery for their growing cheese program. Travis is also a graduate of the Vermont Institute of Artisan Cheese. Their approach connects the dairy herd, pasture, and creamery within a single farm operation, with organic agriculture and environmental stewardship guiding both the ingredients they use and the way they manage the land. Tallgrass expresses that philosophy in an accessible form: carefully made farmstead cheese intended not only for special occasions, but for the everyday ritual of gathering around good food.

Serving Suggestions:

Allow Tallgrass to temper briefly outside the refrigerator before serving so its creamy texture and mellow dairy character can fully emerge. Serve whole or cut into wedges with crusty bread, croissants, apples, pears, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, or a restrained fruit preserve. Its mild richness also makes it particularly versatile in the kitchen: melt it into a warm croissant, layer it into sandwiches, add it to salads with prosciutto and walnuts, or warm the wheel gently for an easy shared appetizer.