Brownstone Institute Events
Brownstone Supper Club, West Hartford, August 26, 2026: Mike MacDonald

West Hartford, CT, August 26: Mike MacDonald, Churchtown Dairy
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the beloved West Hartford Supper Club – the first in the nation – is pleased to host the general manager of the Churchtown Dairy in Churchtown, New York. It is one of this nation’s greatest treasures both in its remarkable products but also in the beauty of the place. It’s also the home of the world-famous round barn, a true architectural achievement.

Mike will speak about the dairy’s history, its operations, its struggles, and its future – which is bound up with the future of the American farm itself.
Butterfly is the venue (the real Chinese stuff) with friends of the Brownstone Institute. Come early for cocktails and meet Brownstone Institute friends, scholars, writers, and benefactors, and celebrate victories and discuss challenges ahead. The food is wonderful and the discussion brilliant. Casual and fun, even if some people come in fancier clothing.
Mike MacDonald is in charge of operations of the Churchtown Dairy, a beacon for those drawn to the beauty of small farms, pastured animals, and the life-giving energy of real food. He operates a raw milk dairy, creamery, and garden to live out our commitment to preserving farming traditions that sustain human and ecological health.
Churchtown engages in education and research centered on principles of organic farming and agroecology. It believes that the trend toward chemical “Big Ag” must be reversed. It supports initiatives that seek to return agricultural practices to appropriate scale. It believes it is imperative to produce food with integrity in the service of our bodies, our minds, and our communities.
Churchtown embodies a vision of a world where small is not only beautiful, but viable; where we consciously connect our work to the systems of life.
Bonus: Mike says that he will bring some of its legendary cheese for us! You will be astonished. What’s more, this event will be a real experience for supper club members.