Rinconada Dairy

This weekend, my husband and I are headed north to Rinconada Dairy for lambing season. We have been going yearly since my daughter started school at Cal Poly. I was shocked to see a negative review of what I think is a magical place… it is so nice to get out in the country and be around animals. Jim and Christine have always been so gracious to us and our accommodations very comfortable. It is now hard for me to buy any meat or chicken at the grocery store because I see how well their animals are taken care and like to buy from them. I have my boots out and can’t wait to get on the ranch.

My family and I have been coming to Rinconada Dairy as farm-​stay guests for many years, and we think of it as our own special country retreat. Nestled in the hills around Paso Robles, one cannot find a more beautiful and bucolic place to get away. Jim and Christine Maguire open their home to us and always provide great suggestions for areas to explore, as well as places to hike and dine. Depending on the time of year, you might find a baby goat or a lamb getting special attention in the house if Christine feels they need it. If you’re brave enough to get up early, you might accompany Jim on the early morning feeding and milking. Christine and Jim don’t make cheese all year round, but during the times they are milking, and with some advance notice, you might learn a bit about the art of cheesemaking, as Christine’s cheese is featured in some of the finest restaurants in the world, including Mario Batali’s Eataly. Our two teenages love coming to Rinconada Dairy, and often tag along with Jim as he tends to the animals or works in the garden. The barn apartment is perfect for privacy, and the partially stocked kitchen will allow you to bring your own food and fix lunch and snacks so you don’t have to drive into town if you don’t want to. The detached guest room in the main house is a bit more modern and comfy but isn’t quite as private. The breakfasts that Jim provides range from steel-​cut oatmeal to farm-​fresh eggs (from chickens whose eggs you can harvest yourself), with bacon from their pigs, to homemade granola. It’s not your typical bed and breakfast because this is a working farm and dairy ranch, and as guests you become part of a living, breathing organism. If you’re looking for a luxury stay, go to the San Luis Bay Inn. If you’re looking for a once in a lifetime farm-​stay experience with some of the coolest people you’ll ever meet, then spend a weekend at Rinconada Dairy.

I will try to keep this short because Jonna O. Pomway said most of it. I grew up on a farm — cows, sheep, horses, chickens, dogs, cats — so I know what I am talking about. Jonna nailed it all the animals are sick and filthy, not just farm dirty, filthy because there are too many and too crowded. Also, they keep two dogs chained on 12 foot log chains supposedly to keep lions and bears away.
As soon as the bears/​lions figure out the dogs are chained they will be dinner. Too bad they are very sweet dogs. There are cats everywhere and most have eye issues.
Pros:
Small guest accommodations are clean and comfortable — DO NOT STAY IN the guest room in their house.
Quiet at night
Cons:
Most of the animals looked sick
Breakfast they tout on their web never appeared
Demonstration of the cheese making never happened
Cheese not that great no matter what they claim, good but not great — we lived in SF for years so we know good food
Property is run down — I think they are in over their heads
Sad animal situation
Christine’s husband is an attorney in SLO. I think he is funding his wife’s fantasy. She is sort of snotty and thinks she is some high end cheese maker.
Because of the condition of the animals and especially the treatment of the dogs I considered filling a complaint with the animal control department, but with the husband being an attorney I suspected I would get sued at worst and at best with his connections nothing would happen.

I vacillated for months over weather or not to write this review, but after meeting another dairy person with a similar story, I felt it was important to share. I haven’t tasted the cheese. This review is about the sheep dairy side of the business.
Pros:
Lovely sheep with sweet personalities
Decent milk production — our ewe produces a little more than half a gallon per day
No Johne’s that we could find
Cons:
Sick animals
Serious lack of education
Poor animal husbandry practices
We placed an order for three bred diary ewes around October. These ewes were supposed to be the foundation for our dairy flock, so we were learning a lot as we went along. We noticed a cyst on the cheek of one of the ewes within the first week of arrival. We called the vet out to get a baseline health check on the animals. Of the three ewes we bought from the dairy, one had CL, one had OPP, and one was healthy. All three sheep had a heavy worm load, though worms are common in sheep.
Our vet advised us to have the animals put down before they contaminated the entire area. We call Rinconada Dairy to ask for a refund, and share the awful news. Christine was appalled we were considering putting them down (as were we, what and awful position) and agreed to refund the money and collect the ewes. Diagnosis was made in November, and they finally arrived in January to collect the animals. Christine was sweet to the ewes, but their handling of the animals was difficult to watch. At one point they picked up a ewe by the wool and carried her to the back of the truck.
They did refund our money for the two ewes, and did pay for our vet bills. I was grateful for that, but I felt there was a lot of misinformation that I believe needs to be addressed.
My Question — when were the sheep last wormed?
Christine’s answer — The vet said her heard was healthy, and did not need worming.
Truth: The fecal float showed a heavy worm load that might affect young lambs, worming was recommended before lambing.
My Question — Are the sheep healthy?
Christine’s answer — Rinconada Dairy maintains a closed heard, so the animals do not come in contact with other animals that carry illness.
Truth: Rinconada Dairy has both OPP and CL in their heard. They have received testing records to confirm.
My Comment — One of the ewes we bought has a large cyst on her cheek.
Christine’s answer — those pop up from time to time. We put a clay compress on it to help.
Truth: CL is highly contagious, and transferable to humans. It can infect the mammary system, and might be concerning in a dairy.
My Comment — CL is something to take seriously.
Christine’s answer — That is bull crap, my vet said CL is in the soil.
Truth — CL is in HER ground, but if you don’t have it on your property, you certainly don’t want to bring it in.
I know first hand that raising farm animals can be difficult, and there is always something new to learn. But, as breeders of diary animals, I am shocked and appalled that 2 out of 3 of my animals came back with serious, highly contagious, terminal illnesses.

The area around Paso Robles has become California’s second go to wine country. You can now have craft cheese with your wine.
Christine and Jim Maguire not only make delicious goat and sheep cheeses, but they also rent a couple of rooms. Their place is 30 minutes outside San Luis Obispo or Paso Robles off of a country road. You pull up to their lovely farm house where you’re greeted by Christine and her dog Oona. After settling in, Oona will gladly take you on her guided tour of the property.
5:30 is goat and sheep milking time. You can join farm hand Adan and his wife Imelda in the milking room. If you’re up to it, you can try the product of your labor — fresh sheep and goat milk.
At night you can head into nearby Santa Margarita and have fine dining at «The Range» restaurant or head further out in the country and grab a casual meal at the 150 year old Pozo Saloon (check to make sure it’s open — hours are sporadic).
As you head back to your room for the night (and you’re a city boy like me), head off down the road, turn off your car and headlights, and look up at the stars — millions of them. It’s magical.