Dec 12, 2017 3 min read

“The Twelve Days of Christmas” may have eight maids-a-milking, but the SpringHouse Market has nine.

Nine women from the Minor family run the SpringHouse Country Market and Restaurant, 1531 Route 136, Washington.

“We are blessed,” said family matriarch Bev Minor, who, with her husband, Sam, bought the 420-acre property in 1975. “We purchased the farm, knowing we wanted to raise our family as we were raised, in an agricultural, farm background.”

The Minors have five children and 21 grandchildren – all of whom have worked in the family business at some point.

“Our kids say it’s like a fairy tale,” said Minor.

The nine Minor women do everything from marketing to sales to catering.

“This was our dream,” said Minor. “We’ve always said, ‘Do what your dream is.’ Luckily, we have 12 (grandchildren) growing up on the farm. We have five children and three of them are involved in the business.”

From the beginning, the Minors milked cows, processed and bottled milk. They opened the old-time-country-themed business, where today, three generations of the Minor family continue to milk their herd of Holsteins and Jerseys on the farm. They also grow corn, hay, pumpkins and more.

The first couple of years were difficult, said Minor. But with the help of friends and loyal customers, the business became a success and expanded.

Over the years, the SpringHouse has grown to include a buffet-style restaurant and sun porch, a bakery with homemade goods, a larger kitchen where cooks create family-recipe meals, a smokehouse for old-fashioned-hickory-smoked hams, catering and ice cream. The family still sells farm-fresh milk, including their famous chocolate milk.

An outdoor play area is a huge hit with families.

“We’ve have lots of faith and loyal supporters. So many people helped us,” said Minor. “Being a small business out in the country, it takes an effort. We are truly thankful for everyone who comes through the door.”

In addition to employing family, the Minors have provided jobs to the community, especially teens.

“We’ve employed a lot of people in their first jobs here,” she said. “It’s not an easy job and they come to understand the value of work. There’s value in that. We believe that’s something the younger generation needs to learn. We hope we’ve contributed to lots of lives that way.”

Although fall, with the pumpkin patch, hay rides and outdoor activities, has become their busiest season, the Minors are hard at work stocking the shelves with baked goods, food and gifts for Christmas.

“Here we are, 77 and 79 (years old) and able to be a part of it,” said Minor of herself and Sam. “We’re not running it. Our children are, and we can come and go as we please. We feel so blessed.”