UADA bringing on-farm knowledge to cheesemaking workshops
April 27, 2026
By Ryan McGeeney
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Workshops scheduled May 12-14
- May 12 open to 4-H members, May 13 open to extension agents, May 14 open to general public
- Cheesemaking offers high-profit-margin marketing opportunity
- Register for May 14 workshop online
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Download photo of Quadros
LITTLE ROCK — Farmers and city-dwellers alike with an interest in cheesemaking are invited to a series of Cooperative Extension Service workshops focused on process, marketing and more.
The three-workshop series is scheduled for May 12-14 at Pulaski Technical College’s South Campus in the Culinary School building. The campus is located at 13000 Interstate 30 in Little Rock.
The first workshop, on Tuesday, May 12, is intended for youth participants and is open to 4-H members only. Wednesday’s training workshop is intended solely for county extension agents and educators. Thursday’s cheesemaking workshop is intended for the general public and is open to all.
Instructors for the workshop series include Dan Quadros, extension small ruminant specialist; Lida Araghi, extension nutrition and foods specialist; Allison Harman, extension 4-H youth livestock specialist, all with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Carlos Alvarado, dairy product specialist and director of the Value-Added Product Development Center at Langston University in Oklahoma, will also conduct demonstrations at each of the workshops.
Quadros said the workshops will offer farmers insight into a high-profit opportunity.
“Cheesemaking is a good opportunity for producers because it transforms raw milk into a high-value, perishable to shelf-stable product, significantly increasing profit margins, supporting local rural economies and offering crucial diversification,” Quadros said.
“Goats are easy to manage and don't require much area and feed compared with cows,” Quadros said. “Goat milk is highly nutritious, offering superior digestibility, higher calcium and protein levels and better iron absorption than cow milk.”
He said that goat milk is an excellent alternative for sensitive digestive systems.
“Cheesemaking training will offer the opportunity to generate extra cash for small farmers,” he said. “It’s a tasty, nutrient-dense food source, and more affordable than buying it from the supermarket.”
Agendas:
Tuesday, May 12:
Goat milk — farm to table experience for 4-H participants
9:00 Meet at the UAPTC Culinary School
9:30 Farm Visit — Fireman’s Ridge Farm in Cabot, AR
11:30 Return to UAPTC
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Milk quality – Dr. Dan Quadros, UADA
12:45 Food safety - Dr. Lida Araghi, UADA
1:00 Principles of cheesemaking – Dr. Carlos Alvarado, Langston University
1:20 Cheesemaking: hands-on – Dr. Carlos Alvarado, Langston University
3:45 Tasting
4:00 Cleaning and sanitation procedures
4:30 Adjourn
No cost.
Thursday, May 14:
Accessing the market: Producers
10:00 Welcome and introductions
10:20 Milking best practices, milk quality, and regulatory aspects – Dr. Dan Quadros,
UADA
10:45 Food safety applied to artisan dairy products - Dr. Lida Araghi, UADA
11:00 Introduction to cheesemaking – Dr. Carlos Alvarado, Langston University
11:30 Cheesemaking: Hands-on Pt. 1 – Dr. Carlos Alvarado, Langston University
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Cheesemaking: Hands-on Pt. 2 – Dr. Carlos Alvarado, Langston University
3:15 Tasting
3:30 Cleaning and sanitation procedures
4:00 Adjourn
Arkansas 4-H members interested in attending the May 12 workshop should contact their local 4-H leader. Members of the public interested in attending the May 14 workshop can register online at https://bit.ly/4vh7cL0. There is a $15 fee to cover lunch during the May 14 workshop.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 22 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Dan Quadros at (501) 425-4657 as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media Contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
501-671-2120