Great Milk Starts With Healthy, Happy Cows!
We care about our animals and do everything we can to ensure they live a comfortable, stress-free life. That’s why we're part of the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program. All members are held to rigorous guidelines that ensure the utmost quality on dairy farms across the nation.
Our herd is carefully managed to give us full control over our cows’ nutrition and overall health. Having a team of expertly trained individuals means being able to adjust feed rations, noticing changes in health or developing conditions, and keeping organized records and feed charts. We also take pride in the cleanliness of the farm and the barns, which in turn creates a healthy living environment. Our cows receive regular veterinary check-ups to ensure optimal health.
For Generations, We Have Been Raising The Easily Recognizable Holstein Breed
These cows are known for their black and white markings and strong production, making about 10 gallons of milk every day.
Each milking cow has her own personality. Just like humans, there are shy cows and bullies. Our farmers know our cows intimately and each of their quirks.
From Our Pastures to Your Table
No Synthetic Growth Hormones
Our Holsteins are never treated with synthetic growth hormones (rBST). They enjoy a diet that’s mostly home-grown in the pastures surrounding our farm.
Proudly Local,
Family-Focused
Committed to a
Sustainable Future
We believe in knowing where your food comes from because it’s what we want for our own families. That’s why we take pride when you choose Wright’s milk for yours.
We take this responsibility seriously. Our environmentally-friendly practices help safeguard natural resources for the benefit and enjoyment of our future generations and yours.
How Wright’s Dairy Began
Our story began in 1914, when the Wright family opened what would become Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery, a farm dedicated to bringing fresh, local milk straight from cow to customer.
The land itself has even deeper roots, with the first deed recorded in 1896 in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. Back then, the Wrights milked about a dozen cows and also raised chickens, pigs, and horses. Milk was sold raw, bottled right on the farm, and delivered daily to neighbors.
By the early 1900s, concerns over illnesses from untreated milk were growing. The federal government introduced the first Model Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) in 1924, and in 1933, the first Milk Ordinance and Code established national standards for labeling and selling pasteurized milk. In Rhode Island, regulation went into effect even earlier under Public Law 1931, Chapter 1777.
These new laws changed everything for small dairies. Farmers could sell their cows, send milk to a central plant, or invest in pasteurizing equipment. Ernest Wright, second generation, chose the third option, investing in the equipment to pasteurize on the farm. That decision ensured the Wright family could continue producing safe, high-quality milk right where it started. We’ve been pasteurizing our own milk on the farm ever since.
As our herd and community grew, so did we. In the 1970s, we opened our first retail store, shifted away from home delivery, and expanded into baking cream pies, muffins, and pastries. Over time, our barns and bakery have been upgraded, but our values have not changed.
Four generations later, Wright’s remains family owned and operated, producing and baking everything right here on the farm, because doing things the Wright way has always been the right way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you treat your cows with rBST for increased milk production?
NO, we believe quality feed, a comfortable environment and good veterinary care is enough for a cow to produce a good quality and quantity of milk.
Do you sell raw milk?
No, it's against Rhode Island law to sell raw milk in the state. Customers looking for raw milk should look for small farms in MA or CT.
Do you fortify your milk with Vitamin D?
NO, we try to keep the milk as natural as possible. The Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (federal legislature) requires us to add Vitamin A to skimmed and 2% milk but we are not required to and choose not to add vitamin D.
Do you use antibiotics on your cows?
YES, BUT only when her life is at stake and then all her milk is thrown out until tests show it free of antibiotics. It is federal law to test all milk for traces of antibiotics prior to processing. These records are submitted to the state for review and our staff are trained and checked annually on proper testing procedures.
Where can we purchase products from Wright’s Dairy Farm?
Along with our farm in North Smithfield, Wright’s Dairy products are available throughout Rhode Island and even in Massachusetts. See the full list of locations. Please note not every business carries every size and variety. We recommend calling ahead.
Can we purchase cow manure?
YES, cow manure is an excellent garden fertilizer! You can shovel a couple of buckets for yourself, we can load your truck or we can deliver to your home. Call for pricing and availability.
Can we watch cows being milked?
YES, the public is welcome to watch milking daily from 3- 4:30 pm.
What do your cows eat?
Our cows enjoy a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) made up of corn silage, grain, hay, and a custom mineral pack. We work closely with a dairy cow nutritionist who regularly analyzes feed samples to ensure every cow gets the perfect balance of nutrients for good health and delicious, high-quality milk.
Are your cows comfortable on your farm?
Comfortable cows are happy cows. We make sure our barns are spacious, so there’s limited competition for feed, water, and beds. Our cows also enjoy automatic back scratchers, large brushes that start spinning when they rub on them, to help keep them clean and itch-free. Here are a few examples of strategies we use: Sand bedding is soft, natural, and won’t harbor bacteria that could lead to an infection in the cow’s udder, known as mastitis. Our girls get monthly pedicures from our visiting hoof trimmer. We keep fans in the barns that are set to turn on automatically when the weather gets too warm. Cows are much more sensitive to heat than to the cold.
Do you have baby cows, also known as calves, on your farm?
Calves are born year round and special care is taken to keep them safe and healthy. All calves raised at Wright’s Dairy Farm are for milking purposes, NO calves are raised for veal. Our youngest calves (0-3 months) are kept in individual hutches where they are bottle fed raw milk by the farmer and have water and grain available to help themselves. The individual hutches allow the farmer to monitor the calves’ health and to prevent the spread of any illness from one animal to another. At about 3 months the calves move into buddy hutches with 3 or 4 other calves. They have been weaned off milk and are now drinking water and eating grain and hay. From there, the calves move to a farm in Massachusetts where they will raise them until about 2 years old. During this time the cows are simply being cows! Eating, sleeping and hanging out with their best pals. They then return to Wright’s Dairy Farm to give birth to their first calf and become part of the milking herd.
What does Cow Etiquette mean?
Following cow etiquette helps keep our cows happy, healthy, and calm by creating a peaceful environment where they feel safe and respected. No Touching. No Feeding. No Yelling. No Running. No Dogs.