44 culturecheesemag.com ENTERTAINING 202 3
T
wo pieces of advice have
shaped FireFly Farms'
president Mike Koch's
career: "My father taught
me that longevity at a single
company is important," says Koch.
"You shouldn't be a job-hopper. That
was a bad word in a Swiss-German
family." The other was drilled into
him by mentors during a 20-year
career in the corporate world. "Fail
fast, but be honest," he says. In
other words, try new things in good
faith—and if they don't work, pivot.
The story of the artisan goat
cheese company—which Koch
co-founded in 2002 with his
husband and business partner
Pablo Solanet—has been shaped
by the seemingly opposing ideas
of faithful commitment and
constant experimentation. Over
two decades in business, the
creamery has earned armloads of
national and international awards,
expanded its product line from
three flagship cheeses to more
than 10, and shown that a sustainable, farm-based business
can provide quality jobs and launch careers in Appalachia.
Deep Creek, home to the company's compact production
space and nearby cheese shop, attracts vacationers
from Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh with
swimming, boating, and hiking in summer and skiing in
winter. In a landscape dotted with small farms, the region's
workforce relies on tourism, agriculture, and industries such
as construction and manufacturing. But full-time, living-
wage opportunities are rare.
