Austin Genke, Samantha Genke,
& Dani Copleland

Our Handmade Story

Farm, Family & Cheese (and a Little Wildness Too)

Boxcarr Farms began in 2009 with a simple dream and a patch of stubborn Southern red clay — to bring our family together and build something meaningful, delicious, and a little wild. What started as a modest farm soon grew into a living, breathing family endeavor led by siblings Austin and Samantha, along with Austin’s wife, Dani. Together with our parents, kids, and extended family, we’ve built a life rooted in hard work, good food, and a fair amount of heart — the kind that grows slowly, season by season, alongside the animals and the land, tempered by humility and strengthened by time.

Before cheese became both our work and our way of life, we farmed heirloom vegetables, raised heritage pigs, pastured poultry, and built a thriving dairy goat herd from scratch. Our mixed-breed goats — the hardest-working mommas on the farm — roam the pastures freely, chatting with chickens and soaking up the Carolina sun. They’re the crux of Boxcarr: curious, stubborn, endlessly expressive, and generous enough to share the rich, flavorful milk that sparked our love for cheesemaking.

And it truly is a family affair. The oldest of the next generation now helps at farmers markets and in the cheese house, while the younger ones handle all things goat — from spring kidding season to daily feedings and pasture chores. Every day, they remind us why we started this in the first place.

We sold our early farm goods at markets, from a food truck, and through our CSA program — but the wonder really began in April 2015, when we completed our creamery on the ridge overlooking the pond and made our very first batch of cheese. It was humble, hopeful, and instantly full of promise. From that day, Boxcarr Handmade Cheese found its rhythm — a blend of artistry, family hustle, and a pinch of magic.

Inspired by small Italian farmstead creameries, we blend our own farmstead goat milk with locally sourced cow milk from nearby family dairies, crafting cheeses that tell a story of land, livestock, and love. From our soft and bloomy squarelets to our aged Boxcarr blocks, every make celebrates the seasons and the people who pour their hearts into it.

We’re proud to keep our roots close — employing local folks, mentoring young cheesemakers and farmers, and working with organizations like the Orange County Second Family Foundation to connect, support, and share good food with our community.

From our humble beginnings to national distribution, from muddy boots to shining awards, every cheese we make carries a little bit of the farm — the hum of the herd, the warmth of the barn, and the joy of feeding people something made by hand.

We hope you taste that heart, hustle, and humor — and maybe a little sunshine — in every bite of Boxcarr cheese.

Our Family & Team

Samantha Genke

Co-Founder, Cheesemaker, Mentor, and Keeper of the Craft

More than eighteen years ago, Samantha made the move to North Carolina and dove headfirst into the world of cheesemaking—training at some of the state’s most respected creameries while also working in top local restaurants, raising goats, and helping launch what would become Boxcarr Farms. When Boxcarr Handmade Cheese was founded, her skill, intuition, and drive helped shape the creamery’s foundation and spirit.

Samantha brings depth and perspective born from years of creating, rebuilding, and overcoming. Her steady presence guides our cheesemaking team, her palate anchors our flavors, and her care for detail ensures that each batch carries the integrity of our farm and family. She’s also mom to two amazing daughters who have grown up surrounded by cheese, goats, and an endless supply of office snacks.

Samantha’s work is quiet but powerful—rooted in patience, resilience, and the belief that good cheese, like life, is best made by hand and shared with love.

Austin Genke

Co-Founder, Cheesemaker, Builder, Dreamer (and Probably Still Awake)

With an uncanny ability to envision, build, or fix just about anything, Austin is the steady heartbeat of Boxcarr. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and honing his craft in fine-dining kitchens, he and his wife, Dani, moved to North Carolina to turn a patch of red clay into something remarkable. Together with his sister, Samantha, they built Boxcarr Farms — a place where food, family, and a little wildness could thrive.

These days, Austin somehow does it all — often on very little sleep. He’s the workhorse behind the cheesemaking, the mind behind new flavors, and the familiar face you’ll see at markets, tastings, and cheese shows. Contractor, milk-hauler, delivery driver, teacher, and eternal problem-solver, he carries Boxcarr forward with a mix of patience, precision, and generosity.

Austin is the cornerstone of our operation and the living proof that good cheese (and good community) start with good people.

Paul “GrandPaul” Genke

Logistics Maestro, Chief Organizer, and Hidden Ringleader

Though he lives in Florida, Paul—known affectionately as Grandpaul—puts in more hours for Boxcarr than most full-time staff. Father to Austin and Samantha, he’s the quiet force behind the scenes keeping our family business on track. From emails, orders, and grant paperwork to logistics, sales calls, and every tedious detail that small business life brings, Paul handles it all with patience, precision, and heart.

Each morning (and often again each evening), he rallies the team with texts, calls, and perfectly organized notes—making sure everyone knows what needs to happen and who’s on deck to do it. He’s the voice on the other end of the phone, the steady hand in the inbox, and the person who somehow manages to turn chaos into calm.

Whenever he’s not fielding Boxcarr business, Paul is likely reading the news or cooking his way through a New York Times recipe—always curious, always trying something new. He visits the farm every chance he gets, lending his steady presence and easy humor to the mix.

With decades of experience in citrus sales, Paul brings a timeless, respectful approach to connection and follow-through—a reminder that good business, like good cheese, is built on trust, care, and a whole lot of hard work. He’s one of the best role models any of us could ask for.

Dani Copeland

Co-Founder, Creative Director, Herd Manager, and Chief Cat Herder

Dani moves between pastures and packaging proofs with the same steady patience and creative spark. She tends to a herd of over 120 mixed-breed dairy goats—welcoming nearly 300 new kids each spring—while managing the daily hum of the farm, the creamery, and the countless small details that keep Boxcarr running.

As the creative director, she shapes the look, voice, and heartbeat of the brand—every label, story, and idea passes through her hands. She’s the bridge between mud boots and marketing, blending design and dirt, family and farm, storytelling and real life.

Alongside her husband, Austin, and their three children, Dani lives at the heart of Boxcarr’s rhythm. Together they balance goats and grain sacks, homework and harvest, laughter and late nights. It’s a beautiful sort of mayhem—fueled by patience, humor, and a deep love for the work that connects it all.

Family & Team

At the heart of Boxcarr Handmade Cheese is our vibrant, multi-generational family—grandparents, cousins, great-grandparents, and kiddos—all pitching in to keep our day-to-day operations running smoothly. Whether they’re helping out for a single shift or during a weekend visit, everyone contributes to the sense of warmth and community that defines Boxcarr.

Supporting our family is a dedicated team of hardworking mothers, farmers, and local youth, each bringing their own passion and talent to the table. Together, we form one extended family, united by a love of great cheese and the land we call home.