Austin Genke, Samantha Genke,
& Dani Copleland

Our Handmade Story
Farm, Family & Cheese

Boxcarr Farms began in 2009 with a simple dream: bring our family together on our little patch of Southern red clay to create something meaningful and delicious. Our first-generation farming family includes siblings Austin and Samantha, along with Austin’s wife, Dani Copeland—co-founder and the creative force behind our farm operations and brand design. Today, a lively second generation of kiddos is very much part of the adventure.

Before turning our focus to cheese, we spent years farming heirloom produce, raising heritage pigs, pastured poultry, and establishing a thriving farmstead dairy goat herd. Under Dani’s careful stewardship, our beloved mixed-breed goats receive the best of care—roaming on pasture, enjoying daily interaction, and producing the high-quality milk that gives our cheeses their signature depth and flavor.

We sold our fresh foods at local farmers markets, off our gourmet food truck, through catering, and via our CSA program. Along the way, we fell in love with the idea of crafting handmade cheese—so in April 2015, we built our creamery on the ridge overlooking our farmstead pond and produced our very first batch of cheese. Boxcarr Handmade Cheese was born.

Inspired by small Italian farmstead creameries, we source the finest local cow’s milk from family-owned dairies and blend it with milk from our own well-cared-for goats. Beyond producing top-quality cheese, we’re proud to support our community by hiring local staff, hosting interns, and employing youth through the Orange County Second Family Foundation.

From our national distribution to local restaurants, shops, and our beloved Durham Farmers Market, every wheel of Boxcarr cheese reflects our family’s dedication to hard work, tradition, and simply great food. We hope you can taste the heart and soul of Boxcarr Farms in every bite.

Our Family & Team

Samantha Genke

Over 16 years ago, Samantha made the move to North Carolina and immediately immersed herself in the craft of cheesemaking, training at some of the state’s most renowned creameries. At the same time, she worked in top local restaurants, raised goats, and played a key role in launching Boxcarr Farms. All of this experience came together when she helped found Boxcarr Handmade Cheese, where she now spearheads the cheesemaking program.

Drawing on her Italian ancestral roots for inspiration, Samantha channels boundless energy, passion, and vision into every wheel of cheese she and her team create. Her dedication to excellence and her hands-on leadership continue to shape Boxcarr’s ever-evolving selection of artisan cheeses—each one a true taste of her family’s farm and culinary heritage.

Austin Genke

With an uncanny ability to envision, create, or fix just about anything, Austin is the ultimate counterpart to his sister, Samantha. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and honing his skills in renowned fine-dining kitchens, he and his wife, Dani, relocated to North Carolina. Together, they founded Boxcarr Farms—a venture that included a gourmet food truck, a catering business, and, eventually, a family of three kiddos!

Today, Austin brings a vast skill set to Boxcarr Handmade Cheese. He’s a contractor, milk-hauler, delivery driver, salesperson, and problem-solver—often all in a single day. His hands-on expertise and tireless energy keep our operation running smoothly, ensuring that every wheel of cheese reflects the passion and craft that Boxcarr is known for.

Dani Copeland

Dani, the creative visionary, is the force that keeps every aspect of Boxcarr Handmade Cheese running like a well-oiled machine. From raising and managing a herd of over 120 mixed-breed dairy goats—and welcoming up to 300 new kids each spring—to overseeing all shipping and deliveries, she tackles it all. Dani also spearheads the marketing and design efforts for the business, shaping the look and feel of the Boxcarr brand. Through it all, she’s raising three wonderful children with her husband, Austin, alongside an ever-growing menagerie of farm animals. In short, Dani is the glue and the gears of Boxcarr, ensuring that every new day is even more exciting than the last.

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.