Has anyone visited an authentic working dairy farm? I'd like to do so in Aug. or Sept. 2025 in one of these areas: Montreux, Lauterbrunnen, Lucerne or Appenzell.
There is a REAL one NEAR Gruyeres (not the tourist one at the train station).
I'm sure that there is an Alp above Lauterbrunnen that has a showcase dairy as well, but I am lacking in specifics at present.
September may be getting too late, as Cow parades (Alpabfahrt) down from the Alps start, and mountain dairies would close as well.
Every Wednesday morning in the summer they offer a guided hike from Murren to a working dairy farm where you get a tour and tasting. It leaves from the Sportzentrum in Murren, so you'd have to leave Lauterbrunnen early enough to get up there, but if you don't mind an early morning it's worth it.
https://muerren.swiss/en/map/detail/tour-of-the-schiltalp-alpine-cheese-dairy-7cf1b3c5-4519-47a3-be48-807198a5b6e6.html
Our son and his family did the Mürren Schiltalp farm visit and really liked it. You hike up there for the tour and then are free to hike back on the North Face trail if you like.
A farm visit can be done all over Switzerland. Here are some in the Appenzell area. You can also explore myfarm.ch further tor other options such as staying overnight on a working farm.
Appenzell
https://www.appenzell.ch/en/agriculture/day-of-the-open-alpine-cheese-dairies.html
https://www.myfarm.ch/en/events/appenzell/visit-to-the-farm_AgRCYBU
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/alp-nasen-farming-experience-in-appenzell/