Our story
Three brothers, one herd, and a whole lot of heart
From raising pigs in high school to six stores across southern Idaho — the Reed's Dairy story.
From a milk barn to a beloved Idaho institution
It started with Larry Reed, who sold his pigs, bought a few milk cows, and discovered he loved taking care of them. When brothers LeRoy and David returned from the Navy, they saw what Larry was onto and pitched in — Larry grew the dairy, and the two of them took care of the farming.
A bottling plant was built right onto the milk barn, and glass bottles of fresh milk went out the door — sold in the attached dairy store and delivered to homes down the road.
- Stores
- 6
- Flavors
- 100+
- Generations
- 3
The founding brothers
LeRoy, David & Larry
LeRoy and David went into the Navy straight out of high school. Larry stayed home due to a medical issue — and always had an interest in milking cows. That interest became a dairy, and when his brothers came home, all three committed to growing it together.
Over the years, Reed's Dairy has been operated by partners Alan Reed, Mike Reed, and Refugio Cervantes. Today, third-generation Sam Reed oversees the day-to-day operations — the same family spirit, one generation deeper.
How it grew
The beginning
Pigs, the Navy, and a herd of cows
The three founding brothers — LeRoy, David, and Larry — raised pigs through high school. LeRoy and David joined the Navy after graduation, while Larry stayed home due to a medical issue and found his calling in milking cows. He sold the pigs and bought his first milk cows.
The partnership
Two brothers, two sides of the farm
When LeRoy and David came home from the Navy, they saw what Larry had built. The brothers split the work: Larry grew the dairy, while LeRoy and David took care of the farming. A new bottling plant was built onto the milk barn, and fresh milk in glass bottles was sold in the attached dairy store and delivered to homes.
1979
Homemade-style ice cream
Reed's developed its homemade-style ice cream, made right in their own processing plant.
1982
Cheese making begins
Three years after the first batch of ice cream, the dairy added cheese making to the family business.
Today
Six stores and home delivery
Reed's Dairy runs six Ice Cream and Dairy stores across southern Idaho, with milk, dairy products, and food items delivered right to customers' homes.
Six stores
Reed's Dairy Ice Cream and Dairy stores across southern Idaho — plus home delivery of milk, dairy, and food items.
Every week
Thousands of gallons of milk, chocolate and other flavored milk, and pounds and pounds of cheese made fresh.
100+ flavors
Well over a hundred different ice cream flavors, made in the homemade style the brothers started in 1979.
As seen in
- SaveurSeptember 2009
- PeopleSeptember 1996
- Dairy FoodsAugust 2023
- Hoard's DairymanMarch 1998
- Idaho Business ReviewFeatured twice
Plus features in all the local Idaho publications, and many others.
Awards & honors
- Inducted into the Idaho Falls Chamber Hall of Fame in 2025
- Recognized as a Business of Distinction in 2015 and 2023
- Named a Zions Bank Top Business in 2017
- Awarded Best Ice Cream in Idaho Falls every year
- Awarded Best Ice Cream in Idaho in 2026
