Both Jacob and Margaret Schep come from cheese-making families in Holland. Margaret’s mother was a World Champion cheese maker in 1975. Margaret’s brother and his wife still make cheese on the family farm in Holland.
Jacob and Margaret emigrated to Canada with their children in 1981, and began a dairy farm in Scoble Township, just south of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
At Thunder Oak Cheese Farm, the Scheps bring to Canada the experience and tradition of Dutch cheese-making.
In 2002, Thunder Oak won the Dairy Farmers of Canada Grand Prix award for best Firm Cheese.
In 2007 Walter and Martin Schep purchased Thunder Oak Cheese Farm from their parents. Walter and his wife Joanne run the cheese processing plant while Martin and his wife Charmaine run the dairy farm.