A man reflects on his father’s life as a 4th generation dairy farmer and the decision he’s made to take his own life in a different direction.

The end of an era looms as 4th-generation dairy farmer, Ned, nears a long overdue retirement. His adult son, Jacob, has chosen a different life path, effectively ending his family’s long history on the farm, a choice that prompts a new level of introspection from both father and son.

Director’s Vision for ‘Expiration Date’

Growing up just a few minutes from Spring Garden Farm, it wasn’t until I moved to New York that I came to realize how special of a place it truly is. Over the course of the last few years, I went over to the farm in the early hours of the morning to film with Ned on many occasions, unsure of what I planned to do with the footage at the time, but feeling drawn to it nonetheless. It became therapeutic in many ways: we shared few words, often listening instead to the sound of Ned’s battered wheelbarrow breaking through the hum of machinery, his occasional discourse with an unruly cow, and the symphony of wildlife that overwhelms the morning well before the sun is up. In these moments, I came to understand his love for the farm and appreciate his dedication to the job.

As I got closer with his son, Jacob, I recognized his complex relationship with Ned and an understandable degree of separation from the farm. Interestingly, Jacob’s dedication to teaching mirrors Ned’s passion in many ways. Outside of a few distinguishable differences, Jacob and Ned share many of the same qualities and instincts: they are both tremendous people working as hard as they can to help others. As someone who is also searching for a proper work-life balance, this deeply resonated with me.

The culmination is a film that explores the complexities of work-life balance, autonomy within a family business, and a soon-to-be extinct era of the family dairy farm.