Holy cow! Dublin’s Armagh Creamery is a finalist in HEB’s Quest for Texas Best competition.

Ryan and Katie McDowell pictured in a Quest for Texas Best promotional photo. I just had a chance to talk with the couple, and they are so dang nice! I hope they win!

By SARA VANDEN BERGE

UPDATE: Ryan and Katie McDowell, owners of Armagh Creamery in Dublin, won third place Wednesday in HEB’s 10th annual Quest for Texas Best competition.

Armagh Creamery, a family farm in Dublin that produces organic yogurt and artisan cheese, has an exciting week ahead.

Ryan and Katie McDowell will find out on Wednesday if their company’s yogurt will soon become a staple in HEBs across the state.

Armagh Creamery is one of 10 finalists in the 10th annual Quest for Texas Best competition.

The couple will present their yogurt at Fair Park in Dallas on Wednesday to a panel of judges that will determine the four winning products.

The Grand Prize winner will receive $25,000 and placement on store shelves. (Cross your fingers those judges like yogurt!)

The first-place winner will receive $20,000, second place will receive $15,000 and third place will get $10,000.

“We are a little nervous,” Ryan told Beneath the Surface News. “We make our presentation at 8:30 on Wednesday morning and it’s like a Shark Tank thing. We are going to have our kids hand out samples to the judges while we talk about it.”

The yogurt, which comes in five flavors - plain, honey vanilla, maple, blueberry and strawberry – hit the market in February 2020 and is now in Sprouts and Whole Foods Market.

“We are a small family farm and basically built a creamery right next to our milking parlor,” Ryan said. “We wanted to make a fresh yogurt - from cow to cup in 24 hours or less.”

Ryan says each cup of yogurt is incubated by itself, which allows a top layer of cream to form.

The yogurt is made in artisan batches using fresh, organic ingredients, whole milk, rich cream and real fruit and honey.

The McDowells, who are facing some stiff competition, will find out how they did on Wednesday afternoon (awards begin at 3 p.m.)

According to HEB, managers with the business development division have reviewed more than 21 hours of video submissions from 632 of the most creative products made by Texas entrepreneurs in 132 cities.

“We recognize the important role small businesses play in our industry and welcome the opportunity to support their journey,” said James Harris, HEB’s senior director of Diversity & Inclusion.

“Not only are we supporting small business in Texas, we’re expanding our selection of innovative, diverse and quality products our customers expect.”