Edward Baker raises Animal Welfare Approved Angus beef cattle on 3000 acres in the hilly land around Ellsinore, Missouri. Edward was raised on a farm just 35 miles north in Ellington that raised hogs, horses and cattle.

When he bought Baker’s Acres in 1994, the farm’s rocky, hard clay soil, which was not well suited to growing crops, was nonetheless good land for raising livestock. While Edward had always raised his cattle on pasture, he became Animal Welfare Approved because he wanted to finish his cattle on the farm, allowing him to see the true quality of his breeding. He was also enticed by the higher price that grassfed and grass-finished beef commanded. Now, Edward employs a rotational grazing program to maintain the health of his herd and pastures, allowing his cattle to graze for 18 months on pasture before slaughtering for the highest quality meat.

Once an avid marathon runner, Edward still enjoys exercise in addition to work on the farm. He wakes up every morning at 5:00 am to work out for an hour before heading out to manage the animals.