Joseph Baxley is the fourth generation of his family to farm the 80 acres where he and his wife, Melissa, raise Animal Welfare Approved hair sheep and hog breeding stock with the help of their children, Jonathon and Megan. Situated outside of Samson, Alabama, JMB Farms has been in Baxley family for almost 100 years.
Tony and Sue Marzolino raise their AWA-certified laying hens on Marz Farm in Berkshire, NY. Sitting at the southern tip of the Finger Lakes region in upstate NY, the land has been actively farmed since 1887. The newest owners, Tony and Sue, raise their hens on pasture following the highest welfare standards in the U.S. and sell the eggs locally. They also grow organic hay and vegetables on the farm. For more information, visit the farm’s website at www.marzfarm.com.
Kristin Goettlicher had no farming background growing up, but she always wanted a home with land somewhere in the country. Her husband, Matt, was raised on a small farm and in 2009 the couple was finally able to buy a small farm for themselves.
Eve’s Orchards is comprised of an organic apple orchard with a variety of tree cultivars and rootstocks, ranging from recently established to long-standing mature trees. The Goettlichers grow many fruits and vegetables, and they are now experimenting with growing grain crops. All of the crops grown on their farm are traditional, open pollinated varieties. In fact, Kristin is a member of the Seed Savers Exchange and Minnesota Grown. “I am starting to experiment with plant breeding and hope to develop some open pollinated varieties that are tasty, beautiful, and suited to our northern climate,” says Kristin. “I enjoy growing my own food, learning skills, and trying to be self-sufficient.”
Cold Creek Ranch is a 12,000-acre operation split between the western side of the Lower San Pedro River Valley and the Mogollon Rim along the New Mexico border. As an AWA source farm for beef cattle, Cold Creek Ranch is approved to raise and sell cattle to other AWA-certified farms.
This Thanksgiving, give thanks for pasture-raised food. Watch this video to see why pasture-raised products are so special.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7JRQuMETZA&feature=youtu.be
Barbara and James Berry raise laying hens and dairy goats on 15 acres at Wildest Dreams Farm near Clinton, in the sand hills of North Carolina. They both felt a passion for sustainable agriculture early in their careers. Following inspiration from Barbara’s paternal grandfather, who often said a person will be happiest while working with the land, the two farmers created Wildest Dreams Farm together.
Jeneen Wiche and her husband, Andy Smart, took over at Swallow Rail Farm in 2003. Since then, they have focused on developing and marketing a diverse range of foods direct to consumers. Starting first with fruits and vegetables, the couple has now mastered raising a healthy flock of AWA laying hens, and is in the process of branching out into meat production, too.
With over three decades of ranching from north to south Florida, the Sampson family knows beef. Jeff and Janet Sampson, along with their son, Jared, and daughter, Jessica, raise a growing herd of 70 Animal Welfare Approved Black Angus momma cows on 200 acres in north-central Florida. The farm sits on top of the Suwannee Valley River Basin and natural springs feed its ponds, providing some of the cleanest water around.
For over 50 years, TK Ranch has been committed to taking care of the wild prairie and producing quality beef for Albertans. Situated about a three-hour drive southeast of Edmonton, 10,000-acre TK Ranch is located in the endangered northern fescue grasslands of east-central Alberta. Thomas Koehler Biggs established TK Ranch back in 1956; today, three generations live, work, and raise Animal Welfare Approved grassfed beef cattle on the ranch.
Working with a staff of technicians, farm workers, temporary employees, and fellow scientists, Dr. Joan Burke leads the small ruminant livestock research at the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center in the Ozarks region of Arkansas. The research center is approved to supply Animal Welfare Approved sheep and goat breeding and feeder stock.