Mack Brook Farm is owned and run by Kevin Jablonski and Karen Christensen. Nestled between the Adirondack and Green Mountain ranges in New York, Kevin and Karen have made a comprehensive effort to preserve the land as well as its Scottish heritage. Argyle, New York was originally a Scotch land grant where many immigrants from Argyll, Scotland settled. Angus cattle, native to Scotland and bred from indigenous wild species, find the area a natural home and for this reason it was the breed that Kevin and Karen chose to raise on their farm.

Mary Ellen and Brian Rose are the owners of BMR Acres. They operate a diverse farm, dabbling in the production of herbs, vegetables, Alpacas, Miniature Babydoll Sheep, Myotonic Goats and fiber products on their 23.5 acres. However, one of their greatest achievements is their healthy pasture-based flock of laying hens. Since 2009 their flock has been Animal Welfare Approved, meaning they are raised and kept by the highest welfare standards and treated according to the birds’ best interests. Mary Ellen and Brian work hard to keep pesticides and synthetic chemicals off of the farm, and to enhance it by using natural and sustainable practices. Although Mary Ellen and Brian both work full-time jobs to support themselves, they put in the extra time to keep their land and animals vibrant and healthy.

Whiskey Lane Farm is a 54-acre farm dedicated to humane, sustainable agriculture. Currently, owners Richard and Jamie Pantel supply top quality eggs from poultry given the highest standard of care. Their flock of chickens is rotated outdoors on quality pasture, every day, and at night they are housed in two spacious straw bedded coops. The eggs they produce are sold to Basil Bandwagon in Flemington, NJ and to Healthy Balance in Lebanon, NJ.

Farmer Remus Preda raises Angus cattle on his farm in Argyle, New York.

CBLM Farms, located in the rural hills of Steuben County, New York, has operated under the principles of low impact and natural farming for over 20 years. Owner and operator Lee Kosow graduated from the Animal Science program at Cornell in 1973 and has been stewarding land and animals ever since. His philosophy has always been to balance the needs of soils and animals. Raised on local pasture land, his beef cattle are happy and contented.

Owners of Cedar Meadow Farm, Julia and Brian Cronin, have a strong faith in healthy, natural food that produces a more balanced life. In fact their creed is easily found wherever they go: “We believe your food should not contain antibiotics and growth hormones, or be shipped hundreds of miles across the country and handled by countless individuals.” This simple belief is what drove them to start their own pasture-based farm about ten years ago. Beginning as poultry hobbyists, they have expanded to also raise pigs under the Animal Welfare Approved label. Selling eggs from grassfed hens and pork from their free ranging pigs is a part of their effort to change the food landscape, and provide local, fresh products without pesticides or synthetic hormones to their community.

Rose Marie Belforti and her husband Tim Wallbridge run Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery, a micro-dairy where they keep a small herd of Irish Dexter cows and produce the nation’s only authentic, pro-biotic Kefir cheese. “I love my cows and their well-being comes first,”says Belforti. “I want them to have the best life possible.”

Sharon was always on a path towards working with animals, earning a degree in Equine Science and Agriculture Business, followed by work with a small animal veterinarian and work on a number of dairy and horse farms. Sharon’s fate was sealed when she received goats as a birthday present 10 years ago!

Meadowbrook Farm is run by Mike Brown, his mother Lynn, and his grandfather Larry. Mike decided to apply to be Animal Welfare Approved after visiting a farm an Animal Welfare Approved farm in Texas. When he looked into the program he realized his farm already practiced all of the requirements. Meadowbrook farm’s cows always have access to pasture, over 40 acres to roam and are never in an over-populated area. They have access to a barn in the winter, a dry area in the spring, and fresh water during summer.

The Stuart Family has a long history of farming dating back to 1926. The entire Stuart family – Bill and Deb and their two sons Will and Christian – are currently raising 150 100% grassfed crossbred Angus and Hereford beef cattle. The Stuarts distribute their beef to several outlets including a small store located on their farm. They also sell their beef to local Connecticut restaurants including the Boxcar Cantina in Greenwich, CT and The Elms in Ritchfield, CT. Their Animal Welfare Approved beef is even available at the New Milford Hospital in New Milford, CT – making it the first hospital to put Animal Welfare Approved beef on the menu!