Lovers Retreat Farm and Dairy

Lovers Retreat Farm and licensed Grade A Dairy is located on the historic Middle Peninsula of eastern Virginia.  Started as a homestead in 1984, the farm has evolved to include a dairy facility for goats—scattered across the pastures they roam nibbling on grass free of pesticides and herbicides.  At Lovers Retreat Farm owner Cynthia Wilson strongly believes that the only way to produce quality farmstead goat cheese is to have happy, healthy goats.  She monitors their health daily, keeping detailed records as they are milked.  The result is quality artisanal cheeses with exceptional flavor guaranteed by using only the fresh hormone and antibiotic-free milk from the herd. These high standards have enabled Cynthia to win several awards for her cheeses and achieve the high animal welfare requirements set by Animal Welfare Approved.

Hogs at This Lil Piggy Farm

This Lil’ Piggy Farm, located in Weirsdale, Florida, is owned and operated by Rhonda Williams. Rhonda breeds and raises heritage Yorkshire, Duroc, Spots and cross-breed pigs and specializes in FFA/4-H groups, as well as family farms. She has been raising pigs for most of her life and is happy to be guiding the next generation of farmers by providing training to others. Rhonda believes it is important to personally spend time with the animals she raises and to educate consumers about the importance of choosing environmentally responsible and humanely raised pork. Please visit http://lilpiggy.webs.com for more information.

Adams Farm cattle

Cliff Adams raises crossbred Shorthorn, Red Angus, and Black Angus cattle on Adams Farm in Jasper, Florida.

Ellett Valley Beef Co.

Guille Yearwood and his family know quality grassfed beef inside and out. They have been raising cattle continuously since 1975, and put it to the test at their own dinner table regularly. In fact, only producing beef that they themselves would eat is the top priority on the farm. This means that no artificial growth hormones or antibiotics are used, and that the cattle have access to fresh pasture daily. Rotational grazing not only keeps the cattle happy, but supports a renewable landscape and the herd’s health.

The quality of their beef is not the only concern at Ellett Valley Beef Co., though. Guille applied to become Animal Welfare Approved out of concern for his animals’ welfare. Treating them humanely and with respect for their entire well-being puts Guille ahead of any commercial operation, but he goes the extra mile. All cattle are born and raised on the farm, and allowed to express their natural behaviors on grass without confinement. He believes that well-cared for cattle make a better product, and also a better choice for consumers. Ellett Valley Beef Co. serves their product locally– to find out more or order online visit www.ellettvalleybeefco.com.