Greg Mullen and his business partner Mary Maverick Gary have put their personal and family histories to work at Artisan Cattle, where they raise Wagyu beef cattle in Florida’s horse country. Before becoming a rancher, Greg received a degree in animal science from Sul Ross University in Texas and studied culinary science throughout Asia. Mary, a Texan from the famous Maverick family, brought experience with horses and a love for all animals to their cattle operation, established in 2005.

In 2007, when Anna Mann and her husband Thad had “maxed out” their urban garden in Raleigh, North Carolina, they bought 16 acres in the country outside of Winston-Salem and began a farm. Anna has a background as a plant scientist, but now her days are consumed with caring for their daughter, who was born a year after their move, and managing the farm, including their Animal Welfare Approved laying chickens and pigs.

Farmer Jim Dykes came to farming by way of the medical profession– or rather, by way out of it. Dykes left his medical practice after 30 years to farm. He explained simply: “Farming is also healing.” He continued, “I still do my ‘morning rounds’ – only now I’m looking after animals instead of people.”

Polaris Farm has been in Mark Hollar’s family since 1962, about the same time that he was born. In addition to cattle, which his family has always raised, in 2008 Mark began rotating sheep on the pasture his cattle had grazed to experiment with parasite reduction. Now, cattle and sheep are managed on Polaris Farm in a controlled grazing system where not only do the sheep eliminate the cattle’s parasites, but the cows do the same for the sheep. Polaris Farm animals are never confined or given hormones and live their entire lives grazing on pasture.

“When I came home from the hospital, I came home to a farm,” says Ben Deen, co-owner with his wife, Kellie, of Savannah River Farms in Sylvania, Georgia. Ben can trace livestock farming back in his family at least as far as his great-great-grandfather. When he was 15 years-old, he got a chance to try his hand at running the family farm on his own when his father left to work in Florida for a year. While other 15 year-olds may have resisted this responsibility, it was just the beginning of his lifelong love of raising animals. In 1986, after traveling the country for two years as long-haul truck-drivers, Kellie and Ben began buying the first parcels of the 100 acres they own now just 20 miles from the farm where he was born and raised.

Sylglenda Smith Saziru raises Animal Welfare Approved laying hens on John Smith’s Hill Farm in Spartanburg; SC. John Smith Hill Farm has a rich family history. John Elrod Smith came to Spartanburg and purchased the farm over 100 years ago; he came on foot, all the way from Union, SC. When he bought the bit of land called the “Hill” people laughed and said nothing could come of it; the “Hill” was a difficult piece of land made up mostly of rocks and a lot of red clay. Over the years, however, John Smith persevered and his hard work paid off. He established a successful farm on the “Hill”- growing herbs and vegetables and raising a variety of animals. At the end of his life he even purchased a brand new 1948 Chevrolet, which the family still enjoys driving around town today, as a reminder of John Smith’s perseverance and legacy.

Missing Willow Farm of Stuart, Virginia comes from a dream long held by owners Brian and Connie Littell. The two had always wanted to work the land and grow a variety of foods, so that they could be self sufficient and know exactly what they were eating. Now that dream has come true—at the end of a half mile long driveway where you’ll find the fifteen acres of heaven known as Missing Willow Farm. The name comes from a willow tree that Connie received as a birthday gift just after the family moved to the farm. The willow soon went missing and officials believe the robbers are some long toothed neighbors going by the name of “beavers.”

Jamie and Amy Ager run Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, NC. Jamie and Amy met while attending Warren Wilson College in nearby Swannanoa, an institution known for its emphasis on sustainable agriculture. After graduating, the Agers decided to start a farm specializing in grassfed and pastured meats on land belonging to Jamie’s family. Their farm has now been in operation for more than ten years. With the help of their three boys, the couple continues to raise Animal Welfare Approved pigs and beef cattle in the rolling hills of Western North Carolina.

Berea College raises Animal Welfare Approved beef cattle and pigs in the rolling hills of Kentucky. Pasture-based husbandry is part of a long tradition that Berea has recently revived. While Berea College began in 1855, the farm program started in 1870 as a way to produce food for students and staff. At the time the college was largely self-sufficient. “Everyone worked,” says current Farms Manager Bob Harned. Over ten acres of garden, pastures and a creamery supplied most of the food needed. In time, however, the focus shifted to off-farm suppliers as less expensive alternatives became available.

The Helms’ are especially proud of the care they take in manicuring their property. The beauty and quality of their farm is a main focus for them. In their spare time, Jerry and Sue enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren who name all of the calves when they’re born. It’s educational for their grandkids to track the growth and progress of the calves as they get older.