Nick Rupiper and his partners Ross Cannard and DeeAnn Freitas raise Animal Welfare Approved laying hens at Fowler Creek Farm in Sonoma, CA. Fowler Creek raises mostly Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, Cuckoo Marans and Americanas, all breeds producing a variety of beautifully colored eggs. Nick says the different egg colors are a hit with their customers and they make sure they put a variety of egg colors in each carton. Often times the colorful eggs may be on display at such restaurants as Chez Panisse in Berkeley and Boulette’s Larder in San Francisco.

Erik and Doniga Markegard raise Animal Welfare Approved grassfed Belted Galloway and Black Angus cattle in Half Moon Bay, CA. Erik started his own cattle ranch in 1985, but his family has been farming for six generations! And as a sixth generation cattle rancher, having a family owned and operated farm is extremely important. Erik and Doniga strive to include their kids in the business and hope to pass the family business on to the next generation.

Potter 8 Ranch (named for the 8 members of the Potter family who all still help out on the farm) raise 100% grassfed Animal Welfare Approved cattle in Loyalton, CA in the largest high altitude valley in the U.S. And now that most of Arnold and Chris Potter’s children are grown and living away from home, they all use their unique skills – from photography and farrier skills to website design – in order to help out on the farm.

Born and raised running cattle, you could say ranching is in Tim Linquist’s blood. He has been ranching all his life though most recently he and his wife Lynda and sons Cody and Ty have focused their attention on 300 Boar Spanish Cross goats. The goats are the essence of CT Biological Weed and Brush Control and as such they provide an environmentally conscious alternative to weed and brush control otherwise managed with chemicals and equipment. Tim explains that he became Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) to assure consumers his animals are treated well. AWA’s transportation standards are of particular importance given his goats are transported to locations to provide weed and brush control. The Linquists are proud that both their family and their goats have a high quality of life. Goats graze all year long, and on-pasture kidding is practiced. The ranch also offers eggs from hens who roam freely on pasture.

For more information about CT Biological Weed and Brush Control, Inc. visit http://werentgoats.com/.

Standing on the lush pastures of Orange Spring Ranch, onlookers are awarded a spectacular view of the rich agricultural land of the Central Valley. Nestled against the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Orange Spring Ranch is home to a herd of Red Angus bulls. Amongst the oak trees, the cattle graze year round on grasses and clover.

David Kahn raises Animal Welfare Approved laying hens at Edendale Farm, established in 2006 in the Silver Lake suburb of Los Angeles. Edendale Farm is the first urban farm certified by Animal Welfare Approved! The farm is also a certified wildlife habitat.

Iris and Jason Gardner own and operate Primeval Gardens, a small family run CSA farm nestled amongst the shady oaks in eastern San Diego County. In addition to being a farmer, Jason is an active duty Navy SEAL, and Iris runs things full time when he is away from the farm.

Alexis and Eric Koefoed raise Animal Welfare Approved pastured laying hens, turning sunlight, grass, bugs, and high-quality domestic feed into animals that live a healthy and humane life — free to roam in fresh air and peck and take dust baths — and then into delicious and healthy food.

Joel & Carleen Weirauch raise their small flock of dairy sheep on 50+ acres of Certified Organic pastures in Petaluma, California for the farmstead production of a raw, aged sheep cheese and a sheep milk soap. Sustainable farming practices includes: rotational pasture management, green building, wash water re-use for irrigation, and solar.

April Jones raises Animal Welfare Approved pigs on April Joy Farm in Ridgefield, WA. Her mission is to help grow a sustainable, place-based food economy by building relationships with local chefs, grocers, and consumers and providing them with the best of organic, sustainable agriculture. April manages 24 acres at April Joy Farm on which she grows an array of vegetables, table grapes, herbs, apples, figs , cherries, pears, plums, hay, and of course, her AWA Tamworth pigs. On farming April writes, “This work requires collaboration, patience, and thoughtfulness… My hope is that this farm and the passion I feel for my work will help others come home to nourishing seasonal food and an appreciation of farm life and land.”