Pasture management is one of the most important pieces of our farming system. When managed poorly, both the soil and the animals suffer. When managed well, it creates healthier land, healthier livestock, a more resilient farm, and nutrient-dense meats.
With Father's Day just around the corner, I've been thinking a lot about my dad and the dreams that helped build the farm our family now calls home.
After six generations on this farm, surprises are harder to come by. But this spring, a routine trip through one of our hay fields revealed something none of us expected. It was a humbling reminder that while we farm this land, we also share it with a much larger ecosystem.
For her birthday this year, Renee chose a grass-fed steak and a simple meal overlooking the farm. What followed was a reminder of why we care so deeply about the food we raise and the people we share it with.
The Farm & Craft Sausage Series was created to bring together the work of local producers who care deeply about what they make. Farms, breweries, cideries, and food makers all shaping something from the same region, each through their own craft. This next batch leans into that idea once again.
We went to farmers markets over 20 years ago to save the farm. It worked because people showed up and got to know us, and we got to know them. That connection still shapes how we farm today.
It started like any other late summer evening, until a phone call shifted our plans in a way we didn’t see coming. Within minutes, we were standing in front of something we hadn’t been looking for but couldn’t ignore. Looking back, a few things had already been moving into place. We just didn’t realize what they were leading toward.
Some stories take time to come into focus. What feels like a simple moment on the farm slowly reveals something deeper when you step back and see it whole. Renee shares a reflection on family, place, and the quiet ways a legacy is passed down, one small act at a time.
