We won an award! We are thankful and honored the Cass County Conservation District recognized Renee Seelye with the Ag Educator of the Year award for 2025. In December Renee & Nick were able to attend the Conservation Districts' monthly board meeting to meet some of the team members behind the program, and accept the award.
As the rush of turkey week faded, your farmer Renee finally had a moment to breathe and gather her thoughts. Writing in the middle of the chaos didn’t feel right, so she waited for a quieter moment. Now that the season has settled, she’s ready to share what’s been on her heart. Here’s where her gratitude led her.
A rough cut on the meat slicer forced our family to slow down, reshuffle chores, and step into moments we might’ve otherwise missed. One of those moments led us into the woods together, where the kids learned what it means to harvest an animal with respect and the adults gathered around firelight swapping wisdom and laughter. It’s a story about how hardship can open the door to unexpected joy, and the way those small, shared experiences shape us.
Our grass-fed beef program has grown slowly and intentionally over the years, shaped by different breeds, plenty of trial and error, and a whole lot of care for the land. From Chloe the snowbank calf to the Herefords finishing on cover crops today, the herd has become a big part of our farm’s rhythm. This update shares how the program has evolved, why prices look the way they do, and what it means to raise beef in a way that supports the soil, the animals, and you.
This reflection honors the strength and grit my mom carried through decades of farm work, long before any of us were big enough to help. The physical toll of that life finally caught up with her, and she’s now recovering from back surgery with the same determination she brought to every chore. If you’d like a glimpse into her story and the heart she’s poured into this farm, this update shares a little of that love.
Every journey has a beginning. For us it started in 1998 with six pigs, a welded pen in the back of our truck, and a whole lot of determination. What seemed like a crazy idea back then has grown into something bigger than we ever imagined. It is rooted in persistence, trust, and community.
Raising turkeys was not something we always planned on, but once we learned how to raise chickens alongside our pigs and cattle, it made sense. Turkeys fit naturally into our pasture system, bringing their own unique benefits to the land while keeping us on our toes with plenty of challenges. What started as an experiment has become one of the most rewarding and humbling parts of our farm.
National Farmers Market Week is here, and we’re celebrating 25 years of connecting with you through the markets! Over the years, our weekends have been spent traveling early mornings, meeting new friends, and sharing our farm’s story. Those markets have shaped our farm, our practices, and our community in ways we never expected. Join us as we celebrate this special week and the relationships that make it all possible.
