Farm Post

written by

Daryn Pobanz

posted on

December 4, 2018

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”
– Ferris Bueller
It was during one of our famous Michigan blizzards this winter that I was able to introduce our teenagers to the great American film – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Luckily I didn’t have to deal with Dean Rooney last year, but I did spend quite a bit of time in Chicago and I have been called the Sausage King on multiple occasions…

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#havemeatwilltravel BestNineofInstagram
“Looking around” I thought I would try to quantify some of my experience in 2017.
67,000
The most eye catching number is the total miles traveled in 2017 – 67,000. Now I realize that is nothing compared to many others who travel for a living, but considering the furthest direct partner is less than 200 miles from the farm… that is a lot of trips.

229
229 trips to be exact. What constitutes a trip? I’m not sure, but that what Google Maps told me.

100,000
What else did Google Maps tell me – that my photos have been viewed 100,000 times.

What does that even mean?

What I think it means is that people are continuing to become more and more aware of the food they are consuming – where it comes from and how it was produced. This is why I am such a fan of our mission at Jake’s Country Meats –

Our mission is to supply people with high-quality foods and educate the public about the process and nutrition — developing a connection to bridge the gap between food production and consumption.

Highlights of 2017 were many and varied – from attending the New England Meat Conference with members of MSU Center for Regional Food Systems to having 1000# of leaf lard rendered for the first time.

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#jakescountrymeats BestNineofInstagram
Hours spent behind the wheel were passed enjoying a number of PodCasts including – The Tony Kornheiser Show, The Meat Block, and Under the Influence – in addition to some great music and topical talk shows. I’m always looking for new distractions, so please share some favorites with me!

As I look toward another year supporting the local food system and helping connect businesses and individuals with sustainable and healthy food choices what I am most excited about is all of the new stories I get to hear.

Some of my favorite images from 2017 – my kids say I take too many pictures….

More from the blog

A Year to Review

To recap a whole year into one short blog feels like a lot of pressure. I am bound to miss some of the best moments of the year, while ignoring some of the hard challenges tackled. At the same time, life on the farm can feel incredibly similar one day to the next when living outside of the moments. But I do understand my worst attempt will be better than nothing, so here it goes.

Busiest Week Ever

The holiday season is here, and this week might just be our busiest yet! From the warehouse to the office to the pastures, every part of the farm is buzzing with activity. Each task plays a role in what we love most: connecting you to the best food we can produce for your holiday celebrations.