New Year, New(born) Life, New Plans

We welcomed the very first livestock births on the farm, just as we put the wrap on our first year operating in Wisconsin.

December/January lambing wasn't what we had on our dance card, but this little lady had other plans last summer. The rest of the small ewe flock is currently being bred to lamb in May. Being the first born of our small paradise here, we're naming them Kane and Able; a play on the biblical Genesis, with a twist in spelling to avoid their namesake's fate. (Kane has small brown markings on his head and neck and Able is pure white). The ewe has earned her name, Eve.

We've been watching Eve for a couple weeks, hoping she would lamb in last week's warmer weather. She at least waited out the rain-turning-to-snow, lambing yesterday before it started snowing again. She seemed to prefer the open pasture to the deeply bedded barn. By this morning, however, she was snuggled down in the barn and the boys were strong, dry and happy. She got breakfast in bed (alfalfa pellets and a couple flakes of our best square baled hay).

I take this as a good start and a good omen for the new year. Our first year of operations certainly had its ups, downs and sideways moments, but we proudly grew and harvested 265 broiler chickens, 50 sheep and 30 pigs. Our freezers are full, so we can supply your protein needs all winter. We're currently wintering a small ewe flock and 45 laying hens. Plans are shaping up for a bigger and better year in 2026: We've converted the last 88 acres of corn ground to cover crops for grazing next spring and summer. We're expanding our sheep flock considerably and planning to custom graze (grazing other farmer's cattle as a service) cattle. We're upping our pork production a bit and planning about 4X the broilers. We're even looking at adding shipping options, to serve our friends and supporters outside WI and IL.

We wish you all a New Year that is prosperous, joyous and full of good food and good folk. We hope to see you in person at a farmers' markets, at a farm pickup or delivery or electronically on Facebook or Instagram.