Winter 2025 Update

Winter tends to be a time of resting more, planning a lot and being the most creative in writing and ideas.  This winter was not different, but of course we wished we had gotten more of that done!

We attended two farm conferences this past winter.  We feel that we are never done learning, we can always improve and we are happy to share our experiences to help other farmers learn as well.  We attended Acres USA Conference in Madison, WI in December.  We usually only attend this one when it is in Minnesota.  But it had been a while, and we figured Madison was close enough.

Acres always pulls in big names for speakers, so we were able to be refreshed by Gabe Brown, Gary Zimmer, Will Harris and Joel Salatin.  It was our first time seeing Allen Williams speak, and reintroduced to John Kempf.   We learned more about the data that is being collected to show that regenerative farming practices are producing foods with higher nutrient levels to conventional farming methods.  It was very exciting to see, and also so much data to see at once.  We both want to learn more about this to pass onto our customers.

We also attended the American Pastured Poultry Producers Assoc. (APPPA) conference outside of Dallas, TX.  This is one we attend every year, and the only consistent education for pastured poultry producers that we know of.  Since we primarily raise poultry on our farm, on a subject that not many can speak knowledge about, it is a must for lifelong learners. 

My main takeaways from the APPPA conference were about building a strong foundation for your business, continual direct marketing info and a need to collect more data on our farm.  All will help us make good business decisions to maintain a healthy business model.  We want healthy land, healthy animals to feed healthy people.  But we often forget about having a healthy business to continue all these goals with.

We made all of our animal processing dates for the 2025 season, ordered all of our chicks for the season, also lined up our feeder pigs and ready-to-lay pullets.  Luckily before all the spring chicken craze started.  Hatcheries, feed mills and feed stores are selling out of laying hen chicks in minutes.  It is crazy!  I hope everyone will value the growing of that day old chick and the responsibility you will learn as you wait 5 months before you get that first egg.  Then winter hits, the days get shorter and your hen will stop laying until the day length starts getting longer again.  I think I need to write a post about raising chickens.

I have my first part-time job off the farm is many years.  I started to sub in our school kitchen.  I thought it would be good to supplement our income during our slow months on the farm.  The kitchen ended up being short a person for about 2 months’ time.  So, I did spend more time working off the farm than anticipated.  But it was much needed income we needed, with Ryan working less off the farm than he has in the past. 

Looking back at my Fall wish list for this winter:

• Egg washing room is not finished, but getting closer.
• We are still waiting to hear back from some grants we applied for, before we know for sure which projects we are investing in this year.
• I’ve done little writing. I’ve actually been busier than normal.

My wish list to accomplish this spring is:

• Finish the egg washing room! We are close.
• I have many blog ideas, so setting aside time to write.
• Getting projects lined up, the farm yard picked up, because we have a senior graduating high school and we will be having her graduation party!!

How did your winter go?