OUR FARM

our mission

Our mission is not to produce the most food we can, or the cheapest food we can. It’s not to produce food the easiest way we can. Our goal is to produce the healthiest food we can, by allowing our animals to live in environments that they were created to live in.

We are not perfect farmers and certainly don’t claim to know all the answers, but we are doing the best we can. We are always looking for ways to improve our farm, not by doing what’s easier or more convenient, but by implementing pasture-based management systems in a way that improves the land, improves the life of the animals, and improves the quality of food for our families and our neighbors.

We are blessed to have an opportunity at this way of life. To live more like our grandparents did. To raise our children with the work ethic and gratitude that the farm instills. To know what we are eating and where it comes from. To know and appreciate how it was raised. To give our neighbors and people in our local communities that same peace of mind. We are blessed.

WILL

Hi, I’m Will, I was raised right here in Rich Valley just a few miles up the road on a beef cattle farm. Farming has been in my family for generations. I loved growing up on the farm, and I knew farming would always be a part of my life and my future. However, I really didn’t think farming full-time would be an option. After graduating from Carson-Newman College, where I met Amy I came back home to milk cows for a local grass-based dairy farm, while also trying to establish and grow my own beef cattle herd until we had the opportunity to buy our own farm.

Reading Joel Salatin books really made us look at farming from a different perspective. We’ve learned a lot and still have a lot of learning to do. We’re nervous and unsure of where this road will take us, but we’re excited about the journey.

AMY

Hi, I’m Amy. I grew up in the suburbs of Knoxville, TN with very little exposure to farm life.  Although I certainly didn’t grow up with dreams of living on a farm, after visiting one of my college friend’s family farm one weekend, I kind of liked the idea of living a simple life. When Will and I started dating, he was milking cows, so I spent a lot of time milking cows with him. Or sometimes he would drive down and see me for a few hours in between milkings. The more time I spent on the farm, the more I loved it. After marrying Will and moving to Rich Valley (middle of nowhere), I taught high school special education for 6 years and helped Will in the afternoons and summers. Our farm has been making changes. Good changes, but changes that demanded more work. We quickly realized that if we were going to do this right, it was going to take both of us fully dedicated to the farm. Farming full-time with Will was a big decision.

At times we’re still not sure if we can make it work. It’s hard work and long hours without the security of a consistent monthly paycheck, but I wouldn’t trade this life on the farm for anything. I love working with Will, and we’re thankful that our kids can grow up working with us. It’s satisfying knowing where our food comes from and how it was raised. We want our kids to understand the hard work it takes to produce good food. And we want them to appreciate and respect the life that becomes our food.