Fresh, Local, Sustainable Food for NE Iowa Canoe Creek Dairy - The Beard Family
Daniel, Bonnie, Erin, Tom, Sam and Parker Beard farm northeast of Decorah, along Canoe Creek. The wooded rolling hills are well suited for rotational grazing of our organic dairy herd, beef animals and sheep. We started rotational grazing in 1994 and the farm became certified organic in 2003 with milk being shipped to Organic Valley. The beef and sheep enterprises have expanded in the last several years as Erin and Tom work towards coming back to the farm full-time. Most of the work on the farm is a team effort including milking cows, chores, moving cattle and fieldwork, but we also have individual responsibilities. Daniel oversees the pastures and feed, Tom is the primary shepard, Bonnie and Erin do the livestock breeding and records, Sam and Parker take care of the family pigs and chickens. We grow nearly all the feed needed for our livestock allowing us to control quality from start to finish. As we continue to improve our stewardship we have noticed healthier soils, crops and livestock, which ultimately leads to the creation of food that is tasty, nutritious and better for all of us.
