“Produce farming (not gardening) is the hardest, most time-consuming work we have ever done, yet is the most satisfying work there is. Farming is an amazing endeavor full of joy, hardship and satisfaction.”
—Michael Richert,
Richert/Phillips Farms,
North Liberty, IN
“I enjoy the challenges that farming brings. No two seasons are the same so the challenges are ever changing, making boredom non-existent. I also like the variety of crops that I can grow through the seasons and working outside. And I think we can all agree that tractors are basically toys for ‘big kids’!”
—Aaron Molter,
Molter Family Orchards,
Benton Harbor, MI
“I enjoy working with my hands and being outdoors. I love really experiencing the seasons and working with nature. But most importantly, I enjoy growing nutrient-dense food for our community and helping to deepen people’s connection to this place. When someone tells me that they’ve never tasted better lettuce in their life, or that a picky eater suddenly loves kale, it makes me really happy.”
—Katie Burdett,
Granor Farm,
Three Oaks, MI
“As a farmer I am driven to provide high-quality, nutrient-dense foods (produce, meat and eggs) using regenerative practices. The combination of these efforts not only contributes positively to our surrounding communities, but also restores the land on which we live.”
—Molly Muchow,
Verdant Hollow Farms,
Buchanan, MI
“As a business, it is our desire to provide restaurants and markets with fresh, unique ingredients that will inspire them and their customers. As an American Indian family, we farm and gather wild produce and maple sugar as a way to celebrate a part of our culture and pass that knowledge on to our children. We farm because it keeps bringing us back to the earth, sustains us and reinforces a kinship with land that we must never forget.”
—Leon Davis,
Native Prairie Farm and Wild Produce,
Wanatah, IN
“Farming for us initially started out as a lifestyle choice but changed as we desired to provide healthy, quality food for our family. Since then, we’ve become passionate about not only providing healthy food for our family, but we also want to provide it for our community as well. Our mission statement sums it up perfectly: ‘To honor God and the whole of His creation by endeavoring to grow healthy foods in keeping with the Creator’s design, thereby serving our customers with integrity and blessing our community with the increase God provides.’”
—Ryan and Katrina Schrock,
Vintage Meadows,
Goshen, IN
