Welcome to our home!

The Stai Family Farm is a small hobby farm in southeastern Minnesota.
We are dedicated to raising all natural free-range meat. Over the years, we have raised poultry, pork and lambs. By all natural, we mean that our animals are not given steroids, growth hormones, routine antibiotics, medicated feed or any other performance enhancers. We strive to give them a fresh, healthy, stress-free environment with lots of sunshine and room to roam.

Our pigs are on pasture and eat fresh food and greens, not corn, to create very tasty and healthy pork. Their favorite pastime is running in their very own sprinkler! Lots of pasture to run, root and play make for stress-free pigs and that transfers over to incredible meat.

Our laying hens, as well as our meat birds, are happy with their fancy nighttime abode “hen hotel” as well as their love for pecking around in the grass pasture looking for their favorite bugs to keep their Omega 3’s up. They also enjoy basking in the sunshine and digging in the dirt. Basically they enjoy doing what all chickens should be doing.

Our turkeys have their own pasture and LOVE to dig for their food under the vegetation as well!

Our main goal is to be good stewards of the land and animals. We truly believe that by producing all natural meat and eggs, we can help improve people's health and lives by providing them with a healthy alternative to the caged raised animals that are so readily available.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

busy times....

Hi All,
     It's been a busy time of the year around here.  The new chicks are now old enough to start blessing us with their egg laying abilities, and have been allowed to go into the hen house to lay, when they aren't bug hunting and digging in the dirt. The old hens (3 years old) are now retired and spend their days pecking and hunting bugs as they roam our property.  I love pulling in the driveway and seeing healthy white hens hunting and pecking.  It is so idyllic farm-like to me.  These gals have worked hard laying eggs for 2.5 years for us, and although they were never forced into a life of industry confinement, they are beyond their laying years and can live out their remaining years happily roaming.

     The piggies are in their final growth stage before market.  They are super happy and run around in their pasture playing tag and rooting up the earth.  They love to watch me mow the grass.  I feel like a celebrity as they come and stand side by side watching the lawn mower pass!  As our butcher says, "You raise such happy healthy hogs!  No wonder their meat is so amazing!"  That, my friends is a huge compliment, since she sees hundreds of animals pass her way.  Yes, ours run and play, frolic in the pasture,  roll in the mud puddle and drink from their own water fountain.  Their waterer is so fun and makes for happy piggiess!  No free standing bowl of water that can become contaminated.  Their waterer is attached to the fence up at snot level, they use their nose to push the button, fill up the small bowl of water, happily slurp it up and then refill it by pushing the button again.

     The ducks are adult and all beautifully feathered!  They have decided, that since they live by the side of the house that allows them to see everyone when they come out of the door, they are "greeters".  Each bred has it's own voice and sounds that it makes.  As we come up the sidewalk or walk out the door, they all go from a quiet state to a very happy greeting/announcing mode.  They start their chorus of voices and quickly let everyone know that we have guests!  Pretty cute indeed!

  We love that our animals are raised with tender loving care.  We purpose to raise our meat in a happy, healthy environment and to treat each one very carefully to ensure the best quality from birth/hatch to maturity.  You will not find any unhappy or unhealthy animals here.  We love animals and appreciate the purpose and beauty that each one has.   It feels so awesome driving into our little farm that has happy animals lounging in the shade, or basking in the sun, or enjoying their mud bath.  Sadly, this isn't the case on many farms.  In fact, just a few miles away, there are many commercial farmer's raising chickens, turkeys, hogs in very traditional pens.  The smell is bad and sadness hangs in the air.   I grieve for those animals that are locked up all their life and are fattened up with unhealthy growth hormones and medicated feeds.   I know that is traditional, but it's just so very sad to drive by and see.  It again makes me thankful for what we have chosen to do.

   
   

Saturday, February 28, 2015

2015 Two Giant Surprises!

Happy Winter/Spring!

We are so excited to share with you TWO NEW EXCITING things this year on our little farm.  

Our newest venture is that of having our own baby piglets born and raised right here on our farm. We have been doing our research and aiming for this a bit now, so we are super excited to be able to offer not only farm fresh, free range pork, but to have the babies nurse and get all the nutrients from mama prior to going to pasture and supplemental feed.  This is HUGE and not often done these days because of all the work involved....in fact, many places never even have the babies nursing at all, they are delivered and then removed from mama and feed formula until 30 - 40 pounds and then switch to solid corn.  We are not that family.  We have in the past gotten our piglets at 30 pounds and then started their quality nutrition as soon as we picked them up....yes, we are picky about that as well...We have never had them delivered in a stressful way to our farm, we actually went to the location and carefully selected and then brought them home gently.  I digress, raising our own is super exciting for us.  The important time of gentle delivery, nursing and nurturing by mama and then our family gently handling the babies and add to that all the fresh air and sunshine they can get, all make for a very healthy start at life. 

The question that we have been asked a lot is, "Isn't that so much more work?"  The answer is an obvious Yes!!!!  Next question, "Then why do you do it?"  Indeed it is a ton of more work....however, we are committed to continuing to try and find THE best ways of bringing the healthiest meat to your home and table.  

Another super exciting thing this year....drum roll please!!!!  We have been able to REDUCE the cost of our pork products!  I know, in a day of rising costs, from electricity to quality pasture, to vitamins and supplemental feed, to all the expenses that go into our quality meat, and now with MORE time being invested into having babies on our farm, we have been working super hard to find a way to help families afford to eat healthy!  So we are thankful that we can offer lower prices than we have been able to in the last several years!  However, in so doing, we are limited to how many orders we can take.  So if you are interested in ordering, you need to email us right away as to reserve your spot for this years pork.

2015 Pork prices:

$440 whole hog plus processing (processing base price of $170 plus whatever specialty choices you make)

$220 half hog plus processing (processing base price of $85 plus your choices of specialty cuts)

How much meat does that give you?  On average, that gives you 150 + pounds of meat for a whole hog.  The beauty of you working directly with our amazing butcher, via one telephone call, is that Dorie can guide you in making all the decisions for the "how to's"....how many chops per package, how do you want your roasts packaged, what, if any meat do you want smoked,  how thick do you want your bacon, regularly processed or nitrate-free?  This makes your meat YOUR style and your preferences.  

Down payments are due on or before April 30.  $200 for a whole hog and $100 for a half.  And as always, if interest-free payments are easier on your budget, you can certainly do that as well.   For example for a whole hog, a $140 down payment in March, then divide the balance by 6.  For this year that would be less than $50/month for 6 months.   For a half hog, a $70 down payment and $25/month for 6 months.  (reminder:  this is for the meat portion only, plan for the processing as well)

We always butcher in the Fall, but choose to wait and give the exact time frames as we see how our little ones grow and mature.  Our preference is for them to be at their prime before going to visit Dorie.  So we appreciate your understanding in the finishing process.  We put so much time and energy into crafting an amazing product for you, we want to finish well.  

Due to our preference to raise our own little veggie eaters, we are limited to how many piglets we have to sell, so our policy has always been first come, first served.  So please let us know right away if you are wanting to be on the list!  I will send you a confirmation email when you contact us regarding your order.   StaiFamilyFarm@gmail.com

Sunday, June 16, 2013

2013 Pork Information

Hi All and welcome to the Stai Family Farm blogger,  summer of 2013.  What a strange year this weather has been!

Our garden is in, but we did delay getting it in because of all the rain and cool weather, but the pastures are so happy, green and lush that we can't complain too much!  Our grass-fed, free ranging animals are very happy to have the sunshine and fresh grass to graze on.  No complaints in their department!

We are taking orders this week for pork.  We realize that even though the cost of food in the last year has skyrocketed on many items, most incomes have not increased as much as the cost of living....so we are very thrilled to be able to continue to offer the same pricing as the last 3 years!!!  The only exception is that we are asking you, the consumer to pay a small amount extra for the cost of smoking your meat, if you so choose to do so.  Some prefer it, some do not, so we would like to ask that you make your own decision on that matter.  As always, we want your meat to be how you would like it.  A whole is still priced at $700 with a verbal commitment this week and next week a down payment of $200.  The balance is due on delivery or pick up.  A half is still $350 with a $150 down payment and the balance due on or before delivery or pick up.  Some have preferred to make monthly payments after the down payment is made, as to offset the final cost.  If you are interested in that, please let us know and we will be glad to accommodate you.

Thanks again for your interest in healthy, fresh, non-stressed meat.  With the every increasing amount of chemicals, vaccines and garbage that is being put into our food supply, we are very happy to be able to give you the same amazingly healthy food that we serve our family and friends.

To contact us directly, please email us at StaiFamilyFarm@gmail.com

Thanks!  Here's to healthy eating....

Greg and Karla

Friday, July 15, 2011

Lambs

DE and the lambs. This one is named "chocolate milk"....they so love eating out of the kids hands and being bottle fed. DE is our lamb girl.

Monday, July 11, 2011

You pick berries

It's great fun to have competitions to see who can pick the most at one time......It makes for some fun times......I just can't resist eating fresh, plump berries as I pick. If you're in the area and want to come pick, feel free. They are $3 pound you pick.

It will be worth your time and your tummy will thank you!

July fruit

Oh the beauty of black raspberries just waiting to be picked......they certainly call our name often. We're very grateful to the birds who continue to transplant more bushes.......

Black Raspberries are in season

Vanilla Bean ice cream with fresh picked black raspberries! Yummy !!

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Hen house gossip

Our gentle girls having a gossip session. These girls can really produce awesome brown eggs!