14844 129th Ave - Park Rapids, MN 56470
218-616-2333
OUR STORY
1st Generation Family Farm
Remember Little House on the Prairie? Some days I feel like Ma Ingalls (but please know I'm NOT giving up indoor plumbing, electricity or the internet!). My brother tells me he feels like he goes back in time when he visits us because when he goes into my pantry he finds jars of homemade bone broth, rendered lard, homemade jellies and pickles, etc. Oh, and don't forget all the grains for fresh ground flour! I'm kind of a "homemade" junkie, nothing like making supper and knowing that you raised or grew ALL of it!​
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I don't know what the Ingalls would have called their farm but our farm got its name for a couple of reasons. Judi grew up on a farm in North Dakota but had been away from it for quite some time. Josh grew up in Park Rapids and had been working in North Dakota. When we decided to move to Park Rapids full time, for Judi it was like coming back home to a farm and for Josh it literally was coming back home. Enter the name "Back Home Farms". :-)​
FRESH FARM
PRODUCTS
We are a small family farm located just southwest of Park Rapids, MN. We provide naturally grown pork, beef, lamb, poultry, eggs and produce. Please sit back and look around our site to see what we can do for you. Maybe it's wondering what to make for dinner (check out Recipes), or how to put some of our farm fresh meats on your dinner table (check out our Online Store), or maybe it's just wanting to know more about our animals! Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions. Thanks and hopefully we'll see you soon!
ABOUT BACK HOME FARMS
As you many have already heard, we started Back Home Farms with a Saturday trip to the Winger livestock auction. We came home with three baby pigs in the back of our pickup under a large water tub. We set them up in our garage so we could keep close eye on them and before we knew it we were hooked and knew that we wanted to share our new found love with those around us.
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​The first few years we had the farm were a bit of trial and error as we learned which breeds and animals we wanted to include on our farm. We had our pigs of course, tried some goats (won't do that again..LOL), added some chickens and then raised a couple Jersey bulls for our own meat.
Two years into farming we moved....and by moved I mean we moved the ENTIRE farm! Pig huts, chicken coop, animals and all! Our move gave us the opportunity to expand and grow.
BEFORE AFTER
Once we got settled in the new place (our home now) we decided to focus our pork production on using Purebred Berkshire boars with a variety of purebred and crossbred sows. We found an excellent source for boars where they are tested and known for their excellent meat quality.
From there we found Niman Ranch. Niman Ranch is a network of U.S. family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock, humanely and sustainably. Raising pork for Niman Ranch means that all animals are raised outdoors or in deeply bedded pens and that we do not use any farrowing crates, our sows farrow in open pens. It also means that we feed a 100% vegetarian diet.
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So, while growing our production was important to us we were not willing to give up quality for quantity. We strive to raise the tastiest and most healthy meat that we can. If we wouldn't feed it to our own family, then we are not going to offer it to you. That being said, we are very proud to say that in 2017 Niman Ranch ranked us 5th out of 300+ farmers for meat quality for our pork!
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Along with our hogs, we also raise beef cattle, chickens and sheep. We love to garden and are sometimes known to "overdo" our garden. What we don't can or freeze for our own family, we love to share with folks at the farmer's market! Our produce offerings vary based on what is in season. Some of the things folks watch for from us are our, raspberry or strawberry jalapeno jelly, pickled beets, candied jalapenos, and our BBQ sauce.
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So that is a bit about us and how we got to where we are today. We are very glad you took the time to read a bit about us and look forward to serving you some great home grown meat in the future. We love to talk about our animals and products (ok, I just love to talk!) so please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have!
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Know your Farmer, Know your Food!
Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. Therefore, the claim "no hormones added" cannot be used on the labels of pork or poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones."
A little more about our animals...
We raise Berkshire pigs right alongside our cattle, sheep, and chickens here at the farm. Our pig operation is "farrow to finish," meaning we breed, farrow (birth), and raise them all the way to butcher weight ourselves. We also offer weaner pigs (around 6–7 weeks old) for sale from time to time.
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Our sows farrow in large open pens—no crates here. They’re free to build their own nests, just like nature intended. None of our animals are given routine antibiotics, and we believe healthy animals start with good care and good feed. The pigs we raise to finish go to our Farmers Market customers and those who purchase half or whole hogs. It takes about 7–8 months for a pig to reach butcher weight.
As for our cattle—raising them is a labor of love. We keep a herd of beef cows for both breeding and meat production (and let’s be honest—Josh just loves cows!). We use Black Angus and Registered Hereford bulls for natural breeding, and with a gestation period of around 279 to 287 days, it’s a slow and steady process. Once born, it takes about 18 months for a calf to reach butcher weight. As you can see, cattle aren’t a quick-turnaround kind of thing—it’s a long-term commitment.
Our cattle are raised on a mix of grass, hay, and grain. The grain helps add that beautiful marbling folks love in a good steak. We don’t use hormones, and we’re proud of the quality our herd produces. Most of our cattle are Black or Red Angus, with a few Herefords in the mix too.