Leaving the City Behind
Tucked away in a rural southern Minnesota town, a husband and wife have been transforming their way of life. Alice and Walter Field discovered Zumbrota, Minnesota in 1975, as they were driving along Highway 52 to visit a daughter in Shakopee. Shortly after, they happily purchased an 80-acre farm near Zumbrota and left the urban life of Chicago behind. Walter, a retired industrial engineer, and Alice, a leather crafter and Girl Scout Leader have farmed for the past 25 years.
With the farm purchased and the move from Chicago complete, the next step was to decide what to farm. In 1977, Alice and Walter’s neighbors were purchasing some sheep and Alice asked if they would buy a few extra for her. From her original six ewes, Alice raised her sheep farming operation to a herd size that consisted of more than 100 at a time. The numbers she keeps now are smaller, due to management reasons, but she still maintains roughly 45 to 50 ewes each season.
To get acquainted with the sheep industry, Alice took a correspondence course on sheep management from the former Pipestone Vo-Tech. She also began to read everything she could get her hands on about raising sheep. “That’s where I learned about sheep,” Alice said. “I learned well enough that I taught in Red Wing (at the vocational school).”
Financing the Flock
In the 1980’s, as the sheep market collapsed, Alice was determined to persevere and keep her flock. She began to explore alternative methods for marketing and selling her lambs. She wrote to the American Sheep Industry Association and asked for information about the new cuts of lamb that were becoming popular with restaurants and food service customers. From this information she began educating local butchers and sheep farmers about new ways to prepare their meat. She presented a demonstration at an annual meat processing convention. Through the convention she came into contact with the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI). AURI funds new businesses in Minnesota that develop creative uses for Minnesota agricultural products. Working through the AURI Market Start program Alice was able to expand her marketing efforts.
Alice now sells her meats primarily to acquaintances and at farmers markets. “I have been helped along,” Alice said. “It is incredible how many people helped me.” She currently shares a booth at the Minneapolis farmers market which she attends once every two weeks. She also makes regular trips to other area markets and does well with mail and telephone orders as well.
Alice and Walter, owners and operators of Sweet Meadow Farms, share the farm work. Walter feeds the sheep, mends fences and does farm maintenance. Alice is the herdswoman and marketer. “I found in time I knew how to raise sheep,” she said.
Natural Methods Taste Better
Sweet Meadow Farms raises all of their sheep using natural methods. There are no hormones or chemicals used and the animals spend their lives in the lush pastures of Southern Minnesota. These farming methods are a crucial element to their enterprise. The final lamb that is sold is not only healthier but it tastes better as well.
The scope of Alice’s interests does not end with her farm. She is an active member of the League of Women Voters, and recently spearheaded a group of local sheep farmers in a project to collect wool and make quilts for families in need. The result was 82 wool-filled blankets that were given to the Salvation Army in Rochester, Minnesota, and then distributed to low-income families in the area. Due to the hard work and good nature of this group of sheep farmers, and the declining wool prices, this project was very successful.
From the city to the farm, Alice and Walter have found a lifestyle that they truly enjoy. Alice relays a story that is telling of their experience on the farm. One day, they were out late in the evening spreading manure over the fields. “We were going along , it was getting dark, and we could see the neighbors’ lights coming on. We were throwing the manure with shovels and I said to myself, ‘What’s wrong with us? It’s late, it’s dark, we’re out here working, and we like it.”
Alice and Walter are happy with their life on Sweet Meadow Farms. Although farming was not a lifelong dream, they took a chance, later in their lives, and have enjoyed farming ever since.