EVENT DETAILS:
The WI LFPA program is inviting you to Sullivan Family Farm on Tuesday, September 17th from 1:00 – 5:30 PM to learn how Ryan and Jackie Sullivan are growing produce, pork, lamb and beef for food access programs across Wisconsin. You will have the opportunity to tour their gardens, high tunnels, pastures, animal housing and on-farm store. There will be an Open Space conversation circle facilitated by Marbleseed on the importance of local farmers selling to food access programs, and how to build and strengthen these relationships.
Snacks and beverages will be provided throughout the day. All WI-LFPA producers in attendance will be eligible for a $75 travel stipend but is limited to one travel stipend per awarded farm.
FARMER BIO: Sullivan Family Farm is a veteran owned and operated diversified farm. We produce real food in a natural manner. All vegetables, poultry, lamb, beef, eggs and honey are chemical free and non-gmo. We are consistently working to build our soil and effectively make high quality biologically complete compost.
We moved here from South Dakota in the beginning of 2014. We cut teeth as an LLC in June 2020. Our home farm is five acres which includes approximately three acres of fenced pasture. We rent 40 acres just ¼ mile up the road from us. 2 acres of this ground is an outdoor market garden. The remaining 38 acres is set up for rotational grazing the cattle and sheep. We have a nice granary, a steel garage that is now our wash/pack, cooler and sales room, six hoop houses that total 8,640 square feet and various other on-farm buildings. We currently have three feeder cattle and two yearling calves. We have approximately 60 ewes with the majority lambing this year. A small flock of 50 laying hens and we plan to raise and market just over 1000 pastured broilers that are processed on farm.
Agenda
1:00 – 1:15 PM- Welcome and Review Agenda for Day
1:15 – 3:00 PM- Farm Tour and Production Break-Out Groups
3:00 – 3:15 PM- Break- Networking Time
3:15 – 5:00 PM- Open Space Farm to Food Access Circle
5:00 – 5:30 PM- Wrap-Up and Network
EVENT RECAP:
On a hot September day, eight participants came out to Sullivan Family Farm to learn from farmers Jackie and Ryan about their diversified farm. Sullivan Family Farm produces vegetables, lamb and beef for the WI LFPA program and attendees got to tour their packing shed, high tunnels, grant-funded pollinator habitat, grazing operation and vermicomposting system. Much of the discussion focused on their strong relationship with Grow It Forward in Manitowoc and how the Sullivan’s supply them with their products through the WI LFPA program. Participants asked many great questions and Jackie and Ryan were able to provide so much information on their growing practices, increasing their farm business and their goal of providing nutritious food to their community.