10 Reasons to go to ShiftCon 2019!
We’re so excited to have four American Grassfed ranchers providing ShiftCon 2018 with delicious meat for all of our conference meals.
Returning sponsor American Grassfed Association got its beginnings in 2003, when a group of Grassfed Farmers and Ranchers came together to create a set of industry standards and a third party labeling program for American grassfed products. They focus on promoting American family farms raising grassfed meat and dairy through government relations, research, concept marketing and public education. Each farm or ranch certified to the AGA standards must participate in a yearly on-farm audit. In addition, only certified farms and animals may bear the AGA grassfed logo – this ensures 100% transparency and a verified, honest, American 100% TRUE Grassfed product.
Four American Grassfed ranches will be partnering with ShiftCon 2018 to provide meat for all of the attendee meals over the course of the conference. Are you ready to meet your meat?
Meet the ShiftCon 2018 Meat Farmers:
White Oak Pastures
White Oak Pastures is an over-150-year-old multigenerational family farm that cooperates with nature to produce artisan products. They work hard to ensure that all of their production practices are Fair, Sustainable, and Humane. White Oak Pastures has been a part of the Harris family’s legacy since the late 1800’s. Captain James Edward Harris founded the farm soon after the Civil War, and the family has raised cattle on the same South Georgia land for five generations. Stewardship of the land and respect for their livestock are among the most important lessons that are passed from parent to child. The Harris Value Core Value is: “We take care of the land and the herd, and they take care of us.”
Today, White Oak Pastures employs over 100 people and produces AGA Certified grassfed beef and lamb, pastured poultry, pastured eggs and Certified Organic
Read more about White Oak Pastures on their website.
Richards Grassfed Beef
The Richards family involvement in agriculture stems back over 70 years. In 1941, Thomas H. Richards Sr. purchased the first 680 acre parcel. Over the years, they assembled neighboring parcels and grew the footprint and grazing capacity. Today, the Richards Ranch is over 6,600 acres of foothill countryside with beautiful Oaks, Pine and Medrone trees. The property is located in the eastern Sierra Foothills, about 70 miles northeast of Sacramento near the town of Oregon House, California. This location and elevation gives them plenty of rainfall and sun for healthy pasture composition.
The Richards Family mission is to provide the highest quality AGA Certified grassfed beef to their customers and do so in the most transparent and sustainable way possible. Their animals are never fed grain, corn products, given antibiotics or growth hormones. Ranch manager, Daryl Glenn, has over 30 years experience in the cattle and sheep ranching. He and the Richards Grassfed Beef Team are dedicated to providing the highest quality care for their animals to reduce stress and ensure proper care and feeding.
The Richards Family Ranch and the cattle raised on it have provided for their family for six generations. They feel it is their job to share their passion for preserving a healthy environment for their cattle to live and grow. In doing so, they are able to continue to serve their local customers with a healthier and more sustainable source of beef.
For more information about Richards Grassfed Beef, visit their website.
The Honest Bison
The Honest Bison started as one family’s quest to eat healthier and get fit. When it turned out that sourcing authentic, unprocessed food was harder to do than it sounds, the family decided to do what they could to change that. Located in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, the Honest Bison ranch consists of numerous grazing pastures. The ranchers practice a method of ranching called Holistic Management, which promotes the growth of a large variety of native grasses that are in turn used to feed the animals. This not only enhances the flavor of the meat, it also eliminates the need for fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemically enhanced farming practices.
The Honest Bison also practices what is known as Native American Harvest, where animals are harvested in the fields they have lived their lives in, so they don’t have the added stress of being trucked long distances. The bison experience less anxiety this way, and as a result, less stress cortisol is released. This ultimately creates both a better tasting meat and a more peaceful experience for the animals.
The Honest Bison ranch’s processing and packaging facilities are adjacent to their grazing pastures, enabling them to keep track of their animals at every step of the process, and ensuring that the quality and integrity of the meat is always kept to their high standards.
For more information about The Honest Bison, visit their website.
Green Vista Farms
Green Vista Farms is a family farm run by two generation of the Berger family. Parents Jonathan and Deb Berger both grew up on Ohio family farms, and met while attaining bachelors degrees in agriculture at Ohio State University. After 14 years of dairy farming, Jonathan decided to follow God’s lead and pursued a career which allowed more family time. While actively engaged in farming, his concurrent 5 years work experience in nutrient management at the local soil and water office enforced in him the tremendous value of grasslands in agricultural land conservation and sustainability.
With Deb’s continuous support and their childrens’ participation, Green Vista Farm AGA Certified Grassfed Beef became a reality. David, the younger son is taking on more responsibility in the day-to-day operations of the farm. Daniel, the older son, assists with all technical aspects of the business, and Jessica, the oldest, is the primary creative marketing director.
Green Vista Farms is Located near Wooster, in Northeast Ohio, and provides 100% grassfed beef, non GMO, antibiotic and drug-free pork, and organic coffee throughout Ohio.
For more information about Green Vista Farms, visit their website.
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