Bluebird skies & wide-open pastures were the perfect setting for the Dudley Smith Farm field day. This bi-annual event, is hosted by the University of Illinois Extension & is located in rural Pana. David & his dad John, have been long-time attendees, as this has been such a wonderful resource for them over the years, as they began their journey into cattle decades ago. They have learned so much from Ed Ballard, the host and world-renowned expert in grazing management. He has helped so many & continues to give back & share his knowledge, to this day.
We were beyond humbled (and so, so excited), when Ed asked us to share a little about our farm and our diversification & transition into farm-to-table, at this summer’s field day. With this topic being so broad and spanning so many years, we had a lot of ground we wanted to cover. But we also knew we wanted our audience to walk away with a select, few highlights. And we were hopeful that they would be able to feel the passion behind our words.
Firstly, we wanted people to see that we are a family farm. We have diversified the farm, by producing beef, pork and eggs for retail sale. But our abundance is what we feed our own family. We trust ourselves and our own practices but how do we convey that to others? We have tried to create a social media presence, so hopefully folks can see our transparency in our sustainable farming practices. We believe that this builds trust.
Secondly, we hope that our customers will recognize the quality & customer service aspect. We take pride in both. And we hope that the “shop small” & “support local” trend will continue. This connection to your food/farmer is so important. It provides traceability & a chance for education.
Thirdly, we want to make ourselves accessible. We are mobile, with our market trailer, which makes purchasing straight from us a breeze. We now, also have a display freezer at The Dandy Lion, an adorable sustainably-focused shop on the Taylorville square. You’re able to stop in and shop 6 days a week! With the click of a button, you can also shop our website www.hebertfamilyfarms.com any time, day or night.
It’s been fun to sit down and map out our timeline, regarding our growth and expansion. It’s hard to believe we’ve been at this now, since 2017. Just like with anything though, we started out small and have continued to grow. We have definitely enjoyed the journey, along the way. And we are excited to think about what our future might hold. We appreciate the support & encouragement from so many of you, along the way. Today was definitely one of those “can’t stop smiling” kind of days. Thanks so much for having us out to the field day!
It was a great, interesting presentation! Beautiful day for a Field Day!