LEESBURG - Glenn and Geri Hochstetler made their dreams come true by buying their own 12-acre farm near Dewart Lake two years ago.

The parents of five children, their goal is to instill values and lessons about birth, growth and maturity on their family farm.

For the last five years they have raised and processed free-range chickens (three years on rented property). This year they've added turkeys to the list that also includes a few head of cattle.

Glenn said he feels the current trend in large-scale farming has become unsafe.

"All farmers share a common love for the soil, animals and family. But size of operation seems to be the primary goal," he said. He grew up in a family of 12 that raised pigs, horses, cows, chickens, turkeys and grain crops in LaGrange County.

His family raised 100,000 chickens in confinement every year. The odor and constant need for medication to fight disease created a desire in him to get back to a cleaner and more natural way of raising poultry.

Grass-feeding the birds provides essential vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids lacking in most people's modern diets, he says.

"Here we promote quality and we're always looking for ways to improve. Customer feedback is important. We're open to anything that promotes family life," he said.

Customers are welcome to come to the farm and see how the turkeys are raised and make an order. The just-in-time-for-Thanksgiving turkeys are $2.99 per pound.

At 15 weeks old, the free-range turkeys at MeadowBlend Farm will dress out at 15 to 20 pounds each.

The Hochstetlers found out poults are a little more delicate than day-old chicks. They started out with 50-day-old poults and 30 have grown to processing size.

"Any temperature fluctuations, too much water on the ground by the waterer, meant we'd lose some," he said.

The processing area begins behind the barn and continues on into a room inside the barn where the refrigeration and freezer units are.

"People are welcome to come to the farm. They're my best inspectors. It's very therapeutic to come and slow down, to pet the animals and hear the sounds of a rooster crowing."

The three oldest Hochstetler girls: Glendora, 9; Gianna, 7 (and a half, she is quick to point out); and Gracelyn, 6, all have specific chores. Glendora tends to the turkeys. Gianna has a flock of chickens to water and feed every day, and Gracelyn is chief egg collector and washer. Gynnae, 4, lends a hand where she's needed. The youngest, Geoffrey, is 2 months old.

The Rhode Island Red flock of chickens produces brown eggs, and they are available for $2 a dozen.

Chickens, offered at $2.35 per pound, come in three size categories. They're harvested when they're 7 to 8 weeks old. Fryers weigh 3 to 4 pounds, broilers weigh 4 to 5 pounds and 5-pound and heavier birds are roasters. Stewing hens, ones that have finished laying regularly, cost $1.50 per pound.

Raising the poultry in free-range fashion makes the meat more flavorful. The texture is different, too.

"Whenever you cook a grass-fed product, put away the timer and buy a good meat thermometer. There is not as much fat and it cooks faster. Turn down the heat, because if it's too high, the fat will exit faster and toughen the protein. Also," Glenn said, "ease up on the seasonings and sauces. The birds have sufficient flavor to stand on their own."

The investment in a vacuum sealer means the processed poultry has a longer shelf life, - three to five months longer in the freezer, so they are available in the winter.

The Hochstetlers also have three head of cattle, which will be ready for processing next year. They're taking two years to put on enough pounds because of the slower, more natural way the Hochstetlers are taking to put pounds on them.

"They'll be ready next summer and we'll be starting three more. Hopefully we'll have beef available from then on," Glenn said.

He said the greatest challenge for him has been developing marketing strategies.

"It's one thing to produce a product when someone else does the marketing and another thing to do it all yourself. Word-of-mouth is my basic strategy. The current satisfied customers will pass the word on.

"As a community, we're slow to take on new things, especially when there are conveniences all around us."

Glenn figures the addition of turkey and beef adds diversity to his operation and makes it a worthwhile trip for consumers who are shopping for eggs, poultry and beef.

"During holidays when families plan great feasts, I get to provide the meat for that," he said.

"It's my greatest privilege to offer the community a product that promotes quality of life. That satisfies."

MeadowBlend Farm is listed in the Kosciusko County Farm Fresh Directory along with other farm-to-customer agricultural businesses. The booklet is compiled by and available at the Kosciusko County Extension Office.

For more information about MeadowBlend Farm, call 574-658-5588. The Hochstetlers live at 8794 N. Harper Road.

On the Net: e-mail: [email protected]

To learn more about the benefits of grass-fed animals go to: www.Eatwild.com or www.Westonprice.org [[In-content Ad]]