At Crate Free USA, our mission is to improve the lives of animals raised for food. And since the vast majority of Americans still eat meat, the best way to do this is to shop from local farmers who care about the animals they raise far more than the huge factory farms and corporations who own so much of the food industry today. While we do promote at least a reduction of meat in your diet, we also support our local farmers who raise animals more humanely and sustainably. We feel this is the most pragmatic way to affect change today rather than give people an all or nothing choice.
It’s easy for you to find a local, sustainable farmer near you in Illinois.
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Hephzibah Farms
On the farm they raise dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. There are also varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and peacocks. They also have rescues including horses and donkeys.
They strive to take the best care of their animals, treating them with respect. They raise our animals in a stress free, natural environment, so that they can grow to the best of their potential. In turn, they don’t use any harsh or toxic substances on the farm and the animals are raised without the use of hormones or antibiotics. They responsibly breed their animals and raise them humanly.
Tell us about your farm: (kind of animals? Rough size of farm? Cage-free? Pasture raised?)
Our farm is made up of two properties that total 160 acres. One property raises all our animals while the other is utilized for hay production and our organic grow beds.
We strive to raise our animals and produce as naturally as possible in an environment that is beneficial to the earth as well. Our cows, sheep, and goats are all grass fed/grass finished on pastures that are organically raised with no sprays. We use regenerative practices with rotational grazing to produce a high-quality meat that is healthy.
Our pigs are pasture-raised and supplemented with NON-GMO feed. The chickens and turkeys that we raise for meat are pasture raised and supplemented with organic feed, they are outside grazing our fields and eating a diet that produces a high-quality meat. Our egg laying hens are pasture raised as well, and supplemented with local feed. The deep colored yolk of our eggs show that our birds are out on pasture and that our eggs are very nutritious.
We grow our vegetables with no sprays at all. We call this beyond organic growing in our no till grow beds.
How did you first become involved in farming?
Our family started farming in 2015. It was our goal to produce food as naturally as possible and for ourselves and it turned into growing food for others as well.
Why is farming sustainably and humanely important to you?
We believe that we are stewards of what is entrusted to us and that if we want to produce high-quality products it has be done responsibly and sustainably. We want to use traditional and sustainable methods for our practices because you get out of your product what you put into it. Animals and vegetables grown in a happy, natural, and stress free environment produce a healthy product that is good for our bodies and our land.
What are your views on extreme confinement and gestation crates for pigs?
This is not the kind of farming that we practice, but feel we have no right to tell others what to do.
Would you support a bill to band extreme confinement? Why or why not?
It is not in our opinion that we should tell others how they should farm.
What is your current slaughter process? What do you think about mobile abattoirs and is that something you would potentially use?
We use USDA inspected facilities for the processing of our animals.
How do you market and sell your products? How can people shop with you/find you? Can they visit the farm?
We market our products through our website and Facebook page.
We also utilize other Facebook pages that promote buying local and naturally raised options. We have a retail store on our farm that carries our products year-round.
We also have our website set up for orders and we have several options for delivery.
Our farm is always open to visitors. We have a large agritourism business that provides educational, hands-on tours to teach people about our animals and how we raise them. On our website, you can see what animals we raise, learn about our produce and book a tour.
(photos courtesy of Hephzibah Farms)
The Illinois Guide to FACTORY-FREE MEAT, DAIRY, & EGGS
