Rob and Michelle Stokes’ love story started with animal science. They met at California State University, Chico — he was in the Beef Unit, she was in the Swine Unit. A year after graduation, the couple found work at Niman Ranch, a now-famous network of sustainability-focused farmers.

They left Niman around 2008 to raise nanny goats, and in 2010 launched Malheur River Meats with fellow farmers Linda and Mike Bentz in Malheur County, Oregon. Today, they raise cattle, hogs, goats, turkeys, and chickens on 265 acres. Their pork is Global Animal Partnership (GAP) certified and their eggs, goat meat, and pork are Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World.

Story by Lex Nelson

The seeds for McIntyre Pastures were planted in 1909, when the McIntyre family first started working the land in Caldwell, Idaho. Today, the more than 1,000-acre plot is still a family business run by third-. fourth-, and fifth-generation farmers: Loren McIntyre; his sons, Ben and Brad; and their wives and kids.

The McIntyres raise chickens and ducks (for both meat and eggs), turkeys, pigs, and cattle, rotating them through their pastures to promote healthy soil and animals. They also practice no-till farming and grow their own animal feed. As Ben’s wife, Maria, puts it, when it comes to their hogs they’re “letting pigs be pigs.”

Story by Lex Nelson

Jessica Harrold and her husband, Ammon, scored an unusual dowry for a modern-day couple: “When we got married my dad gave us his favorite cow as my wedding present,” Jessica remembered. “So, ‘you know you’re from Idaho when.’” 

Perhaps it’s no surprise Jess followed in her farming family’s footsteps. Since 2017, she has run Hen & Hare Microfarm: a less-than-two-acre operation in South Boise. 

Story by Lex Nelson