In 2007, Matt O’Hayer and his wife, Catherine, founded Vital Farms with a small plot of farmland, 20 laying hens and a bucket of good intentions. Their mission: to bring high quality, ethically produced eggs to the table through the humane treatment of their hens through the Pasture-Raised farming method. Animal welfare and the humane …

Alan Zuschlag wasn’t always a shepherd.  Alan grew up a typical suburban kid and his father was the local veterinarian.  Growing up, Alan didn’t think to follow in his father’s footsteps in animal care.  But, when this self described “frustrated yuppie” decided to leave the Washington DC rat-race and look for greener pastures, his father’s …

Summerhill Goat Dairy, located in Hanford, California has recently joined the Humane Farm Animal Care program as a newly Certified Humane® producer.  Founded by John and Anneke de Jong in 1999, Summerhill was originally located in Southern California.  Both John and Anneke grew up on family-run dairy farms, and originally had little knowledge about raising …

Located among the picturesque redwoods of Sonoma County in Northern California, Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery has been producing award-winning goat milk yogurt, kefir, and cheese for almost 50 years. Created in 2010, the company’s sister brand, Green Valley Organics, makes lactose-free yogurt, kefir, sour cream, and other specialty dairy products. Redwood Hill Farm & …

Phils Fresh Eggs in Forreston, Illinois is a family run, second generation, cage-free egg productions facility.  Started in the late 1950’s by Phil Wubbena, Phil’s Fresh Eggs developed and pioneered the cage-free egg production model that is utilized around the world today. His son Rod and his wife maintain the farm today as well as …

Pete and Gerry’s Eggs (along with sister brand Nellie’s Free Range Eggs) became Certified Humane® in 2003, and as such, became the first egg producer in the country to obtain the certification. Since that time, Pete and Gerry’s Eggs has grown into the largest organic brand in the country, and Nellie’s Free Range has grown …

Comprised of 43 family-owned farms (all “Certified Humane”) Murray’s Chicken is certainly a “unique breed.” Murray Bresky grew up raising chickens and watched his father closely as he grew and learned the poultry business. The birds were such a passion for him and he worked diligently to learn the art of raising chickens well. He …

Ludwig Farmstead Creamery sits on a 150 acre dairy farm in the Central Illinois town of Fithian.  The farm has been operated by the Ludwig family for five generations, and excels at raising high quality, Certified Humane® Holstein cattle under the direction of their award-winning herdsman. The Ludwig family places great emphasis on the humane …

David Lathem, owner of Lathem Family Farms, is no stranger to raising poultry. As a second generation poultry farmer he grew up carrying feed bags to feed the chickens.  His first job after graduating from the University of Georgia was visiting chicken farmers  as an extension specialist.  Therefore, it is natural he now owns and operates …

Marvin Glaum worked to keep his family’s egg farming business in Aptos, California, going through tough times. Things have changed a bit since Marvin invented the egg vending machine (complete with dancing chicken puppets) that’s still in use at Glaum Egg Ranch’s processing plant. But the Glaum family’s creativity, determination, and dedication to family farming …