they can make healthy diet decisions as they grow into young adults ,” Ford says .
As with all aspects of farming , sustainability is a priority for locally owned farms that work diligently to ensure they are using environmentally friendly practices that help conserve their crops and promote community health .
The calves raised on Mountain Steer ’ s land are fed their mother ’ s milk , grass and locally grown corn . The farm then harvests the fat and bone to be used for things like tallow , bone marrow and dog bones . Eventually , Mountain Steer hopes to become a zero-waste company , meaning every part of a calf will be utilized in some way .
Jordan says sustainability is important for agricultural practices as well as everyone consuming those goods . She says Fruits of Labor nourishes its land , water supplies and plant selection just as it does its students .
“ It is vital to be good stewards of the land so that it will be productive for future generations ,” she says .
Morgan explains that the WVFMA promotes sustainability through its education programs , which include its organic production series and the farmers market education tunnel program debuting this fall .
“ By advocating for local food systems , we help reduce transportation waste and encourage composting and recycling efforts ,” she says .
While the benefits of running a local farm are plentiful , the path is not without its challenges . Behind the scenes , local farms are often fighting against unpredictable weather , fluctuating market prices and the constant pressure to maintain sustainable practices .
Weather is a major factor in crop health , and its unpredictability can easily catch farmers off guard . This year ’ s summer drought hit local farms hard , causing potentially significant damage to their crops and stunting their growth .
“ Lost crops and the sale of livestock herds due to drought are lost income opportunities for farm families ,” Morgan says . “ Supporting farmers now with the offerings they have available is the best way to keep our local farmers farming .”
Jordan emphasizes the obstacles of managing natural systems as well , highlighting the reality many family-owned
Photo by Jarhead Farms .
“ By advocating for local food systems , we help reduce transportation waste and encourage composting and recycling efforts ”
Photo by Fruits of Labor . farms face of spending a lot of their time managing those difficult elements . Along with the drought , this year ’ s early spring was a challenge for Fruits of Labor , whose maple syrup system was cut short by it .
“ Even with the challenges , it keeps me connected to the land and having faith that all things will work together each year for good ,” she says .
Cook , who describes the challenges of running a local farm as limitless , highlights the economic difficulties of inflation , higher wages and higher costs of doing business , as well as the rising costs of insurance . Considering these financial difficulties , it is sometimes difficult for local farms to keep their products at a reasonable price for consumers .
The Mountain Steer farm experiences these challenges as well , but Ford says they are well worth the outcome he sees his business produce .
“ Having two agriculture-based fulltime jobs is difficult with long hours , no sleep and a new problem around every corner , but calving out cows , watching the sun come up and go down and seeing the joy on people ’ s faces when they bite into a locally raised , grain-fed steak is priceless , and we wouldn ’ t change it for the world ,” he says .
In recent years , the demand for locally grown food in West Virginia has risen as more people become aware of the benefits of eating fresh , sustainable and transparently sourced products . With concerns about the global food supply chain and a desire to support local economies , West Virginians are increasingly seeking out places like Jarhead Farms , Mountain Steer Meat Company , the WVFMA , Fruits of Labor and the Spring Valley Farmers Market .
Zoe says that JarHead Farms has not been able to meet even half of this demand and that fruit often sells out before the farm can even bring it to market . The farm ’ s aggregation network has grown to house the fruit of 19 different farmers in just the last 18 months .
While at first skeptical about producing and selling farm-fresh beef , Mountain Steer found that business took off quickly , and the farm is producing more steers every year . Ford emphasizes the number of people who have said they will never
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