Back in 2015, Halee and John Wepking were on the hunt for land to farm in Wisconsin. They had recently quit the restaurant business and were searching for more concrete, accessible work—work that would provide tangible good to the world. One day, Halee happened upon a Craigslist post from Paul Bickford, a longtime farmer in Ridgeway, west of Madison. He wanted to train, partner with, and eventually transition his land and assets to a younger farmer. The Wepkings and Bickford met and immediately knew it was a perfect fit.
The farm has evolved over the past five years as the team has increased crop diversity and branded their offerings, which include a variety of heritage wheat flours, beans, and corn products like polenta, under the Meadowlark Organics name.
This spring, during the pandemic, the farm launched its Grain Shares option and watched online sales skyrocket in March, April, and May. “Things have come back down to earth a little bit lately, but our online sales have increased by something like 25 times,” says Halee. “Our supply chain was pretty much insulated from any of the issues that commodity flour producers experienced. I created the Grain Shares because I wanted to provide people with a consistent supply of whole grains and freshly milled flour. With all of the uncertainty, it felt like creating a service where you don't have to go to a grocery store, or even remember to place an order online, would be welcome.”
Last winter, the partnership agreement between Bickford and the Wepkings reached a milestone. The farm equity was transitioned to 50-50 ownership between the Wepkings and Bickford—both a testament to their mutual trust and commitment, and a sign of hope for the future of farming during tumultuous times. This is truly a small but powerful silver lining in such uncertain circumstances.
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