Our farmers

Snyder Family Farm

The Farmers: Arnosti Farm Connections buys pork, goat, turkey, chicken, and free-range (chicken) eggs from John and Bernadette Snyder and their son Ben, who run a family farm near Preston, Minnesota. John, Bernie, and Ben are “salt of the earth” people who work continuously to improve the environment for their animals, after John noticed how much healthier his animals were after eliminating the use of pesticides. Snyder Family Farm hogs are raised in deep-bedded straw, with no GMOs, antibiotics, or growth hormones – resulting in healthy, happy hogs and the best pork you’ll ever eat. The Snyders previously sold pork to Niman Ranch, which is renowned for its high standards for environmental care and animal welfare, and they now sell their pork to neighbors – and to us.

The goats are raised with care by Bernie, with all feed produced on the family’s farm without pesticides.

The Snyder egg-laying hens are the definition of free range, roaming and nesting across the farmstead. The Snyder’s two school-aged grandchildren are tasked with collecting the eggs – an Easter egg hunt every day! The chickens raised for meat live outdoors on grass, with diets supplemented by grain, and are protected from nearby foxes and coyotes by an electric fence.

John talks about his family’s approach to regenerative farming in this video:

Abraham’s Table Farm

The farmers: Joel and Megan Barr and their wonderful children operate a family farm in Sandstone, Minnesota. They raise their chickens in open-air pastures that are moved daily, following their rotationally-grazed beef cattle. Their chickens’ diet of insects and fresh green shoots is supplemented with organic, soy-free grain, resulting in healthy, plump, and tasty chickens! Joel and Megan are in the midst of a three-year process to gain organic certification. Their chickens are available from late spring through early winter.

Here’s a link to Joel and Megan’s website.

Sobocinski Family Farm

The farmers: Paul and Candy Sobocinski raise cattle (Angus cross) on grass pastures near Lucan, Minnesota.  In the winter, the cows feed on non-GMO corn, oats, and hay harvested from their farm. The animals are bedded on straw and never see antibiotics. This beef is high quality, tender, and flavorful.

Paul Sobocinski

Amish Farms

The farmers: Arnosti Farm Connections buys lamb, organic vegetables, baked goods, butter, pickles, jams, and other farm foods from several Amish farms near Harmony, Minnesota – all owned by the extended Borntrager family.

John Borntrager and his family are part of a 28-family Amish community in Southeastern Minnesota, and they grow certified organic vegetables for Minnesota-based and family-owned supplier Sno Pac Foods, Whole Foods, Twin Cities-area co-ops, and other local food providers in Minnesota. By buying excess certified organic vegetables – including high-quality ‘seconds’ that aren’t in as much demand due to their size or shape – we are helping this wonderful family find a market for their good food. And because we’re sourcing directly from the Borntragers, these certified organic vegetables are half the price of equivalents in your local co-op. Susie Borntrager, John’s wife, makes baked goods, butter, jams, pickled beets. Susie is thrilled to be able to sell the foods she makes for her family to families in the Twin Cities through Arnosti Farm Connections.

Chris Borntrager purchased 80 acres of eroded cropland a few years ago, and has embarked on healing the land.  He’s put most of it into permanent pasture to rebuild fertility, with small bottom-land fields in commercial organic vegetable production.  Chris raises a flock of Katahdin Hair Sheep, a hardy breed developed in Maine, on his pastures. His sheep spend most of their time on the hilly slopes, and have access to a hay-filled barn for shelter during the winter. Chris is John Borntrager’s brother.

Ben Borntrager, like his half-brother John, raises certified organic vegetables for Sno Pac Foods. He sells seconds and surplus vegetables to Arnosti Farm Connections.