Stories From The Herd
Meet the farmers and creators behind your favorite finds — and see how every purchase helps their families, animals, and communities grow.
Meet Your Grower:
John Condon
Condon Farms
Some farms grow crops. Some raise cattle. And some grow generations.
When I asked John Condon how Condon Farms got started, his answer began in the exact place we were standing.
“I was raised on the family farm that I'm currently standing on now.”
The roughly 150-acre family farm was primarily beef cattle and crops when John was growing up, with hay and corn among what they raised. From a young age, John developed an understanding of cattle—and, more importantly, a passion for them. Working alongside his father, finishing cattle became part of his education in farming, hard work, and responsibility. Today, that connection to cattle continues.
From Their Farm to Your Table
At Condon Farms, young cattle are brought in, started and developed on the farm. John explained that knowing how those animals are being cared for throughout that process is important to him.
The cattle primarily begin on grass and hay before eventually moving to a corn-finished diet. And cattle are only part of the operation. Condon Farms also grows hundreds of acres of corn and soybeans, along with hay, wheat and straw. But what John kept coming back to wasn't how much they produce. It is how they produce it.
“For us, it's not about volume. It's about the quality.”
That means monitoring the cattle, knowing their feed rations, and knowing what's happening with the animals throughout their time on the farm. And if you'd like to see where your beef is coming from? John says come see it.
Condon Farms welcomes people to stop by, see the cattle and see for themselves where they're being raised. That kind of transparency is something you simply can't get from a package of beef in a grocery store cooler.
What Does Supporting a Local Farm Really Mean?
This was the answer from John that stuck with me the most. I asked what supporting local farms means to him and his family.
“It's the lifeline, really.”
John talked about rising input costs and the realities of producing on a smaller scale compared with large corporations. Buying feed, supplements and everything else required to raise quality cattle costs more when you're doing it at this level. That's why choosing to purchase directly from a local farmer matters. You're not simply buying beef. You're helping make it possible for a family farm to keep doing what it does. You're supporting the people putting the extra work into producing something they're proud to hand to their neighbors. You're helping kids grow up around agriculture. And you're keeping farms like this part of our local community.
John Has a Challenge for You
When I asked John what he wished more people understood about farming and where their food comes from, he didn't give me a complicated answer.
He said: “The proof is in the taste.”
His challenge? Try Condon Farms beef. Take it home. Compare it with the beef you've purchased somewhere else and decide for yourself. John points to the neighbors and customers who return year after year as proof that what they're doing is working.
But There's More Growing Here Than Beef
This might be my favorite part of the Condon Farms story. John also talked about helping kids get started with 4-H cattle and the responsibility that comes from caring for and working with an animal. And I've gotten to see some of that firsthand.
At the fair, I watched John's nine-year-old nephew Garth work with a cow who had apparently decided that cooperation was completely optional that day. That cow gave him a run for his money. But Garth didn't get frustrated. He stayed patient, kept working with her and handled himself incredibly well. So naturally, I interviewed him too. I asked Garth what his favorite part about participating in 4-H was. His answer?
“Winning.”
Well...there you have it. Garth, his brother Grafton, and their sister Georgianna are John and Robert's next generation growing up around cattle, agriculture and 4-H. And while Garth may currently be in it for the trophies , what these kids are learning along the way—responsibility, patience, work ethic and how to care for an animal—is something they'll carry much longer than a ribbon.
So, How Can You Support Condon Farms?
John made this part pretty easy.
“Come try our beef. See what you think. Give us an opportunity to prove ourselves with you.”
That's it. Give them a try. And maybe while you're there, say hello to a cow.
Trust me. That's one of the perks of friending a local farmer.
Meet Your Grower
John Condon | Condon Farms
Raised on the farm. Raising quality beef. Supporting the next generation of agriculture.
Thoughtfully grown. Locally raised. And shared with neighbors.
Kale Yeah — Growing Farms, Foods & Friendships.
