Edible Michiana Holiday 2022

A pause on the porch, rare in day-to-day farm work, captures three Robinson family generations: (left to right) Renee (Robinson) Seelye with son, Kane, and Lou Ann and Nate Robinson. The farmhouse was built circa 1890.

quality. The heritage part of our farm is in the way my great-great-grandfather raised his animals. It was outside. So we reached back in time and did it the old way. And everybody said we had something new!” When Jake’s Country Meats was launched in 1998, they needed to figure out who their customers were. Lou Ann recalls, “That takes time. We invested a lot of time at the farmers markets, and we still talk to those customers all the time. Food and relationships work together.” There’s also the relationship between the farmers and the animals. Renee’s husband, Nick, oversees all the livestock “That’s the beauty of farms. There are so many different things you can create out of one...” and manages the warehouse. He respects the circle of life: “Seeing all aspects of it from start to finish. The good and the bad.” The unique structure of a working farm family has its advantages. “It gives us flexibility to be involved and do life together more often,” Nick says. “I prioritize my family over working by having a strong employee base I can trust to support the farm.” Renee says, “That’s the beauty of farms. There are so many different things you can create out of one, that can apply to different personalities and siblings, and that way we can all connect through the farm.” Leaving Lou Ann and Renee to get back to their work in mission control, Nate walked me out to The Meat Shed, their

on-site farm store that is open every day and features frozen pork products, beef, chicken and fish. Their fleet of white box trucks stood ready to roll toward farmers markets, restaurants and retail outlets. Nate is the family visionary, and as he walked back to the farmhouse, chances are he was thinking of some new flavor for Jake’s bacon or sausage. Me, I drove home with chorizo on my mind.

Jake’s County Meats 55721 Decatur Rd.

Cassopolis, MI 269.445.3020 For info about where to find Jake’s products, go to jakescountrymeats.com/locations

Deborah Rieth writes from a Michigan small farm, where her soul is nourished by gardens, kitchens and words.

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| HOL IDAY 2022