The Mothers Behind Our Farms: Stories from the Families Who Raise Your Food
When people think about where their food comes from, they often picture green pastures, barns, and farmers working the land.
But behind many small farms is someone just as essential to the work — a mother.
She might be cooking meals after a long morning in the barn, helping with chores, keeping the farm books, raising children, or making sure everyone is fed after a long day in the fields.
At Vintage Meadows, the farms we work with are family farms. And on many of those farms, mothers play a huge role in keeping both the farm and the family running.
This Mother’s Day, we asked some of the farmers in our community to share about the mothers on their farms — the women who help raise animals, raise families, and keep traditions alive.
Their stories are simple, honest, and full of the kind of quiet strength that keeps small farms going.
Here are just a few of the mothers behind the farms that help raise food for your table.
Leona — Hidden Rock Custom Feeds
Leona is the heart of our home.
She helps with the chores and takes care of the eggs.
She prepares meals for everybody.
She also is a very good seamstress.
Her favorite pastimes are spending time with the grandchildren and putting puzzles together.
— Mark, Hidden Rock Custom Feeds
Ridge Lane Farm
As the mother at Ridge Lane Farm, I spend most of my time taking care of our two sons, cooking from scratch, and making our home a pleasant place to be.
My job on the farm is to handle bookkeeping and other secretarial duties. I also serve as the overseer for our strawberry picking team in June.
I enjoy cooking seasonally, using the things that we raise on the farm. One thing I like to make is hearty soup, such as Chicken Wild Rice Soup and Sausage Kale Soup.
One of my hobbies is learning how to bake gluten-free sourdough bread, since I personally have a strong gluten intolerance.
I am grateful for the role that my husband and I get to play in our community as business owners, employers, and farmers.
Cristina — Feathered Farm Brothers
Our mom, Cristina, is truly the heart behind everything we do.
She works side by side with our dad, farmer Cuco, in our family business, Feathered Farm Brothers, raising meat birds for Vintage Meadows, while also balancing a career in healthcare.
No matter how busy life gets, she somehow manages to keep our home running — whether it’s helping with homework, getting us to soccer practices, cooking us food, and taking us to our games.
What makes her so special is her go-getter attitude and strong work ethic. She never slows down and always gives her all in everything she does.
Even with her packed schedule, she still finds time for herself through CrossFit, which shows us the importance of staying strong and taking care of yourself too.
One thing we admire most is how she handles it all with determination and love. She inspires us every day to work hard, stay committed, and support one another as a family.
Katrina — Vintage Meadows
Katrina does:
Load chickens in rain storms, pick up seed to plant new pastures, fix amazing meals using farm fresh ingredients, and go along with my crazy ideas for another project on the farm.
Katrina does not:
Criticize my ideas that don't work out, complain about dirty clothes, or avoid hard decisions relating to farm and family.
Aimee — Vintage Meadows
Aimee has always been the rock of our family.
She fights for togetherness in a world that constantly pulls us in different directions. When it would be easier to split up and go our own ways, she pulls us back, reminding us who we are and what we have.
No matter how full her day is, she makes space for the little things at the end. One last book. One more pillow. Put the curler thing in my hair. One more hug. One more glass of water. One more story.
She rarely rushes those moments.
We are spoiled at the table. Her food isn’t just delicious — it’s meaningful. She has stories, memories, and purpose with it.
The recipe that comes to mind this Mother’s Day is her grandmother’s crepes. Simple ingredients, made over and over again. But what makes them special isn’t just their taste.
It’s what they represent.
They remind us that the strongest families aren’t built on big moments alone, but on small, repeated acts of love — a meal shared, a tradition kept, making time for each other even when life feels busy.
We are beyond grateful for her and the love she pours into our family, one small moment — or crepe — at a time.
Elaine
When I think of Mother’s Day and the hub of the family, Proverbs 31:10–11 comes to my mind:
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.”
She has foresight for her family, like planting and preserving nutritious food for them or helping make it possible so other mothers have food for their families.
There are times when I’m not able to do the milking, and Elaine steps in with the children and takes care of the milking and makes sure the lambs get their milk, all while leading by example for the children.
“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” — Proverbs 3:15
Inez — Goat Dairy Farm
We have a goat dairy farm, and most of our goats have their babies in the spring. We also have a retail greenhouse, which makes spring an extremely busy season.
A favorite quick-fix meal during this busy time is the 1 Skillet Dash:
Brown one pound of ground beef and season to taste with salt, pepper, or taco seasoning.
Add one pound of potatoes, cubed or shredded, and simmer until soft.
Then add American cheese or cream of mushroom soup for a thick, creamy sauce. Add some vegetables for color.
It takes about 30–45 minutes and can easily be adjusted depending on how many people you’re feeding.
A Mother’s Work on the Farm
These stories remind us that farms are built by families and mothers play a huge role in holding those families together.
They are cooking meals, raising children, helping with chores, managing farm work, and making sure there is still time for the moments that matter most.
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the mothers behind our farms.
The ones doing the hard things.
The ones doing the small things.
And the ones doing it all with love.
Happy Mother’s Day from the Vintage Meadows community.