Micro-dairy, big impact

McINTIRE, Iowa — For Chad and Sydney Eastman, agriculture has always been a part of their lives. Today they are helping to bridge the gap between consumers and farmers with a storefront at The Ole Bus Farm.

“It’s important for us to personify who a farmer is,” Chad said. “Having that direct contact with the farmer, with the people who raise and produce your food, can help show consumers what it takes to produce products that people use every day.”

Chad and Sydney are the sixth generation of Eastmans to operate the farm. They are raising two children, Hudson and Ruth, on the homestead. The couple raises a variety of animals including dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, pigs, rabbits, chickens and ducks. Two Guernsey cows make up the micro-dairy, with a third set to calve this fall.

At the storefront, the Eastmans offer A2A2 raw milk, cream, butter and cheese, depending on orders. The couple also sells beef and pork, with cuts of steak and ground beef, chops and bacon, and eggs from their chickens, along with an assortment of natural products.

The farm is named after Chad’s great-grandfather, whose nickname was Bus. When opening their farm store, Chad and Sydney leaned into the opportunity to celebrate family and capitalize on the nomenclature.

“To the locals, this has always been the Bus farm,” Sydney said. “We had one of our milk customers come up and tell us how he remembered driving by and knew right where the farm was when we opened because of the name.”

The Eastmans offer consumers a chance to purchase milk directly at the farm, but also deliver twice a week, making stops in Mason City on Tuesdays and St. Ansgar, Carpenter and Northwood on Thursdays.

“We wanted Guernseys because we … wanted more components,” Chad said. “It’s funny how it worked out, because my great-great-grandparents milked a herd of Guernseys at a nearby farm. It wasn’t intended, but it certainly is a nice tie to have with them.”

Having an opportunity to feed others is a rewarding experience for the Eastmans as they provide an opportunity for the public to see agriculture firsthand.

“At the end of the day, you can feel proud that you raised that animal that’s going to feed that family,” Chad said. “You can see the quality of your work firsthand.”

Carrying on the family traditions of agriculture is why the Eastmans decided to open their farm to the public.

“Nothing happens by accident,” Chad said. “There’s a method to everything we do to produce quality products, and if the consumer can see how much we care about what we do and how it works, I think that helps them better understand our industry.”

The Ole Bus Farm offers farm tours as well as an overnight stay at the Bailey Exchange Cabin located on the property.

“To this point, we’ve probably done a dozen farm tours,” Chad said. “Last summer we hosted an event that had about 50 people out to the farm. It’s neat watching the families that show up and don’t have the exposure to agriculture. To have them see how it all works and where those products from any grocery store come from is very rewarding.”

Both Chad and Sydney grew up on farms around the area and have been working with livestock throughout their lives, but adding dairy to the mix is a new element.

“Before I was a teenager, we had a similar farm to what we have here: goats, chickens, pigs, sheep, cows, a little bit of everything,” Sydney said. “We wanted our kids to experience growing up around a variety of animals and to always have something to do on the farm.”

Chad grew up on a beef operation just five miles from the current farm. The addition of dairy cows gives each day a similar structure.

“The routine of milking cows is something we appreciate,” Chad said. “You have to plan to do it at the beginning and the end of the day and try to fit everything in between. Sometimes with hay or planting, we’ll take a break and milk before getting back to it, but with our herd, it doesn’t take too long.”

With shared experiences in agriculture, the division of labor naturally worked itself out for the Eastmans.

“I manage the animals and the feed,” Chad said. “Sydney does more work on the store and social media. We’ll do milk deliveries as a family when we can. I’ll do almost all the milkings, but Sydney can jump in if I need to be somewhere during milking time.”

The family milks their cows in a flat parlor.

With the seventh generation of Eastmans living on the farm, Chad and Sydney hope life on the farm gives Hudson and Ruth foundational skills they can use throughout their life.

“The farm provides a chance for them to learn common sense and hard work, problem solving, and even carrying buckets,” Sydney said. “There are different things that happen on the farm that don’t happen the same everywhere else. Our children will get to live that experience and can help teach others about the impact of agriculture.”