The story of Prairie Hoof Farm is a long one full of travails and adventures of all kinds. The journey of the Ford family into farming began in 2010 when Kevin quit his job as a high school theology teacher in Wichita, KS. They jumped head first into farming and grew an assortment of vegetables for one year in the Topeka, KS area. They began running a CSA as well that year. In 2011 they transferred their operation to Kevin's hometown of St. Leo, KS, located 60 miles SW of Wichita. For three years they battled all sorts of setbacks including: severe drought, all night hailstorms, intense wind storms, dust storms, and two years of grasshoppers that engulfed their gardens. In 2014 the Fords sold their vegetable growing business and Infrastructure to another farmer, realizing that vegetables were not viable in their particular area. Their former farm operated under the name "Fiat Farms."
Now the Fords are beginning a new journey. They had been doing meat, eggs, and dairy for the past six years as a side item, however they decided that they would be much better suited to the harsh southern Kansas climate. Thus, Prairie Hoof Farm was born. It had long been their desire to operate a meat and dairy farm, but had been so engulfed with the vegetables that they never had time to pursue it. They no longer run a CSA, but will be offering meat, eggs, and dairy through the Hutchinson, KS Farmer's Market and local pick up points in 2015.
Now the Fords are beginning a new journey. They had been doing meat, eggs, and dairy for the past six years as a side item, however they decided that they would be much better suited to the harsh southern Kansas climate. Thus, Prairie Hoof Farm was born. It had long been their desire to operate a meat and dairy farm, but had been so engulfed with the vegetables that they never had time to pursue it. They no longer run a CSA, but will be offering meat, eggs, and dairy through the Hutchinson, KS Farmer's Market and local pick up points in 2015.