Subject: Farm Submission for Local Chapter Resource List – Sunset Acres Farm
Details
1. Name of farm: Sunset Acres Farm
2. Farmer’s/Farm Family name: Johnnie & Mattie Brenneman
3. Street address: 5190 155th Ave
4. City: Morley
5. State (2-letter abbreviation): MI
6. Zip: 49336
7. Phone number: 616-401-6070
8. Email: rachaeltax@proton.me
9. Website:
Type of Farm/Farm Practices
10. Are you Certified Organic? No
11. Are you Certified Biodynamic? No
12. If you are not Certified Organic, do you use organic production methods? Yes
13. Do you use synthetic fertilizers? No
14. Do you use any of the following: nonorganic pesticides, herbicides, parasiticides, or fungicides? No
Animal Husbandry
15. Do you keep livestock? Yes
16. What animals do you keep?
Chickens (list breeds): Leghorn & Rhode Island Red (layers)
Freedom Ranger (meat birds)
Ducks (list breeds):
Turkeys (list breeds): Large Broad White – at Thanksgiving by order only; these are raised by another farm that uses the same practices as we do
Other Poultry (list type and breeds):
Cows (list breeds): Jersey (milkers) and Angus/Murray (beef) – 100% grass-fed
Goats (list breeds):
Pigs (list breeds): IPPs
Sheep (list breeds):
Other Animals (list type and breeds):
17. Do you use antibiotics? No
18. Do you use antibiotics? No
19. Are the animals pasture-fed? Yes
20. How much and for how long: May to October, all depending on grass supply or on growing season
21. Do you practice managed grazing? Yes
22. Do you apply compost or compost tea? Yes
23. Do you apply other soil amendments? No
24. Do you use supplemental feed?
For poultry (list type): Non-GMO grain custom mix (soy free)
For cows, sheep, and/or goats (list type): Cows – organic hay pellets
For pigs (list type): Non-GMO grain
Raw Milk
25. Do you supply raw milk? Yes
26. Do you keep your barn and milk room clean? Yes
27. Do you keep the cows clean/teats washed? Yes
28. Do you thoroughly wash your milking equipment after every milking? Yes
29. Are cows with mastitis or other health problems excluded from milking? Yes
30. Are cows tested for disease? No
Which tests, and how often:
31. Is the milk routinely tested for pathogens, coliform count? No
Which tests, and how often:
32. Is the farm water routinely tested? No
33. Are milk and milk products kept well chilled? Yes
34. Other/Explain (list any other routine practices, or explain any of your answers above?
Butchering Practices
35. Do you sell milk? Yes
36. Meat butchered at a USDA-certified or state-certified abattoir? Yes
37. Meat butchered on the farm? No
38. Describe or explain any butchering practices:
Farm Products
39. Please check off the products you sell and list current prices
Raw whole milk: $6.00/gallon jug
Raw butter: $7.50/lb (also cultured)
Raw cream:
Raw ice cream:
Raw sour cream: $4.50/lb
Raw yogurt: $3.50/lb
Raw kefir: $3.00/pt
Raw cottage cheese:
Whey:
Cheese (list types): $6.00/lb boarding fee; the raw cheese does not come from the same farm so it will take another sign-up for that
Other dairy (list):
Beef/veal:
Pork: Yes
Goat/kid:
Mutton/lamb:
Other meat:
Chicken: Yes
Duck: Yes
Turkey: Yes
Other poultry:
Eggs (list type, chicken, duck, etc) : Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds
Honey: Yes
Produce (list typical offerings):
Prepared foods (list typical offerings):
Other:
Additional Information
40. Do you only sell animals that are raised on your farm at the address listed?
No
40a. Details:
Some are raised by other family-owned farms that use the same practices as we do.
41. Are the animals born on your farm at the address listed? No
41a. Details:
All are born on the farm except for the baby chicks and turkeys.
42. Do you ever purchase animals from auctions or from your processor or do you ever buy parts from your processor (whole pork bellies…)? No
42a. Details:
43. Do you personally attend to your animals at least once a day or do you hire help or farmers to do that for you? Personally Attend
43a. Details:
44. Do you purchase pre-mixed feed from an elevator or do you grind your own? Purchase
44a. Details:
Purchase pre-mixed feed from a privately-owned elevator
45. Where can customers find you? (check all that apply):
On the farm.
45a. Details:
The Brenneman family is an Amish family and therefore has limited communication means outside of in-person. As such, the contact information provided here is that of the local WAP chapter leader. She will be able to assist and answer questions. Otherwise, interested customers will need to drive to the farm to sign up and purchase products. John Brenneman operates under a herdshare program which entails a single-paper sign-up and a one-time $20 sign-up fee, which has to be completed at the farm. Customers can then purchase milk and other farm products as they need, on the farm.
