Who We Are

For four generations the Texley Family has made their life on this little stretch of hilly land in Boone County of North Eastern Nebraska. In the ocean of endless corn fields, this place stands as an island home. Smaller fields whose borders are marked with trees and fence lines, coupled with an intricate patchwork of grass-land pasture and crops suited for hay. Two old farmsteads mark the place as both a place of labor, and a place of rest and life.

In the summer of 2015, Andrew, the fourth generation of this farm, returned to his home to farm with his Dad and Grandfather. For seven years Andrew managed the cattle and worked in the fields with his family. During those years Andrew, fueled by nostalgia and a hunger for authentic living, made his living by raising high quality chicken on open pasture, and butchering those chickens on the farm to provide to the local community. Andrew also raised hogs for phenomenal pork, and milked a handful of dairy cows providing fresh raw milk on a weekly basis for those who wanted it. With that milk he also made pretty good yogurt that he sold illegally at his weekly farmstand. That along with the occasional bushel basket of potatoes or cucumbers kept the young and naïve farmer busy for four years.

Due to his Grandfather’s failing health in the summer of 2020, Andrew’s dad, being the primary care-giver, was overworked with the responsibility of the cattle and crops. Andrew purchased his dad’s cattle, and decided to take an off-farm job until the cattle were paid for. In the Spring of 2021 Andrew decided to rent the crop ground and farm it with a good friend as Andrew continued to work at a local ethanol plant. This of course left very little time to milk cows, or raise chickens, and Andrew decided to step away from that temporarily until everything would be paid for. That decision was not easy but given the circumstances it was needed.

Following harvest of 2021 tragedy struck the farm with the death of the third generation, Darrell (57), Andrew’s father. It was sudden, and tragically painful. Once again, the role for Andrew on this place changed. His Grandparents needed a caregiver and Andrew no longer had an extra set of hands or eyes to attend to his cattle and hogs. Andrew left his employment at the ethanol plant, beginning the start of a very long and difficult winter that accumulated with the death of the second generation of this farm and its Patriarch, Adrian (87), in March of 2022.

For the first time Andrew was the only man standing on this small piece of the earth. Once again crops were planted, with the partnership and assistance of the Olsons, and the 2022 growing season went on. It was a very challenging summer filled with drought, damaging wind, hail, and grass that simply couldn’t grow fast enough. Despite those challenges autumn brought a bountiful harvest, healthy born calves, and energetic fresh piglets.

All roads lead to Rome…or in this case All Roads lead back to the Barn. The challenges for this place are nothing new. Every person and every farm experiences monumental shifts within their trajectory from time to time. For all things there is a season. Currently Andrew is working to figure out the best way for this farm to remain as a home and as a  place of work. There are recurring visions of milk cows lined up in stanchions waiting to be milked, and of abundance presenting itself around every corner. As always, it will take some time for that germinate. However, the support of consumers who desire local, quality food, and are willing to support those who produce it make all the difference in the world. That support waters and fertilizes those dreams and ambitions to bring them to their full completion. As this farm continues on this journey it will have different products available through the different seasons, depending on the seasons. Currently logistics might not be as simple or straightforward as Door-Dash or Uber-Eats, but Andrew is willing to work with you to get the food you need to your door.  Your thoughts, good wishes, and support are a tremendous gift that isn’t taken for granted.

Much Peace,

The Farm