Several former apprentices have agreed to share what they are doing in their part of the world. Perhaps one of these farms is nearer to you than Swoope, Virginia. Many people ask us about what our apprentice graduates are doing. While many are not farming, some are, and doing it quite effectively. If you would like to learn from them, or just see what they are doing, or buy their products, here are the ones who are actively farming and who agreed to be featured on this list.
Pete Burns, born and raised on his parents farm apprenticed at Polyface from 2004-2005. He now farms with his family in the beautiful, big woods of Elk County, Pennsylvania. They raise grassfed beef, pastured poultry including, broiler chickens, eggs and … Read more
Afton Field Farm Tyler Jones was an apprentice 2002-2003 and now farms fulltime in Corvallis Oregon with his wife Alicia on their 106 acre farm, Afton Field Farm. They raise pastured poultry (eggs, broilers and turkeys) oak savanna pork, and … Read more
Born in 1988 Nathan Vergin grew up on his family’s farm in MN where they raised cows, goats, sheep, ducks, chickens and pigs. Being home-schooled allowed him to work full time at Shepherds Way Farm, a large sheep dairy and … Read more
Jordan Green experienced Polyface as an apprentice from September 2001 through November 2002. From 2004 through July 2009 he served his Country in the United States Marine Corps. In July 2009 Jordan and his wife Laura, started their own farm … Read more
Galen Bontrager, an apprentice in 2003-2004 has gone back to his roots in Iowa. He currently farms full-time raising salad bar beef, salad bar lamb, pastured broilers, turkey, and eggs. He conducts farm tours and does speaking engagements as well. … Read more
Ben was born and raised in rural Maryland and has always had a love for farming. Although not born into a farming family, he dreamed of farming full-time. Ben began that journey when he came to Virginia in 2007 to apprentice … Read more
Nathan Joppeck graduated from the Polyface apprenticeship program in 2005 and now farms in Wellington, Ohio with his wife, Jessica, and son, Owen. He also receives help from his parents and brother. Nathan’s farm, Fair View Meadow Farm, is a … Read more
Michael started farming officially at 15 when he took several old refrigerators, rewired them, and turned them into incubators for the families ducks and chickens. A year latter, he and his brother started growing vegetables for the local farmers markets. … Read more
