MRF is located a mile east of Interstate 55 and Old Route 66 and a mile south of the town of Lexington, IL. Our farm currently consists of ~300 tillable acres and ~100 acres of pasture and timber ground. We also 50/50 rent another ~230 acres of hay and tillable ground. Our farm practices minimal tillage, safe waste disposal, and conventional, yet safe application of herbicides and fertilizers on our fields. Our livestock are pastured in the summer with grain and hay supplementation and on dry lot with grain and hay in the winter. We only feed what is produced on our farm with the exception of special supplements. We also administer precautionary medications at different times throughout an animal's life and on an as need basis aside from that. If organically raised animals are desired, please let us know at least one year ahead of time and we will do what we can to fill the order. NOTE: Chemicals used on crops do not affect animals. Contact us if you wish to know more about our production.
Sheep
MRF's Katahdin/Dorper sheep flock was started in 2008. We are currently at 40+ ewes and growing every year. We have registered Katahdins, purebred commercial Katahdins, and crossbreeds. All of the lambs we do not keep for our own breeding stock or meat are sold as show stock, breeding stock, or become part of the meat market.
Cattle
The cattle raised at MRF are mostly Angus bred with many other breeds mixed in. We have no registered cattle. All steers are for sale as market animals. Most heifers are for sale as breeding stock or market. Eventually we hope to be set up to also raise crossbred bulls.
Our Lumber Mill
We own an onsite sawmill at MRF and have the ability to mill our own re-claimed lumber from the timber located on our farm. 95% or more of the lumber we mill comes from trees that have died or gone down in our timber due to storms, overpopulation, bugs, and/or disease. This is our way of utilizing lumber that would otherwise become fuel for wildfires and helps reduce logging therefore reducing the carbon footprint our farm has on the environment. We also accept logs from other timber ground, delivery is preferred, but we do make exceptions.