Acorn Ranch

Acorn Ranch was bought by the owners of Front Porch Farm as a place to breed and raise Cinta Senese pigs imported from Italy in 2012 (the only Cintas in the USA at this time). Market pigs at Acorn Ranch are given access to extensive oak savannah, similar to the oak woodlands the breed evolved in. We also now have available Cinta/Berkshire cross pork.

In 2015 we integrated a Barred Plymouth Rock Chicken Breeding project started by one of our ranch hands. Sophia works under the guidance of the Sustainable Poultry Network on bringing this well known heritage breed back to its original high standard of production as a dual purpose breed (meat and eggs). With modern Hybrid birds dominating the poultry industry, many of these the breeds that were once the ultimate homestead and small scale (outdoor) poultry industry birds are now losing the production characteristics they were once renowned for. Heritage birds hatched by large hatcheries for backyard and show enthusiasts are flock bred pale ghosts of their predecessors; without selective breeding focused on productive characteristics, it only takes a few generations to lose the traits they are desired for. We are part of a growing movement to provide small scale locally bred and hatched poultry that are productive members of the agricultural and food communities; birds that thrive in outdoor production systems and on the homestead. Day Old Barred Plymouth Rock chicks are available hatched to order.

We also added a flock of Dorper Sheep to utilize the extensive and steep grasslands of the ranch. We are finding this hair breed developed in South Africa to be very well suited to our dry summers. Historically sheep ranchers in our area have been plauged by issues with invasive seed heads in the summer months. The Dorpers shed their woolly coats just as the seed heads are maturing and completely evade this issue. They also very thrifty in rangeland drought conditions. Not to mention the extremely mild and delicious carcass they produce. We are looking forward to adding lamb to our meat offerings.