Who We Are  &  Why Belted
Galloways Are Our Breed
​of Choice:

PictureWELCOME TO MARY'S ORGANIC FARM!
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Certified Organic since 2013
Our Belted Galloways are raised in lush certified organic pastures of the town of Bear Creek, Sauk County,  Wisconsin...just outside unincorporated Bear Valley.   We are nearby  Plain, Spring Green, Richland Center, Reedsburg & Baraboo,  in South Central Wisconsin.  We are nestled in the woods and off the beaten path and off Kessenich Rd & County road G.   Rob and I run our farm from start to finish...fencing, making hay, chores and selecting the highest quality organic feeds for our animals, even our dog, Honey Bear, the goats & horse also receive organic feed.

​We consider ourselves stewards of the land so we incorporate sustainable farming practices such as rotational grazing along with soil conservation and development.    We are committed to organic farming, gourmet, grass-fed Belted Galloway cattle.   We sponsor 50,000+ cute little honey bees every year and dabble in the collection of maple sap for maple syrup.   We have 50-100 certified organic chickens for eggs, a rescued emotional  Arabian mare, 4 active Fainting/Alpine goats & a bossy turkey (Tom).  We have  26 purebred Belted Galloway cattle, who are often described as the "oreo cookie" cows...the pandas of the cattle breeds....and just down right adorable animals.   But sadly we cannot keep them all.

We started out in 2018 with the idea of  going slow...with about 5 pure bred Belted Galloway brood cows and then...well we needed a bull.... the next thing we knew, we took on the rest of the herd from retiring farmers, Jill & Matt Messmer (Messmer-izing Farms)....the rest is history.   We now have 8 purebred Belted Galloway brood cows; 4-2018 heifers ,  6-2019 heifers, 4- 2020 heifer calves & 2- 2019 bulls & 1- 2020 bull,  who would steal your heart if you saw him. He is very gentle & halter broke and loves to have his neck scratched.  Our newest additions for 2021 is a sweet little bull calf named Jonas ….for a total of 26 animals.

We strive to produce registered purebred Belted Galloways that are among the "Best of the Best".  We have a small, but high-quality herd of cows that we breed to an absolutely outstanding bull (Meadowood Alexander) resulting in excellent calves and genetics.  About Alex…AKA, MEADOWOOD ALEXANDER, crowned BULL CALF CHAMPION 2014, Big E Show & World Beef Expo.  He is out of Champion XMan, the 2012 National Champion Bull, MEADOWOOD XMAN, a PLATINUM LIFETIME SIRE, and MEADOWOOD UMBRA.

We are members of the National Belted Galloway Society,  and the Great Lakes Belted Galloway Association.  We were part of the Hill and Valley Exploration Tour this year for the first time and were able to share with children and adults alike, our animals & the humane, loving treatment they receive.  Our chickens were held & petted, our goats fed organic carrots & our horse organic apples.   It truly was our pleasure to share our animals with the public.  Our farm is listed in the Sauk County Farm Connect Guide for the Plain, WI, area.    We are featured in Growing Wisconsin 20/21  for our Farmland preservation recruiting  efforts & promoting conservation and enhancing land stewardship  practices.  We are into sustainability and having healthy soil, water & animals.  Our farm is an official Certified Wildlife Habitat ....helping birds, butterflies, and other local wildlife.   Our farm is officially certified by HOMEGROWN BY HEROES as a business owned & operated by US military veterans. 

Conservation and Environmental Responsibility is our Priority.

​Outstanding Genetics and Calves.

Breeding "Heirloom" Beef for a Leaner, Healthier, and Tastier Product.

​And They're Gorgeous!


​ABOUT ROTATIONAL GRAZING

We graze our cattle by rotating them through our pastures on a regular basis, moving once or twice per day—always fresh green pasture…the cows love this!  Once they graze down to about 6 inches, we move them to the next adjacent area, thereby allowing the previously grazed area time to rest and recover & assimilate the manure deposited there. This sustainable practice is environmentally responsible, improving the soil rather than depleting it.  It also provides a higher quality of life and forage for the cattle that live here.
​ (See photo below.)


CERTIFIED WILDLIFE HABITAT

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We have worked hand-in-hand with the Natural Resource Council Service (NRCS) to make sure that the watering devices, fencing, and pasture forages are wildlife friendly.  We have actually become a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation and are part of their "Million Pollinator Garden Challenge"!


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​A Photo of Our Rotational   Grazing Operation.

Why We Chose Belties!
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*Heritage Breed
*Great Grass Foragers
*Energy Efficient
*Gentle Personalities
*Good Mothers
​*Winter Hardy
​*Naturally Polled
​*Naturally Lean
*Tasty & Tender Meat
*And Did I Mention That They're Gorgeous!
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Belties choosing crisp Wisconsin air over the comfort of a warm barn. They are seemingly unaffected by the cold & are so well insulated that the snow isn't even melting on their backs.
We choose to raise Belties because of all the positive attributes these animals bring to the farm and the table.

Belted Galloway cattle are known as an "Heirloom" or "Heritage" breed because they are one of the oldest known breeds on record.  The Vikings likely brought them to Scotland where they adapted to the very harsh climate & environment, becoming sturdy & efficient grazing animals perfectly adapted to grass foraging. They are now considered to have one of the best grass to meat conversion ratios, consuming about 30% less than most other beef breeds. That's good for us as we have limited acreage.

Belties also tend to have gentle & calm dispositions.  Most Belted Galloway breeders can walk right into the pasture & give their cattle a welcome scratch.  This is a bit unusual in the beef business. Even the bulls tend to be low key.  This gentle disposition makes the Beltie a good choice for small herd ranchers like us.

The cows are known for easy calving & have strong maternal instincts with longevity on their side, often calving into their late teens.  They are one of the few cattle breeds that are naturally hornless! This is a very beneficial & money saving characteristic referred to as "polled". We love that we don't have to dehorn.

In addition, Beltie meat is  really really tasty, tender, and lean.    Yes... even lean grass pastured beef can be tender and delicious!  The thick layer of back fat that modern cattle breeds put down for protection from the winter cold is not necessary on the Beltie due to its beautiful heavy double winter coat. That same coat that they developed in Scotland now protects them from our Wisconsin winters. Our cattle always have access to a shelter or barn, however; in the winter they usually only choose to use it on bitterly cold and windy days.  

Did we forget to mention that they look amazing!?  The Belted Galloway is gorgeous  and excellent at drawing attention.  Whether it's at the county fair, a major exhibition, or out in the pasture, people enjoy taking the time to stop to admire them and snap a picture.  

Belties are smaller framed than many of the beef breeds and we like that.  The smaller frame means they are easier to handle and also that when selling beef quarters, our customers don't have to over fill their freezer making their beef purchase more affordable.  Because they are a bit smaller, they are not commonly used for large scale commercial production operations.  There may be breeds that finish faster, but remember that as a "Heritage" breed, Belted Galloways are extremely adaptable and perfectly made for a diet of grass forage. The result is an extremely high quality meat which is naturally lower in fat, while still retaining its tenderness and flavor. Beltie meat gives people an option for a healthier meat source. 
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Mary's Organic Farm, E3346 Kessinich Rd., Plain, WI 53577,   [email protected]   (757)660-9291​