WELCOME to our home page at vtnaturalbeef.com. My name is Bob Stannard and along with my wife Pati and our four children, Abigale, Luke, Sam and Mac we run Stannard Farm in beautiful Benson Vermont. Pati and I purchased this farm near the southern tip of Lake Champlain in 1980. Our farm was originally a dairy farm which I ran for 19 years with 50 cows and young stock. Pati worked off the farm pursuing her career as a teacher and helping us make ends meet. In 1999 I sold the cows and took a job as a dairy nutrition and sales consultant with a regional feed company that was too good to refuse and put my education to use in the industry I enjoyed. Fortunately our years of hard work allowed us to keep our 285 acre farm. Pati is now a school principal at an elementary school in nearby Rutland Vermont and I still work in the dairy nutrition field. We also have a dairy tenant renting our barn and about 100 acres of pasture with a 40 cow herd.
After a few years without cattle and a desire to put the remainder of my land to better use the business of raising wholesome, grass fed beef was born. As a dairy nutritionist I obviously love to feed animals and for all ruminants there is no better feed than grazing on lush, green, alfalfa, clover and grass. My dairy feeds sales experience has given me a good understanding of what is needed to satisfy customers with the hope of repeat sales. These things, coupled with my love of the outdoors and being a responsible steward of the land will help develop a great relationship between me, the beef producer and you, the beef consumer.
As you read through our pages Iím sure you will begin to realize the benefits and value that grass fed beef can bring to you both financially and nutritionally. Keep in mind that not only will this method of raising beef improve your quality of life, it also dramatically enhances the quality of life of the animal and the treatment of the land compared to commercial feedlot methods. With all the science available there is no duplication of mother natureís fresh forage and the cattleís natural ability to harvest it.
