By Andrea Grom
Farming is a family affair for the Mattisons. From sun up to sun down, Nathan and Meghan are hard at work on their 270-acre farm in Hebron, NY. More often than not, their children, McKenna (10), Landon (8), Kylie (4), and Nolan (1), are alongside, learning and helping.
The Mattisons are happy to return to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market with their all-natural pastured pork and poultry, grass-fed beef and lamb, and golden honey. The family began attending the market in 2021 but took one year off after Nolan was born. Meghan, her girls, and the baby are at the market every Saturday.
Nathan and Meghan met at the Washington County Fair in 2003 and bonded over their love of beef cattle. They decided to go into business together in 2010 when they merged their herds. A year later, they added pigs, chickens, and turkeys to the mix. In 2012, they had their first child and began to raise a family. Their farm and family have only grown since!
The Mattisons are strong proponents of regenerative agriculture. Nathan and Meghan’s beef, pork, and chicken are New York Grown and Certified, and they work closely with New York Soil and Water to ensure that they follow good environmental and animal welfare practices. Their cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens are regularly rotated on their land, giving them regular access to fresh pasture. They also put up their own hay and supplement the animals’ feed with local, non-GMO grains. Currently, the family is working with the USDA’s Natural Resources and Conservation Services to explore silvopasturing their pigs in their 70-acre forest. Clearly, all of their animals are lovingly and humanely raised, resulting in high-quality products.
In addition to raising animals, the Mattisons have two acres of sustainably-grown vegetables, which they sell at the Chestertown and Glens Falls Farmers’ Markets and through their online store and CSA program. They also blend various seasoning mixes for their meats and are thinking of adding salads and minimally processed vegetables to their offerings now that they have a licensed 20c commercial kitchen.
Find out more about Grazin’ Acres at https://www.grazinacresfarm.com/ and follow them on Instagram @grazinacres and Facebook at Grazin’ Acres Farm. And be sure to visit Megan and her kids at the Saturday Saratoga Farmers’ Market for delicious meat and honey!
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Wednesdays from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at High Rock Park in Downtown Saratoga. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.
