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Our Family's Story: From 1882 to 2009
We are a fifth generation, family-owned and operated farm. Our family has been farming this same land since 1882 with the motivation of producing food for Americans. Our organic cheeses and natural meats are available in our on-farm retail cheese shop.
In 1882, brothers Peter and John Meerman's widowed mother moved from Denison and traded farms with her brother-in-law (also a Meerman). The sons then proceeded to farm the land with their families. The land was handed down to Peter's son, Ernest and his wife Nellie, who farmed it until 1972 and then still helped out wherever they could. At that time, Steve Meerman, the third generation and only son of the family, assumed responsibility and, with his wife Sue, raised five children; all with families of their own, and all still involved with the farm. All three sons have made their homes on the farm and are planning, LORD willing, on keeping the farm running with their families. The two daughters are married and living in Lamont, where they are happily involved in helping at the farm as well.
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Ernest Meerman (3rd generation) and his wife Nellie (Gunneman) both grew up in Coopersville. Nellie taught as a school teacher before they married in 1936. They enjoyed traveling, taking their family in their 1952(?) DeSoto to 49 states, all the provinces of Canada, and Mexico. They were married 67 years and raised 4 children (Steve is the youngest) before they each went Home to be with their Savior, Jesus Christ, in 2000 and 2002. |
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The Parents (4th generation): Sue (Hovingh) loves her grandchildren, working in the cheese shop, and doing most of the book work. She loves meeting with her daughters and daughter-in-laws to visit and plan events for both family and farm. Steve (who is now with the Lord) loved his children and grandchildren; and loved to see them continuing on in his footsteps: following the Lord Jesus Christ, and as farmers. |
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Luke (5th generation), the eldest son, is the general manage and mechanic of the farm, one of the milkers, chief marketer and PR man. He is also involved in Farm Bureau. He and his wife Vicky have 5 children: Julie, Esther, Anthony, Samantha, and Kennett (6th generation). Vicky keeps busy being mommy and putting quite a few hours in the cheese shop and packing eggs. The children love living on the farm and helping wherever they can. |
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Heidi is the next oldest. She and her husband Kyle Parcher have 4 children (Elliot, Ethan, Eli, and Eddie). Heidi has been instrumental in beautifying the farm; also enjoys working in the cheese shop and at market, and helping wherever she's needed. Elliot is working a lot with his uncles; and Ethan, Eli, and Eddie are good helpers wherever they're needed as well. The boys keep the farm lawns trimmed. Kyle is the VP of Strategic Accounts for the printer ink company of International Laser Group and is our go-to printer tech when we have problems. |
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Jesse, the middle child, is the cheese maker. He also milks the cows and takes care of the animals. They love their daughters: Sophia, Katy, Mary, and Gretel. They operate the cow-share business of Green Pastures on the farm. |
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Bonnie, the 4th child, takes our cheese and eggs to Holland Farmer's Market, works with her mother in the farm office, does the website, and helps out in other aspects of the farm when needed. Andrew Esther, her husband, works for EHTC of Grand Rapids as an applications developer and is the computer tech support for the farm. They have one daughter, Carolyn, who loves helping mommy at the market, and another child due around Christmas. |
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Jay started his own grass-fed meat chicken and egg business on the farm when he was 11. He joined his brothers in becoming a partner in the farm in 2007. He enjoys working on the farm full time taking care of his chickens and young livestock, repairing machinery, custom butchering, and tending to anything else that needs to be done. Chaeli is the cheese shop manager and helps with feeding the calves and chickens. They were married August 14th, 2009 and their firstborn, John Henry, was born March 25th, this year. |
Summer Staff and Family Picnic - August, 2011 |
Luke, Jesse, and Jay, the co-owners of the farm, all live on the original homestead in the three houses which Ernest Meerman (2nd generation) designed and built himself.
When Steve assumed the farm, it was supporting one family. Then in 1991, we changed from confinement farming to grass-based pasture farming. Now it supports three+ families. God has graciously blessed us with innovative ideas and adaptability.
In 2001 we started the cheese business, primarily to make better use of the resources with which God has blessed us. Instead of sending all our milk to a processing plant, we reasoned that we can use a small portion of it to make cheese! So Jesse went to cheese-making classes in Wisconsin and Vermont, and experimented for almost a year. Then, doing all the work ourselves, we drew up plans and added a store and small cheese plant onto our barn. We opened August 1st, 2002, and now offer many more items than the cheese (you can find them on the Farm Store page). |
