Farm Connection

10/14/2026

We carry Hays Family Farms chicken here at Farm Connection.
Know your farmer, know your food!

All of our meat chickens, also known as broilers, are currently raised right here at Hays Family Farm. Pictured here is Josh, our main chicken tender (pun intended)!

But caring for our chickens takes a team, starting from the moment these little chicks arrive at just 3 days old.

Young chicks are small and fragile, so they start in our converted hoop house brooder. With roll-up curtains along the sides, this open-air, semi-outdoor setup provides fresh air and sunshine while keeping them protected as they adjust to life and prepare to move out to the pastures.

After the first few weeks, they move into mobile hoop houses that are relocated to fresh pasture daily. Here, they have access to bugs, forage, sunshine, and supplemental non-GMO feed throughout their lives.

Finally, they are processed at a trusted USDA approved facility that does not use any additives or chemical washes. From the pasture to processing, we take care to bring you chicken you can feel good about serving your family.

While we currently raise all our meat chickens on the farm, we occasionally lean on our cooperative producers to help supply you with pasture-raised chicken. When that happens, we'll let you know!

We believe you deserve to know where your food comes from and how it’s raised. We’re grateful to be part of your family’s food journey and are proud to bring you pasture-raised chicken from our farm and trusted cooperative producers. Shop online for convenient delivery straight to your door or come see us for farm pickup!

10/10/2026

Look at the cream line on that all grass-fed milk!

You’ll notice the label says not for human consumption. Indiana is one of the states where it’s not legal to sell raw dairy for human consumption. There are 30-some states where it is legal to do so. So in Indiana you have to buy raw dairy for your pets!

We’re winding down to the last few weeks of milking (usually first of December, give or take a few days, depending on weather and grass supply).

There’s also frozen milk available if you want to have your very own supply all winter while our seasonal herd is dry. New babies (and milk) start coming again next April!

Today I’ve got a few gallons left marked down we bottled a few days ago and plenty more to restock! First come, first served on the mark ⬇️!

thefarmconnection.grazecart.com

10/09/2026

Make it make sense. The government and regulators approved this farm’s operations, they had no violations during their operations, and now suddenly the government and regulators are imposing heavy fines for continuing to do what they’ve been doing for five years.
Thankful for FTCLDF going to bat for farms like these. Farms like ours.
Your right and your access to real, unadulterated food is constantly under fire.

Wisconsin Public Radio is covering a case we're handling: Grassway Organics, a family dairy farm in , is challenging the suspension of its milk producer license.

Chaz Self and his family built the farm's "bona fide owner" raw milk distribution model in 2020, working with DATCP regulators and legal counsel to operate within Wisconsin law. The farm was licensed, regularly inspected, and operated under that structure for more than five years.

When the license came up for renewal last fall, DATCP began questioning the farm's practices. In April, the state suspended the license and imposed a $10,000 fine plus $50 per day of continued operation. An administrative hearing on the merits is scheduled for May 2027.

In the interim, DATCP continues to pursue enforcement before that hearing can take place. On September 28, we filed suit on behalf of Grassway Organics and moved for a temporary restraining order — seeking to preserve the farm's right to due process before any final action against it.

The full background on the case, and how to support the farm's legal fight, is here: https://www.farmtoconsumer.org/blog/2026/09/29/ftcldf-member-files-for-a-temporary-restraining-order-against-the-wisconsin-department-of-agriculture-trade-and-consumer-protection/

FTCLDF will keep folks updated on any developments. In the meantime, Grassway Organics continues to seek funding for its legal expenses. As stated in the FTCLDF press release, readers can donate at https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/6syflsan2usb or, if a tax deduction is necessary, at foodofchoice.org/donate

10/06/2026

So this happened yesterday! If you’ve been waiting for our pumpkin pie ice cream, your wait is over! 🎃

thefarmconnection.grazecart.com

10/02/2026

Looking for something fun to do tomorrow?

Clay City has it going on 😎

Stop by Farm Connection and taste samples of our mild and hot pork breakfast sausage 🐖

Tracy is planning to be here too with her happy-gut ferments—kraut and kombucha in a variety of flavors!

Plus, did you know Hummel’s Market is celebrating their 50th anniversary with an event at their place tomorrow?? Lots of fun stuff going on there too!

Tell your friends, then make your rounds here, there, and to several other small businesses in town. We ALL appreciate you! 😊❤️😊

09/29/2026

Tonight at Midnight is the deadline to order Kombucha and Kraut for the Saturday delivery at Farm Connection.

Pumpkin Spice is back! And there is a new flavor….Cranberry Apple!

Link to the website is in the comments.

09/27/2026

So yesterday morning we were on a tight time schedule so we could get to a family funeral.

The full moon had occurred a few hours earlier.

The evening before, I had heard several cows bawling and hoped it didn’t mean they had gotten a polywire down and helped themselves to the next day’s allotment.

When we got to the pasture we found that’s exactly what had happened 😌

They weren’t motivated to come out of the field for milking and Ruthie was challenged in getting the herd to move towards the gap.

Silas and Paul had to stay in the ranger to avoid getting a bunch of cockleburs in their fur while chasing naughty cows.

Silas was barking up a storm because he hates watching someone else do his job.

And Paul was so distressed about the barking he started mournfully howling. 😄

Finally Ruthie and I got the cows out of the field and dad and I were able to get another fence set up before heading in for milking.

I took this short video clip at that point because the sunrise in the pasture was peaceful and beautiful…a stark contrast to the chaos that had just ensued 😄

Thankfully Bear and Jesse could come yesterday and they wrapped up the milking cleanup.

And thankfully we made it to our destination on time!

09/27/2026

If you’re not on our email list, you might miss out on announcements like this…two more days to let Tracy know you need some of her amazing kraut and kombucha!

09/26/2026

The yearling heifers and weaned heifer calves have been grazing together for the past few weeks. Big kids continue to show the little kids how it’s done 😄

Come visit us on the farm today, we’re here from 9-3!

thefarmconnection.grazecart.com