All of our beef is pasture raised, grass fed, and grain finished for the best in taste and quality. Eichenberger Farms was established in Kansas in 1888, near Leoti, in Wichita County, by Rudolf and Mary (Brandner) Eichenberger. Rudolf and Mary had both emigrated separately from Switzerland. They married on December 23, 1880, in Illinois. Soon after their dream of owning land in America was realized. They had six children: Ester, Edward, Ruth, Esnestina, Charley, and Lawrence. Farming in western Kansas before irrigation was a very hard life, so in 1904, they traded their 4 quarter sections of land in Wichita County for 200 acres in Franklin County, northeast of Pomona, where it continues today. Their son Charley and his wife Lena (Stephens) took over the farm from them and began raising sheep, along with the grain crops. When their son Carl and his wife Donna (Maag) returned from his Army service in 1956, he joined his father, and bought the adjoining acres north of the original 200. They had four sons: Robert, James, Donald, and Edward. They first milked a few cows, and later began a farrow-to-finish hog operation. In 1977, Carl and Donna's oldest son, Bob, married Berta (Cox), and they bought a farm just a mile north, which has been in Donna's family now for over 130 years, and they began farming also. Times were tough for farmers in the 1980's and Bob began a farm-to-market milk transportation business to supplement the farm income, while Berta and their children, Lurenda, Rachel, JC, and Carlsie, helped him out with the farming. While each generation has had to be diversified in the farm operation the one thing that has remained constant is Hereford cattle. There has always been a small herd of cattle, and the foundation has always been Hereford. Today the farm operation is managed by Bob and Berta, along with Carl, and its focus is primarily cattle. Hereford and Hereford/Angus cross is the backbone of the herd. All of the original 200 acres have been reseeded to grass, as has most of the other purchased land. More land has been added along with rented ground to accomodate the growing herd. All four of Bob and Berta's children and both son-in-laws are active in helping on the farm, and all the grandchildren regularly spend time helping also, so the prospects of a sixth generation of Eichenberger Farms is very good.
