Koch's Back 40 Farm

Koch's Back 40 Farm We are a family homestead in Springfield, IL. We started with the gateway farm animal...chickens.

We offer calves and beef from our Belted Galloway cattle, dairy, poultry, eggs and more to come!

Today’s dose of reality. 😉
05/18/2026

Today’s dose of reality. 😉

05/09/2026

Gonna brag on my daughter for a minute. She rides dirt bikes and milks cows and is just an over-all amazing human with a big heart and SHE IS FEARLESS! So it was not too surprising when she agreed to suit up and help with the bees today. She never flinched. Never got nervous. Just executed like a boss.

Been a productive day! Kombucha, whey caramel, butter, challah bread and starter ready for tomorrow and yogurt (not pict...
05/08/2026

Been a productive day! Kombucha, whey caramel, butter, challah bread and starter ready for tomorrow and yogurt (not pictured). Tomorrow we switch gears and work on some outside projects. 🤓

We decided to treat ourselves to dessert after getting this done. If you haven’t been to Dolce Anna gelateria in Riverton, we HIGHLY recommend. Delicioso!!

04/17/2026

Hey customers of mine! Happy Friday and know that Meta has a glitch in commercial messenger at the moment where I cannot see/respond to messages. If you plan to come today, please DO! We have plenty. 😊

Update on the baby born yesterday. He/she (haven’t been able to get close enough to tell yet) is doing remarkably well. ...
01/24/2026

Update on the baby born yesterday. He/she (haven’t been able to get close enough to tell yet) is doing remarkably well. Up today with snow on his back and a full belly of mama’s milk. This is the difference between a hardy beef breed and dairy breeds. First, this kiddo’s mom is a seasoned veteran. Stays close, feeds well, and is protective as all get-up. In the second photo, it is the bull on our pasture that put himself between us and the calf. He has herd protection and is a small wooly mammoth who can weather these elements. We still check on him regularly, but so far, all is well.

Cows: You know what would be a great idea?? Let’s have a calf on the coldest night of the year! 🤦‍♀️
01/23/2026

Cows: You know what would be a great idea?? Let’s have a calf on the coldest night of the year! 🤦‍♀️

01/23/2026

Tomorrow morning temps -25 degrees with wind chill. So extra deep bedding and an additional heat lamp for the babies. Apparently Merry is pretty excited about it. While the youngest (and wisest) bedded down directly under a lamp in deep straw. They are ready for whatever winter throws at us!

Heading out to feed the Three Stooges. Done with four bottles in less than 5 minutes. These babies can eat!
01/22/2026

Heading out to feed the Three Stooges. Done with four bottles in less than 5 minutes. These babies can eat!

12/25/2025

For unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given. He shall be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Merry Christmas!

“You’re so mean! You take babies away from their mamas!”Every dairy farmer has heard it. So here is some Christmas Eve ...
12/24/2025

“You’re so mean! You take babies away from their mamas!”
Every dairy farmer has heard it. So here is some Christmas Eve morning education and cuteness.
This is what we milked out of our Mabel about 12 hours after she calved and after her calf had nursed. This is all colostrum. Obviously WAY more than any calf could consume. Mabel was happy to come into the stanchion to be milked. Her udder was huge, heavy, full and begging to be emptied. All this is saved for her sweet daughter, Merry.
Meanwhile, the calf is moved to her own pen where she is dry, clean, warm, and out of the weather. She will be bottle fed every 12 hours.
Is there crying and bawling by baby and mom? Nope. Mabel is happy to resume her regular routine of eating, drinking, chewing cud and being milked. Baby is happy to be warm and fed and safe.
This is not abuse. This is true animal husbandry. This is loving your animals and doing what is best for them. This is farming.

Address

431 Gabriel Road
Springfield, IL

Telephone

+13096432945

Website

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