By Michelle M. Sharp, Founder and Content Creator of Meet the Minnesota Makers
| WHO: | Rolling Hills Farm/Grillin’ Meats | ||
| WHAT: | Locally raised and processed meats | ||
| SIGNATURE PRODUCTS: | Beef, Turkey, Chicken, Lamb | ||
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WHERE: SOCIALS: WEBSITE: |
Avon Follow @BritishWhiteBeef on Facebook or @christina.traeger on Instagram or Rolling Hills Cattle Company on YouTube. . |
“The thing that brings me the most joy is to know that my work on this land with these animals has saved someone’s life,” reflects Christina Traeger. 
As the farm-her, visionary, animal wrangler, and a person who simply wanted to see meat raised differently, Christina Traeger has led Rolling Hills Cattle Company and Grillin’ Meats since 1996. Located in Avon, Minnesota, Christina loves the way the curves and flow of her land lends her farm to cattle grazing.
Finding Her Herd
“The thing that brings me the most joy is to know that my work on this land with these animals has saved someone’s life,” reflects Christina Traeger.
As the farm-her, visionary, animal wrangler, and a person who simply wanted to see meat raised differently, Christina Traeger has led Rolling Hills Cattle Company and Grillin’ Meats since 1996. Located in Avon, Minnesota, Christina loves the way the curves and flow of her land lends her farm to cattle grazing.
Her herd of British White Beef started with nine beautiful white cows. Initially imported to the United States during World War II to preserve the breed, British White are prized for their 
gentle dispositions and unique, tasty, consistent flavor. As a child, Christina had always been drawn to the white cows in her dad’s dairy herd. They always intrigued her.
When setting up a fresh life on her own with her young kids, she was on the hunt for a breed of cattle that would satisfy that childhood fascination, be safe around her children, and have a high quality product. The British White checked all the boxes. Her herd has grown to several hundred.
Working with her daughters, Christina navigated farming as a single parent who also worked off farm. “That time had its challenges,” shares Christina. “The realities of farm life and family life and preparing to start a meat business were like pushing a ‘cattle pot’ up a hill by hand. And yet—here I am. Still doing it. Still believing in it. Sometimes tired, but never tired of this work.”
Microbe Farm-her
Raising her animals cleanly starts with the soil. “When people learn what I do they say that I’m a cattle farmer,” smiles Christina. “I’m not. I’m a microbe farm-
her. If I’m not working on the soil, the soil doesn’t feed the grass. If the grass doesn’t feed the cows, the cows can’t feed me. Those little creatures in the ground have microbe chains that can be miles long; that has to be considered to make the rest of the system thrive.”
Education is at the cornerstone of Rolling Hill’s work. “People come up to me at the farmers market and ask me why my products cost more than the grocery store. Some will buy bones for their pets, but they don’t buy the products for their own table,” explains Christina. “There’s actually a constant need to make it clear why what we’re doing matters for everyone’s health. It can feel like my impact is really small. It’s like I’m putting water into a thimble, while the rest of the cattleman who follow common commercial practices are putting water into a pitcher. That’s not a bad thing in any way. It’s just people with different needs and wants.”
“People need to eat everyday. They get to choose what they put into their body. Whatever fed the product that they’re eating goes into them too. Everything in the feed, the soil, the water is all linked,” states Christina. “I taste the difference in our products. I know our customers do too. It’s better for everyone along the food chain because of our care for the soil itself.”
Visit meettheminnesotamakers.com or follow @meettheminnesotamakers on Facebook and Instagram to discover the farmers and innovators working to strengthen Minnesota’s local food networks. Meet the Minnesota Makers is a news site that connects you to the local food, farms, artists and artisans that make Minnesota thrive.
Follow @BritishWhiteBeef on Facebook or @christina.traeger on Instagram or Rolling Hills Cattle Company on YouTube.
This farm feature is published in partnership with Greener Pastures.
Read the full article on the Greener Pastures Website. Greener Pastures is a blog, community, and activism hub in the upper midwest here to make everyday support of humane, 
sustainable agriculture easy and seamless with your lifestyle.
Photography by Sarah Carroll of Greener Pastures
