By Michelle M. Sharp, Founder and Content Creator of Meet the Minnesota Makers
“My biggest surprise in running Blackberry Ridge Farms is how much failure is involved in farming. Nearly every day we say, ‘Okay, that didn’t work, what will we do next?,’” shares Erin Gervais. “We are constantly pivoting and innovating. It’s so humbling and at the same time incredibly rewarding because many times we do succeed, and success is far sweeter after some failure.”
In 2015 Erin Gervais and her dad Will Oberton founded Blackberry Ridge Farms in the bluffs outside Winona with 40 heads of Galloway cattle. Will was retiring from his business career and Erin was preparing for the birth of her second child. It may not seem like it, but it was the perfect time for them to start a new venture together. “It may sound a bit nuts, but it was perfect timing for me. I wanted a role that allowed me to work outside of my family that was still flexible. My dad wanted to get back to his farming roots. We both knew that we could do something to improve the land we had bought that had long been conventionally farmed.”
Their 600 acres of bluff land make for an ideal rotating pasture for their now nearly 250 cows. During the summer the cow-calf herd 
descends to the valley near Erin’s home. The unique shaggy coats make Galloway especially winter hardy. When the winter turns cold their second thick coat, much like that of a bison, protects them from the elements. Since the females typically calve easily, they don’t need to preemptively come inside during calving season. This combination of factors make Galloway an excellent choice for totally grass-fed beef.
Grass fed beef tastes different from corn-fed conventional cattle. It’s a leaner meat through and through with a flavor that reflects the rich grasses that make up the animals’ diet. “I was nervous when we butchered our first animals. What if it’s great for the land, but we don’t like it? It would be awful to not even like our own product,” reflects Erin. “It turned out that I love it. I actually prefer it.”
Erin noted that as their soil quality has improved, the flavor of their beef has become richer as well. Thanks to regenerative agricultural practices, Blackberry Ridge Farm is bringing life back to a parcel of land that had been literally stripped of its top soil. “That’s an exciting change. We feel like we have a really good product and we’ve gotten so much better. The quality of the grass affects the quality of the animals. That’s a cycle that continues to improve.”
This past winter was the first time that Blackberry Ridge planted winter rye as a cover crop for part of the corn they grow to provide winter 
bedding for their animals. Erin noted that the field where the cover crop grew proved to be this year’s best corn by far. “We keep looking for more ways to put more carbon into the soil and not have to use our machines as often. It’s really cool to see how the land responds as we learn what the soil needs.”
Another surprise for Erin is just how much she loves working with her animals. She grew up in Winona itself and had little farm experience before she and her husband bought their parcel of land along Blackberry Ridge Road. The farm does indeed have an abundance of blackberries– that’s one of many reasons why they spot so many different native species on their land. “Our goal is to provide high quality food for the people in our area. We care tremendously about our herd and our land.”
As a part of their partnership with Thousand Hills in Cannon Falls, Blackberry Ridge Farm is certified through the American Grass-Fed Association. This producer-founded and run non-profit provides certification, advocacy and education to establish a rigorous national standard for animals humanely raised on pasture. Their work is an ongoing collaboration to support rural economies.
“We feel so lucky to be able to steward this land. We see the difference as we, working with our animals, restore the health of our little corner of the world,” says Erin. “The more we improve our land, the better we’re able to provide the people around us with really good nutritious food. The more local we can help people to eat, the better.”
Two of Erin’s greatest joys in Blackberry Ridge is watching her sons meet the responsibilities of caring for their animals and managing the chores for their personal gardens, 
animals, tapping trees for maple syrup and tending to their honey bees. Her middle son, the one she was expecting when she and her dad made the decision to buy those first heads of cattle, has especially thrived. At age nine he recently told Erin that he likes playing on his soccer team well enough, but he likes farming better. Fortunately the two are not mutually exclusive.
The other joy is the relationships and connection with their direct to consumer customers. Both through The Meatery MN for national shipping and Blackberry Ridge’s own website for local delivery, Erin connects with customers about their own stories of why they choose locally-raised, grass-fed beef for their tables. “Knowing that we provide the base for a highly nutritious and more sustainable meal for other families is amazing. We feel so lucky to be a part of their table.”
Visit https://www.blackberryridgefarms.com/ for local delivery (including the Twin Cities) and The Meatery for shippable meat bundles.
Follow @blackberryridgefarms on Facebook and Instagram to see what’s new at the farm.
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.
Blackberry Ridge Farms is one of three Minnesota Makers participating in the September 28, 2024 Taste Maker class at the Farm at the Arb Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Class participants will sample Galloway beef roasts in an original recipe prepared by Chef Beth Fisher while they learn about raising grass-fed beef in Winona’s bluffs. 
