Harrier Fields Farm
Contact
- (518) 732-7350
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About the Farm
Background
Harrier Fields Farm has been raising purebred Devon cattle since 2002, around the time 100% grass-fed Devons were being rediscovered. The farm owes a significant debt to Gearld Fry, an independent cattle consultant and expert in raising and breeding grass-fed beef. Owners Mike Scannell and Joan Harris have been farming in the Hudson Valley for over thirty years, aiming to recreate cattle that thrive on grass yet are tender and tasty. Mike Scannell bought the farm in 1982 and worked various jobs to pay off the mortgage. Joan Harris, raised on a dairy farm, rediscovered farm life after retiring from teaching.
Practices
The farm operates under organic principles, never using pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, or hormones. Equipment is powered with draft horses instead of tractors. The Devon cattle graze on a diverse pasture of clover, grasses, and dandelions, benefiting from the region's good minerals, soil, and rainfall. All beef is inspected and passed by the USDA.
The Rest
Horse-drawn wagon farm tours are available. The farm is located in the town of Stuyvesant, 7 miles north of Kinderhook. Joan Harris has designed Devon-themed calendars and attended Devon tours worldwide. Semen from the herd bull is available for purchase at $30 per straw.