Ward and Rosie Burroughs and their family, finalists for the 2011 Leopold Conservation Award in California, were recently recognized as Farmer Heroes by Farm Aid.
For third-generation farmers Ward and Rosie Burroughs, whose postcard-perfect 4,400-acre farm is located just east of Modesto, the fate of sustainable farming lies in the present – and the future. That’s why they’ve involved their three children and their grandchildren in a holistic farming operation.
Following the lead of their son, Zeb, and daughter-in-law, Meridith, the Burroughs established California Cloverleaf Farms, which is a certified organic dairy that raises its nearly 500 cows in lush pastures of native grasses. Grazing on tasty greens has many upsides: the health of their cows and quality of the milk go up, their dependence on costly commercial feed goes down and their carbon footprint shrinks, they say.
To cut greenhouse gases even more, the Burroughs’ middle child, Benina, installed five high-tech solar arrays that provide 80 percent of the power needed to irrigate the organic almond orchards she farms.
Photo credit: Paolo Vescia
