Regeneration Across the Generations at Pettit Pastures

At Pettit Pastures outside of Milaca, Minnesota, this three-generation farm exemplifies how soil health & pasture-raised meat go hand-in-hand.

Written by Michelle Sharp in collaboration with Meet the Minnesota Makers

Photography and videography by Sarah Carroll

Pettit Pastures, its people, animals, and plants, demonstrate everyday that agriculture and nature can coexist.

Through the practice of regenerative agriculture, the Pettit Family restores a healthy balance to their land while raising premium beef and pork for their community.  

Regenerative agriculture considers the full ecosystem in its approach to cultivating any consumable product. This ecosystem begins and ends with the soil itself. The cycle includes the plants and animals intentionally raised on the land, the plants and animals that share the land, the health benefits for the people who work the land, and finally the consumers of the land’s products. 

In Milaca, Minnesota, this ecosystem flourishes at Pettit Pastures. Established in 2012, three generations of Pettits tend to cows and pigs who forage herbicide- and pesticide-free pastures on their 400 acre farm. Focusing on the health of the soil, Jake and his dad Tim raise grass-fed beef and Berkshire pork following sustainable practices that require minimal human handling of the animals. 

“The part of our farm that brings me the most joy is working with nature, rather than against it. We prove how mimicking the natural ecosystems in our farming practices actually heals and improves our soil and water. This results in more nutritious meat, which improves the health of our customers,” explained Jake. “Agriculture can be a tool to repair and heal our world ecosystems when done correctly.”

Jake’s dad Tim had been a dairy farmer in Loretto. In the 1980s he sold that farm and began a different career. Upon retirement, he shared with Jake how much he missed animal agriculture. Jake was working in food industry manufacturing at the time. “I had been doing a lot of research about our food—how it was handled and processed. I had a lot of questions and concerns,” shared Jake. “We started in regenerative agriculture because I was thinking about how grass fed beef could work to heal the environment and heal consumers.” 

On a daily level practicing regenerative agriculture means that the Pettit Pastures livestock spend all their time outside. This cuts down on illness in the herd by reducing confinement stress as well as infections and illness often caused by exposure to their own feces. “When you keep them outdoors and moving across your pastures, you don’t have a manure problem. The animals spread it naturally by moving across the land,” stated Jake. “Rather than worrying about sick animals and trying to clean out and move manure, we spend our time moving the animals. Every day we move portable fencing to bring them to new pastures.”

When asked about the animals’ welfare during Minnesota’s winters, Jake smiled. “I get that question a lot,” he said. “The animals are prepared for our cold weather. Their coats are amazing. I’ll walk into our herd of cattle where they’re lying down. It’s 40 below and I can immediately feel the temperature difference when I walk among them. It’s much more humane to keep them outside than confined in a barn.” Jake emphasized the necessity of providing natural shelter in the form of tree lines and constant access to food and water as part of the animals’ welfare during extreme weather—both hot and cold. 

Even when their livestock depend on hay during the winter, the Pettits still keep the animals moving across the pasture. This rotational grazing has yielded dramatic changes in the health of their land. “When you get rid of the herbicides, the insecticides, and the pesticides, you give the soil the ability to bring life back: the microorganisms, the earth worms, the dung beetles. When those bugs come back, the predators return: the birds and small rodents,” reflected Jake.

Pettit Pastures delivers their products directly to their customers with Jake himself making the majority of the deliveries. Beef and pork are available in bulk as quarters, halves, and whole as well as in individual cuts. Jake always invites customers out to the farm so that they can see how their product is raised. He wants them to know what regenerative agriculture looks like so they understand what their purchase supports. 

“The consumer has tremendous power. Every time we buy food we vote for the kind of agricultural model that we want,” reflected Jake. 

In this light, Pettit Pastures has proudly entered a partnership with the Princeton school district. For the 2024-2025 school year, Pettit Pastures will provide the Princeton students with grass fed ground beef and stew meat. “These schools are located about 10 miles from our farm. We are so excited to help our local community with healthy protein for their children!”

“The more we support local agriculture, the better off we all are. We keep that money within our community, within our state. We support practices that directly impact our land, our health, our families,” explained Jake. “When we buy meat that’s from overseas or conventionally raised, we tell that farmer, that corporation, that we appreciate the way they operate. It’s important to think about the hidden costs as a part of the total price of what we consume.”

To learn more about Pettit Pastures and Place an order, visit www.pettitpastures.com

Follow @pettitpastures on Facebook and Instagram to see where the cows have wandered today. 

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