Farm to Table: Where to Find Locally Raised Meat

There's something deeply satisfying about knowing exactly where your family's food comes from. In the Milwaukee north shore area, we're fortunate to be surrounded by hardworking family farms raising animals the old-fashioned way—on pasture, without hormones or antibiotics, and with genuine care. Whether you're looking to stock your freezer with a quarter beef, pick up weekly eggs from free-range chickens, or simply want to introduce your kids to real farm life while grabbing some incredible pork chops, this guide covers every option within easy driving distance of Mequon, Cedarburg, and our north shore communities.

After extensive research, I've compiled over 20 farms and resources where you can buy meat and other homestead products directly. From the rolling hills of Washington County to the scenic lakeshore communities of Ozaukee County, these are your neighbors raising food the right way.

Farms right in Mequon and Cedarburg

Let's start in our own backyard. Two standout farms make buying local meat incredibly convenient for north shore families.

Gierach Orchards in Mequon is a true hidden gem that many locals know only for their spectacular apples and fresh cider. But this family farm also raises an impressive array of pasture-raised meats that deserve attention. You'll find heritage Berkshire pork raised on non-GMO feed in their woodland pastures, along with 100% grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chickens, turkeys, and lamb. Their eggs come from chickens roaming the orchard, and they produce their own honey too. The roadside farmstand at 9616 W. Bonniwell Road operates Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sundays from noon to 4pm on an honor-system basis—just grab what you need from the coolers and leave your payment. For meat orders, it's best to call ahead or stop by the sales barn. They prefer cash or Venmo but accept cards. Throughout winter, they host special farm markets in their sales barn, making this a year-round destination.

Of the Land Farm operates on 20 acres right in Cedarburg and specializes in an unusual and diverse selection of pasture-raised meats. If you've ever wanted to try duck, rabbit, goat, or lamb alongside more familiar chicken and turkey, this is your place. Husband-and-wife team Ben and Sarah raise everything using regenerative farming practices, with sheep and goats 100% grass-fed and finished, and poultry fed certified organic, non-GMO feed. Their product list is impressive: whole chickens at $7.25 per pound, duck at $11 per pound, lamb and goat cuts ranging from $13-22 per pound, plus creative options like turkey Italian brats and cranberry apple summer sausage. You can order through the Ozaukee REKO Ring for Thursday pickup in Grafton, find them at the Port Washington and Whitefish Bay farmers markets, or arrange a farm pickup by calling 262-204-8181. They also offer meat subscriptions starting at $53 per month for families wanting regular deliveries.

The Fredonia farming cluster

Head about 15 minutes north of Cedarburg and you'll discover that Fredonia has quietly become a hub for small sustainable farms. Three operations here deserve your attention.

Burkel Family Farm represents five generations of farming the same land in Fredonia. Their focus is grass-finished, pasture-raised beef and chicken raised using holistic practices that prioritize both animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Beyond meat, they've become known for their free-range eggs (available year-round), raw honey from their own hives, and maple syrup tapped from their own trees. You'll find them at the Port Washington Farmers Market on Saturday mornings from June through October, and at winter markets during the colder months. The farm also supplies DreamPort Harvest Market in Port Washington for those who can't make market hours. Reach them at 920-980-5856 or through their website at burkelfamilyfarm.com.

The Victory Garden Farm focuses on pasture-raised poultry and pork with an emphasis on animal welfare—they're working toward full organic certification and are already certified Animal Welfare Approved. Their eggs are legendary locally for their deep orange yolks, coming from heritage breed chickens that spend their entire lives outdoors on pasture. They also raise broiler chickens, Thanksgiving turkeys, and hogs. This farm actually founded the Ozaukee Area REKO Ring, making ordering through that platform especially convenient. Visit foodforvictory.com to place orders, or look for their products at local restaurants that prioritize farm-to-table sourcing.

Noel Farms is a smaller operation perfect for egg lovers seeking something special. Their free-range pastured eggs run $5 per dozen with beautiful multicolored shells from heritage breeds. Seasonally (spring through mid-June), they also offer goose eggs at $1 each—a real treat for adventurous home cooks. Their raw honey is harvested in limited quantities each summer. This is a by-appointment-only farm, so email noelfarmswisconsin@gmail.com to arrange pickup times.

Unique options in Ozaukee County

Lakeview Buffalo Farm in Belgium offers something you won't find anywhere else nearby: locally raised bison. The Weyker family has farmed this 195-acre spread overlooking Lake Michigan since 1848, and they introduced their buffalo herd in 1996. Today, over 100 buffalo roam their pastures, producing exceptionally lean, flavorful meat that's lower in fat and cholesterol than beef. They also raise about 60 Holstein steers for beef and keep free-range chickens for eggs. Their farm store at 5450 Sunny Ridge Road is typically open Saturdays from 8am to noon—call 262-285-3386 to confirm hours or place an order. You can also find them at Milwaukee's East Town Farmer's Market during the season. The scenic drive through the Belgium countryside makes this a wonderful family outing.

Bossie Cow Farm near Random Lake (just across the county line) stands out as one of the only USDA Certified Organic operations in the area. Their 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef and pasture-raised eggs meet the strictest organic standards. Ground beef runs $8.50 per pound, while their 25-pound beef bundles at $250 offer excellent value with a mix of steaks, roasts, stew meat, and ground beef. Fair warning: their beef quarters (around $800 for 80-100 pounds of meat) sell out fast—as of this writing, 2025 quarters are completely spoken for, with reservations opening in spring 2026. Order through the Ozaukee REKO Ring for Grafton pickup, find them at DreamPort Harvest Market, or contact Thelma at 612-770-6793. Their website bossiecowfarm.com has full product listings and availability.

Washington County's farm country bounty

Drive 25-30 minutes west of the north shore and you'll enter Washington County's serious farm territory. Several excellent operations here make the trip worthwhile, especially if you're looking to stock a chest freezer.

Schmidt Century Farm outside West Bend operates one of the most convenient farm stores in the region. Open Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm at 5485 Saint Anthony Road, you can shop their selection of Black Angus beef, heritage Duroc and Berkshire pork, chicken, and turkey without needing to pre-order. They also sell chicken and duck eggs, maple syrup, and products from other local artisans. For families wanting to buy in bulk, they offer quarter, half, or whole beef and half or whole pigs with processing handled by local butchers. The farm has been in operation for over a century, and they welcome visitors to meet their animals—great for kids curious about where their food originates. Call 414-469-2737 for current availability or bulk orders.

Ney's Premium Meats in Slinger isn't technically a farm, but this fifth-generation family operation sources from their own animals and local farms to stock one of the most impressive meat markets you'll find anywhere. Located at 310 E Washington Street, they carry everything: all-natural beef cuts, pork, chicken, turkey, bison, over 31 flavors of brats, multiple bacon varieties, and specialty items like dried beef and snack sticks. They're also a full restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, with an in-house bakery that makes donuts (including the notorious chocolate-covered bacon donut). Retail hours are Monday-Tuesday 10am-5:30pm, Wednesday-Friday 6am-5:30pm, and weekends 7am-3pm. They offer free home delivery on orders over $250 and ship throughout Wisconsin. Their grass-fed cattle are dry-aged and processed without hormones or antibiotics. Ground chuck runs about $7.09 per pound, bone-in ribeyes about $21 each, and boneless chicken breast $5.90 per pound—competitive with grocery stores for vastly superior quality.

Mayer Farms Beef sits in the scenic Kettle Moraine hills south of Slinger with views of Holy Hill Church. This seventh-generation dairy farm also produces exceptional grass-finished beef, available by the pound or in bulk. Their farm store at 4965 County Road E is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from noon to 5pm. You'll find steaks, roasts, ground beef, plus house-made items like all-beef brats, breakfast sausage, summer sausage, and beef sticks. They offer volume discounts: 5% off orders over 100 pounds and 8% off orders over 200 pounds. Quarter, half, and whole animals are available for serious freezer stockers. Call Shelly at 262-224-5441 to discuss your needs.

Morning Star Family Farm in Hartford brings a remarkable selection from a family of twelve (parents and ten children working together). Their heritage breed pork, pasture-raised chicken, lamb, and rabbit are all raised 100% on pasture with GMO-free feed and absolutely no chemicals, hormones, or antibiotics. Beyond meat, they offer soy-free pasture-raised eggs, duck eggs, handcrafted kombucha in a dozen seasonal flavors, elderberry syrup made from their own elderberries, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. They sell by the cut or by the whole and half animal at 4504 County Road R. Find them at the Tosa Farmers Market or pre-order for farm pickup by calling 262-271-8649.

Hickory Road Farm near West Bend focuses exclusively on premium Black Angus beef from their rotationally grazed herd. All animals are born and raised on the farm, finished on farm-grown hay, corn, and grains, and processed by a USDA-inspected butcher. Order through their online store at hickoryroadfarm.com for select cuts, burger patties, ground beef, beef boxes, or whole animal orders.

Farms that deliver to the north shore

Can't make it out to farm country? Several excellent farms bring their products directly to north shore neighborhoods.

North Pasture Farms runs regular delivery routes throughout our area. Their 100% grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, pastured chicken, and grass-fed bison arrive on scheduled delivery days at designated neighborhood pickup points in Mequon, Grafton, Fox Point, and Shorewood. The family farm is located up in Bruce, Wisconsin, but they've built an efficient distribution system. All animals are raised without antibiotics, hormones, or chemicals in a low-stress environment. Order online at northpasturefarms.com, and watch for delivery route announcements—they typically come through every 8 weeks.

Riemer Family Farm from Brodhead, Wisconsin delivers throughout the entire Midwest and offers free shipping on orders of $165 or more. Their selection includes 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, heritage breed non-GMO pork, pasture-raised chicken and turkey, grass-fed lamb, and even wild-caught Alaskan seafood. All animals are raised regeneratively on pasture—no confinement, no cages, no hormones or antibiotics. Their Subscribe & Save program makes regular ordering easy. Visit riemerfamilyfarm.com to browse their selection and set up deliveries.

Kettle Range Meat Co. operates two full-service butcher shops with delivery reaching throughout the north shore. Their Milwaukee location at 5501 W State Street and Elm Grove shop at 13402 Watertown Plank Road stock an incredible selection of dry-aged grass-fed beef (aged 35-50 days), heritage pork, pasture-raised lamb and chicken, house-made sausages, and cured meats—all sourced from about 85% Wisconsin farms. Home delivery is available within 20 miles of either location, which covers our entire north shore area. They also offer the "Kettle Club" monthly subscription and mixed quarters of grass-fed beef for freezer stocking. Use code SAVE$5 for $5 off your first delivery of $50 or more. Hours are Monday-Friday 10am-7pm and weekends 9am-5pm at both locations.

Wanda Farms from Harvard, Illinois (just across the border) delivers to the Milwaukee area offering pasture-raised beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and eggs from their regenerative farm. They have a $99 minimum order and offer Subscribe & Save options along with curated bundle boxes. Check wandafarms.com for their delivery schedule to our area.

Gwenyn Hill Farm in the Kettle Moraine region near Waukesha is certified organic and focuses on 100% grass-fed Red Devon beef, lamb, and pasture-raised poultry alongside their beautiful organic vegetables. You can visit their on-farm self-service store (The Farmstand) at N130W294 Bryn Drive in Waukesha, find them at the Brookfield Farmers Market on Saturdays, or join their CSA program. Their meat is available for online ordering at gwenynhillfarm.com or call 262-955-9681.

REKO Ring: your secret for local farm food

Here's an insider tip many north shore families don't know about: the Ozaukee Area REKO Ring is essentially an online farmers market that connects you directly with multiple local farms through one convenient system.

Here's how it works: Join the Facebook group "Ozaukee Area REKO Ring" or visit localline.ca/ozaukee-area-reko-ring. Browse products from participating farms (including Bossie Cow Farm, Of the Land Farm, Victory Garden Farm, and others), place your order online between Friday and Tuesday, then pick up everything on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 6pm in the Blain's Farm and Fleet parking lot in Grafton. It's a remarkably efficient way to shop from multiple farms in one stop without driving all over the countryside.

A similar West Bend REKO Ring operates on the second and fourth Tuesdays for those closer to Washington County.

Farm markets and local stores

Sometimes you want one-stop shopping for products from several farms. Two excellent options serve our area.

DreamPort Harvest Market in downtown Port Washington at 223 N. Franklin Street operates Thursday and Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-3pm as a year-round local food store. They stock organic pasture-raised beef from Bossie Cow Farm, chicken and pork from Burkel Family Farm, local dairy, produce, fermented foods, honey, and bakery items—all from area farms. It's perfect for those who want local farm food without navigating multiple ordering systems.

Outpost Natural Foods Co-op in Mequon at 7590 W. Mequon Road carries Wisconsin Meadows grass-fed beef and pastured pork from their cooperative of 230+ Wisconsin family farms. All Wisconsin Meadows products come from farms using no antibiotics, growth hormones, or GMOs, with animals raised on pasture using rotational grazing.

North shore farmers markets

Throughout the growing season, our local farmers markets bring farm meats directly to your neighborhood.

Fox Point Farmers' Market runs Saturdays from 8am to noon, mid-June through mid-October, in the North Shore Congregational Church parking lot at 7330 N. Santa Monica Boulevard. You'll find pastured meats, free-range poultry, cage-free eggs, and local honey alongside beautiful produce. They've eliminated single-use plastics and feature live music starting at 10am—making it a genuine family outing.

Whitefish Bay Farmers' Market operates Saturdays 9am-1pm from June through October at 325 E. Silver Spring Drive, with a winter market on the second Saturday of each month (November-February) inside the public library. They carry fresh meats, beef, eggs, bacon, sausage, and cheeses from local producers, and accept SNAP/EBT, WIC, and other nutrition program benefits.

Shorewood Farmers Market meets Sundays from 9:30am to 1pm, Father's Day through late October, at the south end of Estabrook Park. Look for meat and dairy vendors alongside produce, baked goods, and prepared foods. They accept SNAP/Quest and participate in the Market Match program.

Mequon Farmers Market at Foxtown Station (6209 W. Mequon Road) runs Saturdays 7:30am-noon from June through October, while the Thiensville market meets Tuesdays 9am-2pm at Village Park.

Port Washington Farmers Market overlooks the Lake Michigan marina at 110 E. Main Street on Saturdays 8:30am-12:30pm, June through October. This producer-only market won the 2023 Tour Ozaukee Community Choice Award and features excellent meat, egg, and dairy vendors including Burkel Family Farm and others.

Tips for buying meat directly from farms

If you're new to buying directly from farmers, here are some practical tips from experience.

Start with individual cuts before committing to bulk purchases. Most farms will sell you a few steaks or some ground beef so you can try their products before investing in a quarter beef. Once you find a farm whose meat your family loves, then consider bulk buying.

Bulk buying offers tremendous value. A quarter beef typically runs $700-900 total and fills about half a standard chest freezer with 80-100 pounds of steaks, roasts, and ground beef. Per-pound costs often work out to $5-7 when you average premium cuts with ground beef—far below grocery store prices for comparable quality.

Ask questions about farming practices. The farms listed here are transparent about how they raise their animals. Don't hesitate to ask about feed, living conditions, and processing. Good farmers love talking about their work.

Understand the ordering timeline. Unlike grocery shopping, farm-direct buying often requires planning. Bulk beef orders may need to be placed 6-12 months in advance. Farmers market purchases are first-come, first-served. REKO Ring orders have weekly deadlines. Build these rhythms into your meal planning.

Bring a cooler. When picking up at farms or farmers markets, especially in summer, bring a cooler with ice packs to keep your purchases at safe temperatures during the drive home.

Make it a family adventure. Many of these farms welcome visitors, and children are fascinated by meeting the animals that become their food. It's a powerful way to teach kids about where food comes from and build appreciation for the farmers who produce it.

Resources for finding even more farms

Several directories can help you discover additional farms as your local food journey continues.

The Farm Fresh Atlas of Wisconsin (farmfreshatlas.org) maintained by REAP Food Group is a searchable database of Wisconsin farms, markets, and local food businesses. Print copies are available at co-ops, farmers markets, and libraries.

LocalHarvest (localharvest.org) lets you search for CSAs, farms, and farmers markets by zip code nationwide, with Wisconsin well-represented.

Eat Wild (eatwild.com/products/wisconsin.html) specifically focuses on pasture-based farming with detailed Wisconsin listings.

The Wisconsin Beef Council's Local Beef Directory (beeftips.com/raising-beef/local-beef-directory) helps consumers research options for purchasing beef directly from Wisconsin farms.

Buying meat directly from local farms isn't just about getting better food—though you absolutely will. It's about supporting families who've dedicated their lives to farming the right way, keeping agricultural land productive in our communities, reducing the environmental impact of industrial food systems, and teaching our children that good food comes from somewhere, from someone. Every purchase from these farms is a vote for the kind of food system we want to see thrive.

The north shore is remarkably fortunate to have this abundance of family farms within easy reach. Whether you make a weekend tradition of visiting Gierach Orchards in Mequon, stock your freezer with a quarter beef from Schmidt Century Farm, or simply grab eggs each week through the REKO Ring, you're participating in something meaningful. Your family will taste the difference—and that's what makes it all worthwhile.