Commited to Grain-free & Jersey purity

Thirteen years ago, when we first started North Woods Homestead, we were just a family with a big dream and a lot to learn. Looking back, I’m humbled by how much these animals have taught us. We’ve dedicated over a decade to the Purebred Mini Jersey, but the truth is, we’re just the stewards of their incredible legacy. We haven't taken shortcuts with crossbreeding because we truly believe in preserving the classic Jersey integrity—those sweet, dished faces and gentle souls—using genomic DNA testing to make sure we’re staying true to the breed's heritage.

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It hasn't always been easy, especially with our commitment to staying 100% grain-free. In the beginning, we weren't sure if we could maintain a healthy family milker on forage alone, but we’ve spent seven generations selecting for "grass-fed genetics." We’ve learned to listen to the cows, moving away from the "push" of grain toward a slower, more natural pace. It’s been a long journey of trial and error but seeing our girls thrive on pasture and produce that rich, golden A2/A2 milk is is a reward that makes every long morning in the barn worth it.

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We don't claim to have all the answers, but we’ve poured our hearts into fine-tuning traits like udder health and easy-going temperaments so that other families can have a smoother start than we did. For us, it’s never been about having the biggest herd—it’s about the quality of life for the cow and the quality of the milk for the table. After 13 years, we’re still passionate about these "homestead dairy queens" as the day we started, and we’re so grateful to be able to share what we’ve learned with a community that values a more traditional, holistic way of farming.

Warmly,
​Milkmaid Lorinda