Meet Beauchamp Farms

We took a trip to Beauchamp Farms in Mineral, Virginia last month (April 2021) to visit Mary and Tim Ganous. They have over twenty years of previous urban farming experience, focusing on growing heirloom vegetables and herbs using organic practices.

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Beauchamp Farms is a biodiverse farming enterprise situated on two large acreage sites. They lovingly raise grass-fed and grass-finished heritage breeds for meat and breeding -- the delicious Irish Dexter beef cattle and two different heritage breeds of Caribbean hair sheep.

How did you get into farming? What was your inspiration?

After 20 years of urban farming in Northern Virginia, we decided we wanted to introduce people to heirloom vegetables and heritage meat as part of our keen interest in agrodiversity and specimen preservation, not to mention the exceptional taste of heritage beef and heirloom vegetables. Our inspiration is to help conserve and promote rare breeds and strengthen plant biodiversity.

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How did Beauchamp Farms get started?

Beauchamp Farms, which means beautiful fields in French, was initially a retreat from the chaotic urban lifestyle. We quickly realized that we had a unique opportunity to share our passion and be part of the farmland conservation movement. Our farm is situated on two large acreage sites in Mineral, Virginia. We lovingly raise grass-fed and grass-finished heritage Irish Dexter beef cattle and grow heirloom vegetables.

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As part of our commitment to humanely treating our cattle and providing quality beef for our customers, we achieved the Global Animal Partnership Animal Welfare Certified Stage 4 certification. This certification ensures our cattle are raised on pasture year-round that promotes their health, emotional well-being and natural living. Our cattle have a healthy vegetarian diet and no added hormones or antibiotics.

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To learn more go to: https://globalanimalpartnership.org/

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GAP Blog about Beauchamp Farms: https://globalanimalpartnership.org/about/news/post/breed-choice-a-critical-decision-in-cattle-ranching/

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What makes your cattle different from other farms?

As their name implies, our cattle originally hailed from Ireland and were brought to North America in the early 1900’s. Our pure breed Irish Dexter cattle come from a 100-year-old line from England. They are among the smallest cattle breeds in the world and are known for being docile and easy to handle. Their small frame and lighter bodyweight make them well suited for small farms such as ours. Given then small frame/lighter body weight, they don’t cause as much soil compaction or need to graze as much as their larger counterparts which is good for the farmland.

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Irish Dexter cattle are slower growers and take 2 years to mature. Their slow growth enhances the quality and taste of their meat. Irish Dexter beef is a deeply carmine color, high in health omega 3 acids. The meat has a clean earthy taste and texture. Due to the small size of the cattle, the smaller sized portion is perfect for the conscious carnivore and beef connoisseur.

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What products can customers expect to see at Ellwood’s?

A variety of beef will be available year-round. Beef cuts include a variety of steaks such as filet mignon, Delmonico steaks, ribeye, NY strips, roast, short ribs, ground beef, and all-natural beef links.

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What’s in store for the future of Beauchamp Farms?

Through the coming years, Beauchamp Farms plans to continue to lovely raise our cattle and grow heirloom vegetables. We also plan to teach children who are likely to experience food insecurity about farming and how to grow their own food.