OUR STORY

Although he has been raising grass-fed beef for 18 years, that was not always John's plan.

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John Rogers grew up on a dairy farm, and his job was to take care of the calves. Even after his family quit the dairy business when he was 12, they still had a family milk cow that was milked twice a day.

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“I said I didn’t even want to see a cow after that,” he said. “I guess I couldn’t stay away from them forever.”

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In 1975 John started farming row crops with his brother. They also raised conventional beef cows from 1991 to 1998. At the end of 2002, John got out of row crops and started with cows again in 2003.

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“I read an article in the Progressive Farmer magazine about a Georgia farmer raising grass-fed beef,” Rogers said. “I had been doing it the commercial way, but I liked what I saw about how the animals were raised and the meat they produced.”

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After selling his first grass-fed beef to a woman in Hartsville, Rogers started selling to restaurants and at farmers markets through Ovis Hill Farm. Now he sells through Maypop Farm, which took over for Ovis Hill, in Florence and Myrtle Beach.

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Recently, Rogers has increased his focus on selling directly to consumers. He has increased his presence on Facebook and Instagram in order to reach more people. “It’s been great to build relationships with customers and learn more about what kind of product they want,” Rogers said. “Most of our customers are health conscious and looking for something they can’t find in the grocery store. We get folks with allergies to things like corn who can’t eat conventional beef but can eat grass-fed beef. Also, some people want the superior taste. It’s rewarding when the customers tell me it’s the best meat they’ve ever eaten.”

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Although he does a lot himself, Rogers has team of hard workers who help him. Over the years, his wife, Lynn Rogers, has done everything from baling hay to picking up parts and supplies. Also, his daughter Laurie Truett has helped at the farm since 2002. She started working full time in March of 2019. 

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“I used to try to do it by myself, but I realized I couldn’t, so they have been a big help. The hard work and long hours can take their toll, but there are also rewards for the life of a farmer.  It’s not easy. It’s seven days a week. I don’t get many vacations or days off. I’m not looking for sympathy, because it’s what I decided to do, but it’s good for folks to remember what it takes. It’s worth it, though, because I’m able to feel like I’m doing a good job and treating the cows like they’re supposed to be treated," Rogers stated.

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