Farming is not a one size fits all lifestyle. Family farms can take on new styles as a new generation takes over, and that’s exactly what Jen and Joe Lautzenheiser have done over the last 5 years.  

Joe and Jen are both ambitious people, united on values of health, environmental sustainability, and hard work. Joe came on real strong on their first date, as he shared his vision to run a farm inspired by a book on regenerative agriculture. Think small acreage, living on the property, and raising animals and plants in a way that circularly benefits the whole system. Luckily, Jen grew up raising vegetables and some livestock on her family’s small farm, and was personally aligned in the vision Joe was energized by. One year later, they dove in and were married and began the farm vision.  

The farm has been in Joe’s family for three generations and has been used for traditional row crops (mostly corn and soy) the whole time. To us non-farming folks, this may seem like a totally smooth transtion- corn field to cow pasture seems fine, right? WRONG. Joe and Jen have been hard at work transforming these fields to be healthy pasture feeding their livestock, building fencing, running water lines, and learning how to work all of the pieces together in the regenerative way. It wasn’t until this year that they’ve been able to use the entire 100 acres for their livestock (50 cows and a couple thousand hens/meat chickens). Despite the challenges of hard labor, Jen and Joe have always seen the prize at the end, and remain united in their vision for their homestead.  

The circular system continues, as Jen started a body products business from the beef tallow. They’ve been able to provide healthy meat to their family and community, but Jen discovered a missing piece with their body products as they were full of chemicals. A freezer full of suet and several rounds of experimentation later, Jen now operates a clean body care line called JJLautz, where you can find deeply moisturizing and full of vitamins skin ointment.  

Jen and Joe Lautzenheiser operate Glenview Acres and JJLautz with unity, strength, and an ideal vision of a healthy lifestyle of land and animal caretaking. Thank you to Jen for sharing their story with me. This story deserves more than a simple write-up, so support their business on Market Wagon Northeast Ohio today!