Nestled on 42 acres of land, Return forty farms has a long and rich history.

After being acquired through a land grant in 1915 and signed by President Woodrow Wilson, there were a few owners after that. Ron Kern, who now owns and operates the farm with his family, had the privilege of hearing about the property’s past from one of the boys who grew up on the land and who is now 75 years old. He learned that Clayton Moore, an American actor best known for playing the fictional Western character the Lone Ranger, had visited the property, as had Annie Oakley, an American sniper and folk heroine.

While these stars certainly saw the magic of Back Forty Farms back then, it still has the same sparkle today. In fact, it didn’t take long for the Kern family to want to be a part of it.

Kern and his wife Lisa were successful business owners and entrepreneurs and loved helping non-profit organizations around the Treasure Valley. But in 2013, they sold their business and “retired.” In 2018, they launched Back Forty Farms. They had no experience in farming, raising animals, growing crops, or anything else related to agriculture.

“We understood the need to grow our own food and couldn’t necessarily trust the food in stores,” Kern said. “Over the years, we became proficient and wanted to share and help others do the same. »

They spent years learning the ropes and now work alongside their son Tony and daughter Heather, who both help manage the farm. Their commitment to working together and honoring the land has paid off. Today, the Nampa-based farm sells a wide variety of organically grown meats, eggs, fruits and vegetables and has been named the best freeze-dried farm company in the United States.

“We have seen tremendous growth in our freeze-dried product business…our freeze-dried eggs have been featured on NPR, The Today Show and many other news sources,” Kern said. “We also previously had a CSA which was very successful. (People) liked having access to clean food sources. Many have expressed gratitude for what we do…every day is a learning experience, and we are fortunate to have many resources in the community who have been farming for years. It took some time to discover what efforts we want to focus on and what additional learning we need.

The Back Forty Farms property is picturesque. Indian Creek flows through the property, their signature red barn still stands after 106 years, and the on-site farm was built in 1915. Visitors will also find a plethora of farm and wildlife animals, including chickens, sheep, goats, Scottish Highlands. cows, horses, alpaca, a llama and even a kangaroo.

Back Forty Farms said it never uses anything chemically treated — no weedkillers, no pesticides, no nothing. They also do not use irrigation water for the garden or for the animals, and no animals are given GMO food, processed products or medications unless prescribed by a veterinarian.

When asked what the biggest highlights of farm life in the Gem State were, Kern said, “Aside from the ‘rewards,’ being out in nature, not surrounded by buildings or traffic , and having 42 acres of peaceful paradise beats it all. . And of course, eat what we grow.

The Kern family also has no plans to leave anytime soon. They love the land and their work at Back Forty Farms. They are exploring how they can continue to expand their reach and are working to offer on-property cooking classes to people on how to cook farm-to-table meals. They’re also offering pasture-raised turkeys for the upcoming holiday season, all without antibiotics.

“We refused to sell our property to big developers because the ability to grow healthy, clean, nutritious food is something you can’t put a price on,” Kern said. “We promote the agricultural heritage of rural Idaho.”