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Cari and Cliff Gonyer established Rockwell Ridge Farm in 2009. They produce a variety of livestock and fruit trees, selling products at the Dane County Farmers Market. Faithful dog Zeus helps guard the farm's sheep and poultry from predators.
A Mulefoot sow enjoys a snack of lambsquarters from the pasture at Rockwell Ridge.
North American Babydoll Southdown Sheep are valued in vineyards, sustainable agriculture and organic farming, according to the North American Babydoll Southdown Sheep Association and Registry. The sheep also have select carcass value, an attribute not shared by many other miniature breeds, according to the association.
Mulefoot pigs vie for splashing time in a tub of cool water.
Zeus is a mighty farm dog that scares away predators at Rockwell Ridge.
Rockwell Ridge's chicken flock is comprised of Ameraucanas, Egyptian Fayoumis and Cream Legbars. Together they produce a colorful array of eggs – blue, green and brown as well as white. Ameraucanas lay blue eggs. Cream legbars carry the blue-egg gene. They’re also good foragers and prolific layers, according to the Cream Legbar Club. Egyptian Fayoumis produce white-tinted or cream-colored eggs and also perform well in free-range conditions, according to Murray McMurray Hatchery Inc. of Webster City, Iowa.
The Mulefoot pig breed is valued for ease of fattening as well as production of meat and lard. Adult males will average 550 pounds; adult females will average 450 pounds. Their hanging weight averages 153 pounds, according to The Livestock Conservancy.
A variety of chicken breeds roam the farm, producing a variety of different-colored eggs.
Apple trees will later produce apples to be used in the production of baked goods. Apples that fall to the ground are fed to pigs at Rockwell Ridge Farm.
Cliff Gonyer says he's moving away from producing grapes. They're susceptible to black rot on his Iowa County farm. The Gonyers will shift from grapes to more apple and pear trees.
The view from Rockwell Ridge Farm reminds Cliff Gonyer of Italy's Tuscany. That's what attracted him to purchasing the land, he says.
DODGEVILLE, Wis. – Variety is the spice of life, especially at Rockwell Ridge, the Dodgeville-area farm owned by Cliff and Cari Gonyer.
Lynn Grooms writes about the diversity of agriculture, including the industry’s newest ideas, research and technologies as a staff reporter for Agri-View based in Wisconsin. Email lgrooms@madison.com to contact her.
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Cari and Cliff Gonyer established Rockwell Ridge Farm in 2009. They produce a variety of livestock and fruit trees, selling products at the Dane County Farmers Market. Faithful dog Zeus helps guard the farm's sheep and poultry from predators.
North American Babydoll Southdown Sheep are valued in vineyards, sustainable agriculture and organic farming, according to the North American Babydoll Southdown Sheep Association and Registry. The sheep also have select carcass value, an attribute not shared by many other miniature breeds, according to the association.
Rockwell Ridge's chicken flock is comprised of Ameraucanas, Egyptian Fayoumis and Cream Legbars. Together they produce a colorful array of eggs – blue, green and brown as well as white. Ameraucanas lay blue eggs. Cream legbars carry the blue-egg gene. They’re also good foragers and prolific layers, according to the Cream Legbar Club. Egyptian Fayoumis produce white-tinted or cream-colored eggs and also perform well in free-range conditions, according to Murray McMurray Hatchery Inc. of Webster City, Iowa.
The Mulefoot pig breed is valued for ease of fattening as well as production of meat and lard. Adult males will average 550 pounds; adult females will average 450 pounds. Their hanging weight averages 153 pounds, according to The Livestock Conservancy.
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