LOVILIA, Iowa — Tucked in amongst the hills of southern Iowa is Whippoorwill Creek Farm, where John Hogeland and Beth Hoffman work to establish themselves in the world of grass-fed beef.

“It’s beautiful rolling hills here,” Hoffman says as she heads out to check on the cattle and goats the couple raise. “Livestock makes sense in this part of the world.”

RICH HILL, Mo. — Tyler Black first entered the meat goat world about seven years ago. He bought show goats for his two sons and kept them back as breeding stock.

The original plan was to raise their own show animals on the Bates County, Missouri, farm. But once they bought 10 Boer does, they realized they were committing to it for the long haul.

MARION, Ill. — Todd Goodman jokingly refers to himself as a “bug rancher.” But he’s serious about his work.

“I’m a farmer,” he said while walking around the empire he has created.

CARRIER MILLS, Ill. — Debbie McVey’s farm is a welcome environment for honeybees, and it shows.

Some of the 120 acres of her property in Saline County is planted in pollinator habitat, thanks to a partnership with Quails Unlimited. Since 2013, the conservation organization has launched hundreds of projects in its national Pollinator Habitat Outreach Program.

HENRY, Ill. — With a pretty white bow in her hair, and a snuggly kitten in her hands, 2-year-old Anna Salisbury is in her element on the family homestead in central Illinois.

Both her mom and dad, Bethany and Bob Salisbury, always dreamed of having a little farm to raise their own food and share its bounties with their children.