RURAL ROOTS FARM

ABOUT US

Leo LeBlanc has been raising livestock and working horses on his multigenerational farm since before he can remember. His son Ben bought his first cattle when he was 18 years old and has been farming with his father ever since. Ben’s wife Shandel helps with marketing and their 1-year-old daughter Mattie likes riding on the tractor. Miss Dee takes care of the eggs and is constantly turning out homemade food from the kitchen. Friends and relatives help put in square bales in the summer. It is a true family affair.

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We raise all our animals on our farm in Margaree. Calves and lambs are born in February-March of each year and spend the summer grazing freely along the Margaree River with their mothers. We practice rotational grazing, a form of regenerative agriculture that involves rotating animals every few days through a series of pastures. This way the animals get only the freshest grass and the land has a chance to regrow before it is grazed again. This method of farming requires an intimate understanding of the land and the grass it supports. We are currently working ​with local community groups on a riparian zone regeneration project in an effort to sustain this valuable agricultural land along the Margaree River.

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In the fall of the year, the calves and lambs are processed in a provincially inspected abattoir and transported in a refrigerated van. Sometimes we will hold a few calves back for the winter and sell them in the spring. These calves eat hay that we make during the summer months and are also given some crushed barley grown in Antigonish to help them keep weight on during the colder months.

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Thank you for your interest in our products. We are proud of the animals we raise and the quality of meat they produce!