In 2017, we decided to buy a neglected farm in the mountains of South West Virginia. Previously, we lived in the Shenandoah Valley.
For the next five years, we farmed our original property in Staunton and the Laurel Fork property. We traveled between the two farms until we sold our property in the valley. We now live more of a subsistence or homesteading life and consider ourselves semi-retired. While we still do the things we did previously, we do so on a smaller scale. Tammy no longer operates a cow share program, instead using her time to write homesteading and farming "how to" articles for major publications. Mike maintains our 50-acre homestead and works on occasion for other farms. When we moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains we named our homestead "Maple Lawn Farm". Even as we embark on new adventures, it's important to keep and share the following, original introduction for The Cupp Family Farm, our farm in the Valley:
The Cupp Farm is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. We raise a variety of crops, produce, and livestock.
Mike comes from a third-generation family farm. After his father retired from the dairy, Mike worked the farm alone for a year before he sold the Holstein herd in 1999 and began raising beef cows.
In addition to cattle, our farm grows cash crops such as hay, corn, and soybeans. Mike also loves to work in his large garden, selling homegrown produce to the public to supplement our income. Each summer, Mike grows three acres of potatoes, several acres of sweet corn, and various other vegetables.
Other animals on the farm include a mixed flock of free-range hens (primarily Speckled Sussex ), Calico Turkeys, Miniature Nubian goats, one horse, two miniature horses, farm dogs, and feeder pigs.
Tammy lived rurally and practiced homestead and farming skills her entire life. She worked at a dairy in Alaska and dreamed of owning dairy cows since she was a young girl. T. Cupp Miniatures is her addition to the existing, generational Cupp Family Farm.
Mike and Tammy have a partnership that includes love for each other and a love of the land. They bring different dreams, ideas, goals, strengths, and expertise to that partnership. Together they seek to live a sustainable life, raise their animals humanely, and offer gratitude to the Creator.
You can reach us at homesteaddairycows@gmail.com
You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.