Raising more than cattle
Broadfields Farm's Reclaimed Farmland Cultivates Community
Small, local farms are the heartbeat of their communities, extending far beyond their fields. They foster a vibrant tapestry, intertwining sustenance and support. They link neighbors through farmer's markets and community-supported agriculture, nurturing connections between producers and consumers.
Beyond nourishing bodies with their free-range eggs and grass-fed beef, Broadfields Farm is on a mission to nourish the local economy in the Olympia region by supporting other local farmers and amplifying the region’s identity as a beacon of agricultural success. Their commitment to sustainable practices not only preserves the land they’ve restored but also educates and inspires others. Discover first-hand how Broadfields Farm is developing a more harmonious and sustainable relationship with nature with a visit to the farm.
FROM POLLUTED PROPERTY TO SUSTAINABLE PASTURES
Before it was Broadfields Farm, the property, located just over 10 miles from the heart of downtown Olympia, was home to a 1,000-head dairy farm that had so polluted the groundwater they were forced to close. Kevin and Chris Cornell purchased the property in 2016 and immediately started the labor-intensive work of restoring a solid infrastructure, leasing their pastures out to local cattlemen until 2021 when they bought their first herd.
Kevin will tell you he got into farming because he was afraid that retiring would give him too much free time on his hands. Growing up in the outskirts of the suburbs, he spent his summers working on farms and decided in his mid-50s that he wanted to get back to farming – to create a place where he could see his grandchildren experience farming and foster in them the same love of the land he grew up with.
Using as much of the remaining materials, equipment, and infrastructure from the previous farm as they can, Kevin and Chris are working hard to make their farm a closed-loop and carbon-neutral operation.
![A woman walks along a farm storage structure with her dog](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b5f554f09fe60566d327c50bbbbe829f 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5d296974ffad883f73b77c9adddfcfb0 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9fce2dbdf2cd1ecfc30808df87a9590f 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=a8fcba89122fbe9e557835400e305776 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e17ad85ff1338efc17a7a80d7a66b9f7 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=ee8358f784ad7f66de7df6ef76e46cc6 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=073e579622a91b0cddb4dc49ec2baac5 1920w)
What exactly is closed-loop farming? It has a lot to do with that trendy phrase: farm-to-table. Often hailed as a beacon of sustainability, closed-loop farming epitomizes a circular approach to agriculture, designed to minimize waste and maximize efficiency by utilizing resources within a closed system. It integrates various practices like composting, crop rotation, and regenerative agriculture, aiming to reduce reliance on external inputs such as synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. By reusing organic matter, conserving water, and fostering biodiversity, closed-loop farming not only promotes environmental stewardship but also enhances soil health, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to more resilient and productive agricultural systems for a sustainable future.
A visit to Broadfields Farm is an opportunity to learn more about the process of getting the cows from their farm to your dinner table. All the cows are born and raised on the farm and then finished on rolled corn and spent grain provided by the South Puget Sound Community College’s brewery program located just 10 miles from the farm. While the farm isn’t certified organic, they stay as close to organic as possible, using antibiotics only when necessary and on an individual basis. In the spirit of organic farming, the goal of Broadfields Farm is to reduce the amount of chemicals that are commonly entered into the food supply. They do not use herbicides or pesticides on their pastures, using fertilizers only if the soil dictates it, and even using composted manure whenever possible.
![A woman collects eggs from nest boxes on a farm.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=ff556890a6f419cf57f036a6acec887e 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=df4d031b06fbf704a38431d31f4dc09f 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5ca7f4149c7514ebb883fceb1dd0edc0 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=fff2194291ff1748bbd256856bdcb0ed 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=6b936dc7bed27d8f4d71f1b49553319b 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=8ea1564a2bcb995725df3333b0ccf4f8 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-03.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=0bf137bcf11f3a380b4978d48162cc02 1920w)
Closed-loop efforts also extend to Chris’s devoted flock of chickens as well. (The family jokes she has more chickens following her than she has followers on Instagram.) Whenever possible they use food scraps and fruit pulp from local businesses like Zoe's Juice Bar in Olympia. “They absolutely love it and it's got ginger in it and ingredients that help with any type of bugs that might be bothering them,” Chris laughs. They also have a source for old bread that would instead go to waste. “The variety of different food gets them pretty excited which we love to see,” she shares, “Plus it helps us keep our food cost down so we’re not charging $10 for a dozen eggs.”
While the farm isn’t 100% closed loop just yet, their goal is to reach 90% by also offsetting their energy costs. They’re currently installing solar panels to cover the costs of irrigation as well as being able to produce enough energy to cover the energy costs of their home. Reducing their carbon footprint and engaging in practices that are sustainable and not polluting the environment are paramount to their mission.
![A flock of chickens follows after a woman](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f36ea40a88270495613b0591498921a8 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=7d00690a46d5f68be5e5b80f72545e72 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=c87d1acf140cccc58bf3f38ab14e254b 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=1750c34748e1158e54e137c3e4060194 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=e6f1e1504ff32bc47338cef45dea2ba4 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=693737075f5198aa8dbb8bc447eaad02 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-02.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=9553391f39b15e265bb9cb19032435c5 1920w)
Farm-Fresh Goodness: Savor Locally-Raised Beef and Free-Range Eggs
You can purchase free-range eggs year-round at the farm, but the seasonal specialty here is their grass-fed, and grass- or grain-finished beef available directly from the farm as well as through Delmonico’s Heritage Butcher Shop in downtown Olympia.
The cows, born and raised on the farm, are slaughtered and butchered once a year. “When we get a little bit bigger and our herd gets a little larger, we may be able to stagger it to a twice-a-year option,” Kevin explains, “but right now, it's once a year in the fall.”
Kevin and Chris raise Black Baldies, a cross between a Black Angus and a Hereford cow. Their name is descriptive of their usually black bodies with white heads and faces, though some cows present as completely black (Angus) or will have more of the red and white coloring of a Hereford.
How to Order
Kevin recommends folks buy just a quarter to start with and determine how much meat that actually is for them and how long it will take them to get through the meat. It takes a substantial amount of space in a freezer to store a quarter or half side of beef, so it’s important to plan correctly to make sure you’re making the most of your investment.
You can order your beef directly from Kevin and at the farm, or you can order through Brian at Delmonico’s. If you’ve never purchased your meat directly from a farm, there’s no need to feel intimidated. Kevin and Chris take a very hands-on approach with customers who’ve never done this before. “We like to spend time talking to our customers about the amount of meat and the cuts that are going to work best for them, so we provide a cut sheet for them.”
Those cut sheets are sent directly to the butcher at Finn’s Custom Meats in Onalaska. For one flat fee, customers pay for the product and the processing directly to the farm.
Grass or Grain Finished?
The farm has the potential to offer both, but they like to discuss this directly with customers because grass-finished beef produces leaner, less fatty cuts, and has a deeper flavor that most people aren’t accustomed to. If you use a lot of ground beef and stew meat, the grass-finished cow is the right choice. If you’re more of a steak connoisseur, you’ll probably prefer a grain-finished cow as the meat is more marbled and has a milder flavor.
![A man and woman look at cattle resting in a pen.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-05.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=4ccf9c14c2da26e9e1fc8c5ee6107304 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-05.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5d4545003dd1706e29302f00b2571370 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-05.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=742c535b910a310c108c8cf3b985151d 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-05.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=db944040291e19603669ce4717a71b2b 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-05.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=843ea8e191fc7f162019b6ad1a5b7976 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-05.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=05fddf50ce454c8b43f0b96e2cdebd05 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-05.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b64456a9aec6f6721437f4b39baf38a3 1920w)
Fostering Community Growth Means Giving Back
Both Kevin and Chris spent most of their careers working for local state and government entities, so they already had a lot of resources, support, and a fundamental understanding of what was available to them when they decided to start farming. Being able to pass that knowledge and those resources on to other small farmers in the region is important to them.
“There are so many young farmers out there who are just getting started,” says Kevin. “They have limited funds, but they have BIG hearts and are open to trying and learning new things.” That’s where state entities like the Washington Farm Bureau, the Thurston Conservation District, and the Washington State University Extension come in. Their goal is to help make small farms successful. “They’ve given us advice and have helped us understand how we might best optimize what we have here,” shares Brian Cornell, Kevin’s son, and the farm’s unofficial marketing manager.
They’ve also received grants from sources like the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRSC), which is a branch of the USDA, and USDA’s Rural Development which gave them a grant to install solar panels this coming January. A lot of first-time farmers aren’t aware of all the resources that are available to them, so Kevin and Chris make it their mission to pass on these connections they’ve made.
![A farmer explains their process to a visitor to the farm](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-06a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b0256806cdc9d6f4d4a45ab594618c92 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-06a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1c15b9696edc03c37f2cdba855f3e29f 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-06a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=ce551e60a8514afb745fbb719c85dd33 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-06a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=9f50a1485dccec9b9e9876865dcd122b 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-06a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=2398b42973fac4198e5addaa3abe2d4d 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-06a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=cf43cc5f470f52541733fd63d90cbb5e 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-06a.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=0725973af7e11fa58f193def4145d423 1920w)
“Naturally we want the farm to be financially successful,” says Brian, “but we also want to be a resource to the community and a place to learn about farming.” Partnering with other farmers (or potential farmers) is a high priority for Broadfields Farms. When they discovered their neighbors had a passion for running sheep but didn’t have the pasture, they reached out and offered to let the sheep graze on their property.
“Cows can be finicky eaters,” explains Kevin. “They like to eat certain things and don’t like other things.” By incorporating rotational grazing into their plans, the sheep rotate through the pasture after the cows and help keep weeds and less desirable plant species down in the fields.
“We're only as successful as the community enables us to be,” admits Chris, “so building those partnerships, not just with the government agencies, other farmers, and our neighbors but with anyone in the community who wants to buy local is important to us.”
Experiences at Broadfields Farm
Kevin and Chris welcome visitors to the farm and are more than happy to show them the work they’re doing. “When you come out here and see the farm, you can’t help but fall in love with it the way we have,” Chris shares.
Delmonico’s Heritage Butcher Shop recently hosted an event showcasing the farm’s operation. Guests were invited to spend the afternoon enjoying a barbecue put on by Brian and the Delmonico team while learning more about how the cattle are raised, and the work Kevin and Chris are doing to make their farm a closed-loop and carbon-neutral operation.
Broadfields Farm is the perfect place to reconnect with the land and if you want some first-hand experience learning farming, they’ll be sure to put you to work. If you just want to relax, unwind, and reconnect with nature, come play a round of disc golf on their 9-hole course or take a walk up the hill on the southwest corner of the property where a wild grouping of trees is being tamed into a beautifully forested area with views of Mount Rainier on clear days.
The farm is also the perfect place to bring a group, celebrate a family reunion, or have a wedding. If you can dream it, Broadfields Farm is willing to help make it happen.
As with any of the open farms in Thurston County, we recommend you reach out directly to Broadfields Farm to inquire about availability and to make an appointment for your visit.
5047 Gifford Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512
(360) 601-2233
![A man relaxes in a chair as he takes in the views of green pastures and trees.](https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-09.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=e18da89badc50e03ed00b298cbc0d4c3 320w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-09.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=26839eef2bc452547cb6f6c37c3553da 540w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-09.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=3ea1e950559387ce31046446a01af1a4 768w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-09.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=fffffec457f89b3fb92b2e4a3004daed 1024w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-09.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=33f48961560b419f0fcb5b06c37c8ee0 1200w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-09.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=74ae2a69da0de55091ac82c0da183ddc 1440w, https://experience-olympia.imgix.net/images/blog-photos/broadfields-farm-09.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=bc46022b46668a993221dd30b24b06b4 1920w)
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Broadfields Farm
5047 Gifford Rd SW Olympia, Washington 98512 (360) 601-2233