22-year-old Keegan Donovan and her husband Brian are first generation farmers. Keegan had worked on farms while she was in high school, but she attended college for nursing and was working as a nurse when the pandemic hit. Brian, who had been milking cows commercially and shipping milk to distributors, suddenly found himself having to cut back on milk production. 

They quickly discovered that it was costing them far more money to produce the milk than they were making. Keegan, who had always loved farming, suddenly realized that she and Brian had an opportunity to create a livestock and dairy farm where they could sell directly to local consumers. 

As a result, in 2022, Millbrook Beef and Dairy was born, and as Keegan describes it, “the wheels have been going ever since!” 

The first year in business

The name was easy to choose, as Keegan and Brian wanted it to be as self-explanatory as possible and showcase what they do right off the bat. “We were already dairy farmers, so we felt like it just made sense to add the pasture-raised beef to the business as well,” Keegan said. “The dairy cows tend to be pickier in what they eat – it’s called feed refusal. We were experiencing that and had things that they wouldn’t consume, but we knew that beef cows would eat with no problem. That really inspired us to add the beef cows to the business because it would allow us to turn a waste product into something with value.”

The first year went incredibly well, especially considering that they were launching their business at the tail-end of the pandemic. Although perhaps that was a benefit, as the pandemic caused many to look locally for their goods and resources and arguably amplified the farm-to-table movement. “We were really well-received by the community and there was a lot of excitement around it,” Keegan said. 

She noted that her parents were very emotionally supportive throughout the process and willing to help in any way they could, but that she and Brian did the majority of the financial funding. For Keegan, that resulted in one of the most important things that she learned while starting the business: “You have to be able to bet on yourself,” she said. “At the end of the day, you’re really the only person you can count on. You have to invest in yourself, and if you really want something, you can make it happen.” 

On the flip side, that was also one of the most challenging parts about starting Millbrook Beef and Dairy. “The first year of business is the most expensive,” she said. 

The financial investment needed for this type of farming is high simply because the work itself requires a great deal of equipment and resources. Keegan and Brian not only had to invest in breeding stock, but they also had to purchase a trailer to get the livestock to and from the butcher, grow feed, and buy tractors and other equipment. “We’re used to working hard. That wasn’t difficult or challenging at all. The hard part was the initial investments that you have to make in order to even get going.” 

Quality over quantity

Millbrook Beef and Dairy’s plan has remained pretty consistent. The founding goal was to cut out the middleman and produce healthy, high-quality meat and dairy products. Keegan and Brian believe that living a simpler life is a step forward. By getting products locally, consumers are not only receiving food that is healthier, but they’re also reducing their environmental footprint, as the food doesn’t have to travel nearly as far. 

While that has remained the driving force behind Millbrook Beef and Dairy, they’ve also recently expanded their offerings – they now sell pork, chicken, eggs, and select produce as well – and have broadened their reach. They attend farmer’s markets and other events in the Hudson Valley and the surrounding area every weekend. “It’s been a slow and steady growth, and we’re very happy with that,” Keegan said. “It’s always been about providing local, high-quality products.” 

All about family

The thing that Keegan relishes the most is the fact that she gets to raise her children on the farm. She and Brian share two young children who come to the farm with them often, allowing them to not only be involved in the family business, but also spend a lot of valuable time together as a family. 

“I work with my husband every day, and our kids are constantly running around the farm,” she said. “There’s nothing better than that.” 

The only thing that rivals that for the best part of the business is perhaps the knowledge that Millbrook Beef and Dairy feeds the community. “That’s a really cool thing. Not many people can come home and know that they’re literally feeding the community. That’s valuable.” 

Keegan also noted that while it can be difficult to get out of work-mode when the farm exists right out their front door, the proximity also provides endless benefits. “We tend to work very early and very late, but we don’t have a commute, and we’re not missing out on valuable time with our children,” she shared. “It’s important for the animals, too, that we’re so accessible. If I had to wait for roads to get plowed in the winter in order to get to the farm, animal health would be on the line. As much as sometimes I might wish we lived off of the farm, it really is important that we’re right here and accessible.” 

Keegan is well aware that farming isn’t the most lucrative job in the world, but it’s something that is near and dear to both her and Brian’s hearts. “You can’t get discouraged with seasonal swings and bumps in the road. The nature of farming is that something is always broken,” she laughed. “It’s one step forward, two steps back a lot of the time. But this is what we do. We decided to make our living and raise our family this way with values that we hold near to us. I hope that you taste and see that in the products that we produce.” •

To learn more about Millbrook Beef and Dairy, visit their website millbrookbeefdairy.com or visit them on Facebook @Millbrook Beef & Dairy Market.