Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Forbes.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Absolutely — our story really began long before we ever dreamed of having a farm.
Steve and I weren’t born farmers. In fact, our first “garden” started with a single basil plant on the windowsill of our downtown condo. But over time, something shifted. As our family grew, so did our desire to eat more intentionally — to understand where our food came from and to give our kids a life filled with meaningful work, time outdoors, and connection to the natural world.
That little basil plant turned into containers on the patio, then a backyard full of raised beds, fruit trees, and eventually chickens. We found ourselves more and more drawn to the rhythms of growing food and the joy of sharing it with others.
About eight years ago we left our corporate lives behind, moved to rural Northeast Utah, and started what would become The Forbes Family Farm. We had three young children at the time — our youngest was just a baby — and we dove headfirst into learning how to grow and raise food in a way that felt aligned with our values: regenerative practices, nutrient-dense produce, ethically raised animals, and a deep appreciation for quality over convenience.
What began as a personal pursuit for better food slowly grew into something bigger. Today we raise grass-fed and grass-finished beef and yak, pasture-raised pork from our Berkshire herd, and poultry here on the farm. We grow over 70 different crops each season, run a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, host on-farm events and workshops, and welcome guests from around the world to stay in our guesthouse and experience farm life firsthand.
But at its core, the farm has always been about family — working together, learning together, and building something meaningful with our hands. Our kids have grown up right alongside the farm. It’s been one of the unexpected joys of this journey to watch them not only get taller (and often steal my shoes!), but begin to genuinely contribute, teach others, and understand the entire process of growing and preparing food.
We’re still learning every day, and we still feel grateful — every single season — for the chance to grow food for our community. It’s been a winding, beautiful, humbling journey, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Not even close — but that’s farming. Obstacles and challenges show up daily, often in ways we don’t expect. Some days it feels like all we do is problem-solve — putting out one fire only to turn around and put out the next. Animals get sick, irrigation lines break, weather doesn’t cooperate, seedlings fail, or a project that “should’ve taken an hour” somehow takes three days.
But when we step back and take a wider view, we can clearly see how far we’ve come. Each challenge has taught us something, and over the years we’ve continued to refine our systems and improve our farm. We’ve upgraded irrigation, tried new crop varieties, learned better weed-management strategies, and streamlined our workflow. On the distribution side, we’ve grown from hand-packing little boxes to now loading up an entire refrigerated trailer with vegetables picked that very morning — a huge step forward in both freshness and efficiency.
We’re proud of the progress, but we also know we didn’t get here alone. We’re incredibly grateful for the loyal customers who caught the vision early and stuck with us as we learned (and often learned the hard way!). Their honest feedback has pushed us to get better every season. And our new customers bring so much enthusiasm — it’s energizing to meet people who are discovering our farm for the first time and are excited about what we’re doing.
Farming will probably never feel “smooth,” but it’s meaningful. Every season, every obstacle, and every improvement brings us closer to the farm we imagine — and we’re thankful to be on that journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Forbes Family Farm?
At The Forbes Family Farm, we grow real food the way it’s meant to be grown — with care, intention, and respect for the land and animals. We specialize in organically grown produce and pasture-raised meats, and we’re committed to regenerative practices that build soil health, nourish our animals, and produce incredibly flavorful, nutrient-dense food.
We raise Berkshire hogs, grass-fed and finished beef and yak, and pasture-raised chicken, duck, and turkey. We grow more than 70 varieties of vegetables throughout the season, and our CSA has become the heart of our farm — a way to share the harvest weekly with families who value local food and transparent growing practices.
What sets us apart is how deeply we’re involved in every step of the process. Everything we sell was raised or grown right here on our farm by our family. Our animals live outdoors on pasture, moving across the land as part of a managed grazing system that improves soil health rather than depleting it. Our produce is harvested at peak freshness — often just hours before it reaches our customers’ hands. We’re also committed to education, whether we’re hosting cooking classes, teaching local students, or inviting people into our fields to learn how food is grown.
We’re most proud that our brand reflects our values: family, community, education, wellness, and quality. We want our customers to feel connected not only to the food on their plates, but also to the story behind it — the land it came from, the hands that tended it, and the work that goes into raising food responsibly.
For readers who may be discovering us for the first time, we offer:
• CSA memberships (seasonal produce boxes)
• Pasture-raised meat available year-round
• Farm-to-table dinners and classes
• Educational workshops and school partnerships
• A guesthouse on the farm for visitors
Our hope is that when someone buys from us, they’re not just purchasing food — they’re experiencing the joy, flavor, and integrity that comes from farming with intention. We want people to slow down, savor seasonal eating, and reconnect with where good food comes from.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
We’re the first to say that while our farm is family-run, it has never been a solo endeavor. There are so many people who deserve credit for helping us get to where we are today.
First and foremost, our families have been our greatest supporters. Steve’s parents actually purchased the property we now live on nearly a decade before we made the move. They’ve come down almost every weekend since to help with projects — building infrastructure, fixing equipment, planting trees, or simply pitching in wherever an extra set of hands is needed. Their steady encouragement and willingness to work alongside us has been an incredible gift. My own family has cheered us on from afar, celebrating our successes and reminding us why this work matters during the inevitable hard seasons.
We’ve also benefitted from an incredible community of farmers and mentors who have shaped the way we farm. Before we ever planted our first seed, we devoured the writings of Joel Salatin, whose philosophy of regenerative agriculture helped form the backbone of our business plan. During our first official season, we enrolled in Jean-Martin Fortier’s Market Gardener Masterclass, which provided invaluable insight into efficient, high-quality vegetable production. And the Utah Farm and Food Conference, led by the Red Acre Center, was instrumental in helping us connect with local food advocates, fellow producers, and mentors who generously shared their experience and welcomed us into the Utah farming community.
We also owe so much to our customers — from the early adopters who believed in our vision when we were still figuring things out, to the new families who bring fresh excitement to the farm. Their encouragement, feedback, and enthusiasm have pushed us to grow, improve, and refine what we do each year.
We feel blessed to be surrounded by people who have taught us, supported us, and believed in us. Farming can be tough and humbling, but knowing that we’re part of a larger network of mentors, friends, family, and customers has made all the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theforbesfamilyfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theforbesfamilyfarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheForbesFamilyFarm/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0ETy9K-4VZfgvXn_y1HGug?
