Skip to main content

BLOG

Farm Profile: Wholesome Meadows

May 5, 2025
A family of five stands outside on grass near farm buildings and a green tractor. The man wears a plaid shirt and cap, the woman wears glasses and black dress, and three children—a boy and two girls—stand in front, one girl held by the woman.
A white truck is parked on a gravel surface beside a greenhouse filled with chickens. The sky is clear and blue, suggesting a sunny day on a poultry farm.
A man in a plaid shirt and cap stands next to a large red grain cart, filling a red bucket with grain inside a barn. The grain is pouring from a chute at the bottom of the cart.

FARMER: Josh & Sara Smith

LOCATION: Wells County, IN

SIZE: 77 Acres

JOINED OUR PORTFOLIO: 2024


Josh and Sara Smith are first-generation farmers raising their three kids—Isaac, Sadie, and Cora—on Wholesome Meadows Farm in northeastern Indiana. What began in 2014 as a small farmstead has since grown into a diversified organic operation spread across 157 acres. The Smiths own 80 acres dedicated to produce, berries, pumpkins, and pasture-raised laying hens. In 2024, they expanded their operation through a partnership with Iroquois Valley to lease a nearby 77-acre property for rotational grain production.

Josh developed his passion for agriculture during childhood summers working on neighboring farms. Sara, a city gal originally from Fort Wayne, discovered her love for farming after meeting Josh. After receiving mentorship from a family friend experienced in regenerative agriculture and guidance from experts at Purdue University, Josh and Sara began laying the groundwork to build Wholesome Meadows.

In 2023, the Smiths started exploring organic certification and decided to scale up their operations with grains, beginning their relationship with Iroquois Valley. As first-generation farmers without inherited land, the Smiths faced significant barriers to expansion. Iroquois Valley recognized their potential and worked with them to secure a nearby 77-acre parcel ideal for organic soy, corn, and cereal rotation. The Smiths partnered with Iroquois Valley on a six-year lease structure, with the option to purchase the land after the initial term or continue with long-term lease renewals. This arrangement provides the stability needed for organic farming, where building soil health requires years of consistent management. 

The Smiths view their work as organic farmers as a mission to restore and build soil health. Their approach to land stewardship includes intensive cover cropping between cash crops, using triticale and rye in the fall and alfalfa and clover in the spring. Their rotationally grazed chickens provide additional soil fertility while producing premium organic eggs! Products from Wholesome Meadows can be found at several regional farmers’ markets and on their website.


A dry soybean field in the foreground with a tree line in the background, displaying green and some trees with autumn colors under a clear blue sky.
Soybeans scattered on dry, cracked soil among plant stems and debris, viewed from above in natural sunlight.
Close-up of a white chicken’s head, showing its beak, red comb, and textured feathers with a blurred green and beige background.
A green John Deere combine harvester sits stationary in a harvested field, with trees showing early autumn colors in the background under a clear blue sky.


Envision an Agricultural System Transformed.

Purple graphic with white text "IA 50®" and green text "2025 EMERITUS MANAGER" below.
Certified B Corporation

The information contained on this website is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security, insurance product or service. Any product or service discussed in this website is intended for and is only appropriate for accredited and institutional investors and other qualified purchasers as determined by current SEC regulations. The information available on this website is for informational purposes only.

(c) 2025 Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT, Public Benefit Corporation 
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Disclaimer | Accessibility