r family farms
Lebanon, KS
Kaden and Emily Roush, and Ryder the dog, pig farmers and owners of R Family Farms located near the Geographical Center of the United States.
ABOUT US
Nestled just a stone's throw away from the heart of America, you'll find R Family Farms. We're a quaint, niche market hog farm that beautifully marries old-school outdoor rearing techniques and cutting-edge technology. All to bring you pork that's a cut above the rest. The seeds of R Family farms were sown in 2015, but the love for agriculture runs much deeper. Kaden and Emily, the heart and soul of our farm, carry forward a legacy that spans two centuries. Their deep-rooted passion for the land and the animals is a testament to their rich family histories. Today, R Family Farms stands strong with a vision to bridge the gap between the farm and the dining table. We don't just want to feed you; we want to take you on a culinary journey, the likes of which are usually reserved for grand dining experiences. We're here to tell you the story of your food, from farm to fork.
The farmers
In the heart of southeast Kansas, Emily was raised amidst wheat, corn, and soybean fields that her family had been nurturing for three generations. As a child, Emily was captivated by the hands-on process of farming, a passion that blossomed as she watched her family toil over the land they cherished. Her path seemed set in stone.
High school brought Emily closer to her dream. FFA and a dedicated Ag instructor provided her with the foundational building blocks. Even after graduation, she stayed local, attending community college to further her understanding of land conservation, working side by side with her father.
But love has a way of altering the course. Enter Kaden, who introduced Emily to a different kind of farming — pig farming — in the heart of north-central Kansas. Though pigs were not Emily's first (or even second) love, she soon grew to appreciate these intelligent creatures and embraced them as a part of her future.
Emily crowned her education with a degree in Agronomy from Kansas State University. This science-intensive course enabled her to delve deep into the harmonious relationship between crops and soil, fortifying her commitment to land stewardship for future generations. Now, Emily takes the lead in crafting the farm's cropping plans and nurturing the grain that feeds their pigs.
Despite her agronomic responsibilities, Emily wears many hats on R Family Farms. As the head Pig Keeper, she's also the Dietitian, Pediatrician, and Midwife for the farm. She balances these roles with her behind-the-scenes work, managing inventory, handling local deliveries, and marketing their sustainably-raised products. Emily's journey is a testament to her family's legacy and a beacon for the future of sustainable farming.
Kaden's tale, closely tied with the legacy of pigs on the Roush Farm, paints a picture of agricultural heritage that spans five generations. Born and raised a stone's throw from Lebanon, KS, on a farm brimming with crops and livestock, Kaden's passion for farming was nurtured from the get-go. As the youngest of four, he was quickly introduced to the grit and grind of farm life.
Unlike his wife, Kaden viewed every bump, bruise, and broken fence as stepping stones towards his dream of preserving the family farm. Hogs had held a special place on their farm for decades, but it wasn't until the dawn of the new millennium that Kaden had his first taste of responsibility with them. After the devastating hog market crash of the 90s, the Roush family's herd was no exception to the plight of small-scale pork producers.
Yet, from the ashes rose an opportunity – a chance for a spirited little boy, a handful of sows and a 4-H project to bloom. Teaming up with his brother, they started with raising a few pigs for the county fair. Over time, the project expanded to sell extra pigs to fellow 4-H members for exhibition, a practice that continued until Kaden's high school years.
With his brother off to university, Kaden had to choose – continue the project or step back. It was during this period of transition that he was introduced to "niche" markets and Berkshire pork, setting the foundation for what we now know as R Family Farms.
Kaden's knack for livestock evaluation and selection paved the way for him to compete at the college level, first at Allen Community College in Emily's hometown, and later at Kansas State University. Travelling across the country with the collegiate judging teams, Kaden was able to marvel at the agricultural diversity in the U.S, realizing there's no "one size fits all" approach to farming. Success in agriculture, he understood, wasn't about following trends, but finding a system that resonated with you and extracting every opportunity from it.
Equipped with a bachelor's degree in Agribusiness, a minor in Animal Science, and a partner in crime (Emily), Kaden finally returned to Lebanon. Fueled by determination, Kaden and Emily embarked on their journey to reinvent the family's pig venture. In August 2015, they broke ground on a six-acre plot, with the first pigs arriving in January 2016. Construction continued throughout the summer, with the family performing nearly all the work. Today, R Family Farms is home to 75 sows that farrow year-round, with the resulting litters cared for until they reach market weight.