Business is Booming for Local Lamb Farmer:

The pastures are getting a little greener around rural Jefferson.

Since the booming success of Dakota Harvest Farm, owner's Bob and Barb Corio will need to plant more grass, alfalfa, oats and wheat to feed to their naturally raised lamb.

On a warm summer day, approximately 300 lambs roamed the 160 acre pasture, grazing freely.

"They travel this whole 160 acres eating what they want. They have a choice of either alfalfa, grass. I had oats planted out here. They can eat anything they want," Corio explained as the lambs moved in a group around the pasture like a parade of miniature lawn mowers.

"I enjoy it. I enjoy watching the sheep," Corio explained. "Today, when I turned them out they're standing behind the fence baaing at each other. How did you get out there? How did you do that? They're just fascinating to watch, when I go out to do chores."

It's hard imagine that just a few years ago, the Corios purchased a few ewes to clean up the spare pasture. Now, over 200 ewes roam the pastures in support of a budding business.

"Two years ago we formalized it," Corio spoke of Dakota Harvest Farm. "Then, we started direct marketing our lamb."

Getting their Start

The Corios actually started in the lamb industry just four years ago. They sold commodity lambs, and had them processed at Iowa lamb Processing in Hawarden, IA. Now, they market their grass fed lamb to farmer's markets and restaurants.

The Corios raise primarily Dorper sheep. Since they are hair sheep, not wool sheep, their pelts are not used for textiles. But, their sweet, tender meat is in high demand locally.

"Well we sold out by the first of July last year. We started in May," Corio explained of his quick success at the farmer's markets in Sioux City and Vermillion.

This year, lamb meat from Dakota Harvest Farm will be on the menu at a high end restaurant in Omaha as well as being available at Firehouse Market in Sioux City and Iowa Lakes Organic Market in Okoboji.

"We see a lot of returning customers. They come back and they buy enough to last them until they're going to go shopping again," Corio explained of his customers that look for high quality meats.

"We have two other natural food stores that want to carry our lamb, but we don't have any lamb to sell them," Corio explained.

Lamb is in Demand

With demand increasing for healthy natural meats, it's been tough for Corio to keep up with the local needs.

"We went from 60 a year ago, to this Spring we had approximately 225 ewes lambing," Corio explained. "We've got 300 lambs out there now, that we'll start processing in December."

And, he's not sure if that will even be enough.

"We have room to probably grow to 1000 ewes if we wanted to," Corio explained as he gestures to his additional 160 acres of property.

But, Corios perfect scenario would be 300 ewes, due to the availability of lamb processing locally. Since he uses small USDA processors for his direct marketed lamb, they simply can't keep up. He said some local processors can only do 8-10 lambs per week.

"If we sell out, we sell out. Fine," Corio mentioned of his quick success.

And, he barely even gets to enjoy his lamb.

"We don't' eat lamb. I've got to sell it all. I can't eat my profits," Corio laughed. But, then he admitted that he and his wife do splurge on holidays.

"For us it's a special dinner. It's a treat."

Time to Learn More

This Fall, the Corios will learn even more about sustainable farming, and how to become even better natural lamb farmers.

Slow Food USA, a national organization dedicated to sustainable farming practices, has selected the Jefferson couple to attend their global conference in Turin, Italy.

"We're going to Italy in October for a week long conference," Corio explained.

The organization sponsors university professors, chefs and producers from all over the world.

While in Italy, the Corios will have the opportunity to also attend the International Artisan Food Expo, which will draw over 150 thousand participants.

A Day Job Too

Fall will be busy for Bob Corio.

After all, he has to get back to his full-time job at the University of South Dakota. He works in Vermillion 10 months out of the year as the Online Instructional Designer for the Nursing Department.

Bob shares the drive with his wife, Barb, who also works on campus. Barb is the academic advisor to the nursing students at USD.

Since the farmer's markets are in the summer, Corio says the two jobs balance together well. However, someday he hopes to be a full-time sustainable farmer with his natural lamb business.

Keeping it Diverse

But, for now, the key to success is diversifying.

Corio also tends to 420 acres of conventional farming. Raising corn, beans, oats, wheat and alfalfa for his lambs keeps him busy too. Not to mention his new small heard of grass fed Dexter cattle.

"I want to taste one. I've heard all good things about them," Corio explained of the Dexter cattle. His first crop will be ready in January 2009.

Time for Travel

Despite their busy work schedule, the Corios make time for travel.

With their three grandchildren living in the Denver area, the Corios have a great excuse to gas up the Harleys and head West.

They recently returned from a trip to see their new grand baby in Colorado, and make a short stop at Sturgis.

Past trips have included a tour of Mexico and travels along Highway 1 from Vancouver to Los Angeles.

But, it's still good to be home, Bob explained. He dislikes being away from the lambs too long.

"It's really exciting to be growing the lamb business. More than I'd ever dreamed it would be."

***This article was originally published in the North Sioux City / Dakota Dunes Times newspaper by Sedgwick Publishing.***