Cedarvilla Angus Farms

The Klopp family have been farmers for a long time - father/son farming team Paul and Timothy are the fifth and six generation of their family to do so, and they already have a seventh generation in training. Their farm, CedarVilla Angus, nestled between Zurich and Lake Huron, specializes in producing beef, pork, and chicken using methods geared towards sustainability and happier, healthier animals and tastier meat. All of their livestock is steroid-free and hormone-free, and live in an uncrowded, low-stress environment. Calves are pasture-raised with their mothers, and their diet is augmented with hay and a custom mix of grains developed on the farm over the course of many years. They source local animals, and work with small local abattoirs to ensure quality and reduce the stress of travel. 

The Klopps have a century of experience raising livestock - they are a family that knows their meat. Their respectful approach to raising animals may not have changed much over the last hundred years, but the world we live in most certainly has! The rise of the internet and social media means that there are a lot more ways to get meat to the people, and a lot more ways to promote your business. CedarVilla Angus, like many of Huron County’s family farms, has evolved to incorporate an online presence into their business. 

Their online store (www.cedarvilla.net/shop) serves to familiarize customers with their many products, from pounds of ground beef to whole pigs. Customers place their orders, and arrange pick-ups from the farm store in Zurich. The online store also helps keep track of orders and inventory levels. They are also partnered with Eat Local Huron, who offer a number of CedarVilla’s most popular items through their local food delivery subscription program. Customers can add a side of CVA bacon to their order, or one of their frozen Scottish or Shepherds Pies.

Of course, the Klopp family still sells their bounty the old fashioned way - at the farmers market! In the warmer months, they travel to markets all over Huron County. Depending on the day of the week, you can find CedarVilla and their mobile freezers at markets in Goderich, Bayfield, Clinton, Grand Bend and more! Of course, social media apps like Instagram and Facebook are an instrumental part of keeping the public informed as to where they are at any given moment. Timothy’s sister Heidi handles most of their media presence, and also works at their market booth. Social media is also a good way for the farm to promote the community activities they participate in, such as Zurich’s annual Bean Festival, or the Open Farm event they hosted in the fall - a day where visitors and local vendors were invited to spend time on the farm and see how it all works. 

Educating people about the importance of family farms and traditional livestock-raising techniques is also key to their success. Back when the first generation of Klopps started farming, the primary way people bought meat was from their local butcher, who typically sold the meat produced on nearby farms. Today, there are so many places for consumers to purchase their proteins, and much of what we eat travels a great distance before making it to your dinner table. With so many different options for shoppers, it can be hard to stand out in the crowd. CedarVilla Angus uses its online presence to get the word out about their upcoming projects and events, and highlight the benefits of trusting the same farming techniques their family has practiced for over a century. This certainly draws in a lot of curious potential customers, but the one thing that keeps them all coming back again and again is the outstanding flavour of CedarVilla’s beef, pork, and chicken. Historically, Huron County farmers have always put taste over technology. Some things never change.