Will Harris
Will Harris is the owner/operator of White Oak Pastures, a multi-generational family farm that was established in 1866 in the small, southwest Georgia community of Bluffton. Will is the fourth generation of Harris’ to operate White Oak Pastures and his daughter, Jenni, is the 5th generation to join the operation. In the beginning, White Oak Pastures (originally White Oak Plantation) was a multifaceted, multi-species operation. His ancestors slaughtered cattle, hogs, chicken and lamb every week and sold them in nearby towns. They even built a commissary on the farm to further build sales. However, as agriculture became heavily industrialized, so did White Oak. In the mid-1900’s, the Harris family transitioned from a multi-species operation to a monoculture of beef cattleand started depending heavily on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and supplemental feedstuffs. Will gradually grew tired of this type of production system and made a conscious decision to make radical changes in the way they operated. These changes were predicated by Will’s concern for the environment, animal care and welfare, and human health. One of Will’s favorite sayings is that, “Nature abhors a monoculture”.
In 1995, Will reinstituted rotational grazing practices and initiated a 100% grass fed beef program, givning up the use of grains, hormone implants, and antibiotics. In 2000, he gave up the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides andsought organic certification. In 2005, Will took a calculated risk (and a huge leap of faith) and built an on-farm USDA-Inspected Beef Slaughter and Processing plant so that he could provide his customers with high quality, source verified product. In 2010, he added sheep and free range poultryto the operation. In 2011, apoultry processing plant was built and ducks, geese, turkeys, and guineas were added to the mix. In addition, White Oak now also has organic gardens in production.
Today, White Oak Pastures employs 65 people and is the ONLY FARM in the U.S. with an on-farm USDA-Inspected beef, small ruminant, and poultry processing facility. White Oak producesgrass fed beef, lamb, and free range chicken, turkey, guinea, geese and ducks for retail markets up and down the east coast. White Oak Pastures is a prime example of a multi-faceted operation that successfully follows the family commitment to animal welfare, environmental sustainability, revitalization of the rural economy, and locally produced food. They are Certified Humane, hold a Step 5 GAP (Global Animal Partnership) rating, and are Animal Welfare Approved.
A prominent statement on the White Oak Pastures website is:
“We are fiercely committed to the well-being of our animals and the quality of the meat that we provide our customers. We honor that commitment by treating our animals with dignity and respect from the day that they are born throughout their lives, including the day that they are slaughtered.”
Here is a well done 16+ minute video that was done a little over 2 years ago that takes you around White Oak Pastures.
