We started Iroquois Valley Farms ten years ago in the middle of a major financial crisis. As we celebrate this coming season's end, let's not forget that it is always a good idea to have balance and diversity. Enabling a real and healthy investment was our founding goal, and this is as strategic today as it was in 2007. Wishing you many more harvests and a fruitful New Year!

Our eleventh harvest reflects growing asset diversification from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia to the Driftless region of Minnesota & Wisconsin to the  Great Plains of northern Montana. It was our busiest year, funding an average of over $1,000,000 a month for farm families spread across eight states. Five of our first six transactions were mortgages, mostly refinances, reflecting a pent-up demand to recapitalize the balance sheets of  organic farm families. Our mortgage product is providing additional balance to our new financial structure, best characterized as a "growth and income" real estate investment trust. In fact, our Board recently approved of a cash distribution of $5.50/share for holders of record (12-4-17), based on projected 2017 profits. We expect to grow this dividend as our young farm families grow their businesses and restore the health of our soils. 

As we move into our 12th season of operations, the foundation of Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT continues to be the businesses of small to middle-size family farmers. These farmers are supported primarily by middle-size individual investors, spread across 40 states, and often using their IRA funds. Our pipeline of new business assures another busy year and good news for scaling our environmental and public health impacts. 

In addition to some of our new 2017 financed families shown below, we would also like to welcome a new Board Director, Malaika Maphalala, of Natural Investments. Malaika joins us from Hawaii and brings an expertise in regenerative investing,  which directly supports the regenerative capacity of communities and ecosystems.

Nate & Amy Engelhard (pictured left) are the 5th generation at  Engelhard Family Farms . Nate and his father run their specialty grain and legume operation. Nate is an organic agriculture advocate and the Tuscola County Farm Bureau president.

Main Street Project  is the first nonprofit financed by Iroquois Valley Farms. The organization developed a poultry-based permaculture system that establishes a path for Latino families to participate in the food system as dignified workers or land and business owners.

Ben and Kristen Beichler run Creambrook Farm, an entirely grass-fed dairy operation in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. They work with local creameries to make yogurt, kefir, cheese, and other dairy products. They also offer herd-shares to sell raw milk directly to consumers.

The Friedrichsen Family run Boone County Organics , which specializes in producing nutrient-rich aronia berries. Their business product line includes a chocolate-covered aronia berry package, in case anyone wants to order for the holidays!

Scott Friedman, with his farm partners Adam Roberts & Logan Spenard, are our longest-standing tenants. We purchased land for Scott in 2006 and an additional 300 acres for them at auction this year. They collectively farm four properties under Iroquois Valley Farms leases.

Jeff Anderson is a 5th generation farmer growing specialty grains in a three-year rotation. This is the third property Iroquois Valley Farms has bought for lease to the Anderson Family.

Doug and Anna Jones-Crabtree are the land stewards at Vilicus Farms in the northern Great Plains. They grow specialty and ancient grains, legumes, oilseeds, and have over 25% of their operation in non-crop conservation. Some of their products are available at Timeless Seeds. Photos credited to Vilicus Farms.

Iroquois Valley Farms is hiring! We are currently accepting applications for an office manager for our Evanston headquarters. See the job description here.

We're "growing organic returns for impact investors" - read our feature in Real Leaders magazine  here.