Case Study: Richardson Farms Dairy & Creamery LLC

Richardson Farms is a small multi-generational family farm producing beef, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, heirloom grains and crops. They mill grains on the farm in a stone mill. AFI funded Richardson Farms in April 2016.

Richardson Farms is a small multi-generational family farm producing beef, pork, chicken, turkey, eggs, heirloom grains and crops. They mill grains on the farm in a stone mill. They are now adding - in a separate LLC - an artisan dairy/creamery producing raw & low temperature pasteurized milk & cheeses, butter, cream, & yogurt.  Products will be for sale at Austin area farmers' markets & onsite at Richardson Farms.
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Deal

Rockdale, TX
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Funded April 2016 
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Use of Funds:  200 Gallon Batch Vat Open Top Pasteurizer; Automatic Bottle Filler & Capper; 300 Gallon Milk Bulk Tank; Various Pasteurizing and Cheesemaking Accessories; Commercial Freezer; Rainwater collection & storage; Pay existing contractor bills.

Milestone:  Complete & open dairy to cows & public.  Months to Milestone: 12

Vehicle:  3 year Principal & Interest Loan collateralized by equipment

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Impact

Planet:  Soil health is imperative for healthy plants and animals. We practice agricultural methods which improve the soils which keeps our air and water clean. Tracking our progress is as simple as opening your eyes to see our farm animals eating the plants the soil has nourished to reach yields far superior to conventional farming. The animals benefit from eating what the soil has produced and in turn, the animals give back to the soil by trampling vegetation mixed with their "Manure". We have seen the crops we plant to feed our animals flourish to extraordinary heights as a result of the friendship between the animals and the soils.

People:  Richardson Farms is 200 acre small family farm employing 8 people.

Product:  The Richardson Farms dairy cattle herd has been specifically bred to product A2 milk.  The Richardsons will sell low-temperature pasteurized A2 milk at their farmers market booths and raw A2 milk at the farm, in the newly constructed "retail room" part of the dairy building.

Place:  Richardson Farms is quintessentially "local".  The Richardson family own, operate, and market within Central Texas.

Profits:  The farm has been consistently profitable and cash-positive, and the Dairy & Creamery is projected to do the same.

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Team

Founders
Jim Richardson-Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
A veterinarian with over 40 years experience in animal health, the people skills to communicate with the animals owners and a passion for farming that was received from our grandfather Otis Fellers at a very early age. Jim is a natural educator that loves to share the story behind the products we provide. Richardson Farms embraces education and would love to establish an intern program for all the future farmers that are committed to our clean, local food philosophy.

Tim Richardson-Bachelor of Science in Agronomy
A retired Golf Course Superintendent with nearly 20 years experience with plant health and maintaining turf-grasses for some of the most demanding players of the game of golf. Through interaction and communication with club members and at times more than 25 employees on staff resulted in better than average skills communicating with clients and leading the department team to success. And also, a very effective financial manager from years of annual budget preparation and adherence. Able to produce frequent and timely reports to monitor business activities.
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Advisors
Mike Richardson
Manages day to day operations of Richardson Farms responsible for animal health and comfort. Provides owners information regarding facilities and procedures in order efficiently manage farm operations.

Roy Purcell
Experienced holistic land manager

Robert Fellers
Professional auto mechanic/family auto shop co-owner 
Customer interaction skills and Marketing