By Stephanie Lampe
For many years, Keith Martin worked for an investment banking firm and even rose to the title of VP. However, his general dissatisfaction with the financial industry and the fact that the people he admired most were farmers, led him to switch careers.
“I decided to take a step back and out of the banking world and do something for the betterment of myself and my community,” states Keith Martin. And so Elysian Fields Farm was born and officially began operations in 1989.
Elysian Fields Farm has continued to grow over the years. The company now consists of Elysian Fields Farm, corporate offices in Canonsburg, a production facility near Morgantown, WV, and around 3,000+ acres on several individually family owned and operated farms in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which are managed by United Producers, Inc. (Columbus, OH), who have dedicated land to raising lambs for Elysian Fields and their brand Pure Bred.
Elysian Fields Farm, coined by the Martins as the ‘heritage farm’ of their company, is located outside of Waynesburg. The farm itself, consisting of approximately 250 acres, is home to about 150 sheep. “We have a relatively small production at this time,” says Mr. Martin. However, they are always working to increase their number of lambs. “After all, Elysian Fields Farm is where everything started.”
Elysian Fields Farm is still entirely owned by the Martin family. “I am quite fortunate and proud to say that I am the majority owner of our retail brands, Elysian Fields and Pure Bred,” says Mr. Martin. Although he is majority owner of the brands, Keith Martin has been formally partnered with Chef Thomas Keller since 2006.
They do have several people who work on their farm who are not related. “But we still consider them family, too!” Mr. Martin adds. There are many other employees throughout the company working in the corporate offices and production facility. “We employ many people throughout our production facility and corporate office to ensure the highest quality is available at all times to anyone across the United States and even in certain foreign countries,” says Mr. Martin.
Shortly after establishing his farm and then expanding to include supplying restaurants in the greater Pittsburgh area, Keith Martin realized demand was starting to exceed his supply capabilities. In 1996, his products had made their way to The French Laundry, a restaurant owned by Chef Thomas Keller, in Napa, California. He then knew his company had grown so much that he would not be able to fill the demand on his own. Fortunately, Mr. Martin was able to connect with United Producers, Inc. who now manages the company’s entire live animal operations through their co-ops of individually family owned and operated farms.
Every farm that raises lambs for Elysian Fields and Pure Bred is family owned and operated. They must raise their lambs by the patented process Safe Alternative. This method will “ensure the health and wellness of every animal,” says Mr. Martin.
While Elysian Fields Farm is a lot like other sheep farms, it has a unique holistic philosophy that sets it apart from the rest. Keith Martin is an advocate for the respectful and humane treatment of lambs. He believes that the way food is raised and grown matters. “Our holistic philosophy is founded on respect for nature as a whole,” shares Mr. Martin, “and the nature of the lamb itself.” This philosophy extends from the farms all the way to the consumer. This desire to always put the animals needs first led to the development of the patented Safe Alternative method of raising lambs.
Keith Martin and Chef Thomas Keller share the same belief that focus needs to be on the animals themselves and not on the end product. Together, they developed the Safe Alternative method, their process for the way animals should be raised, which entails the observation of each animal, data collection, and verification of their source.
Every lamb that enters the Pure Bred program, whether on Elysian Fields Farm or another family owned and operated farm, is assigned a unique alpha-numeric identifier which will never be repeated. A multitude of data, from activity reports to food and water data, is collected no matter how routine (shearing for example) it may be. Waypoint Analytical, a third party lab partner, routinely analyzes the lambs’ food and water. The results are returned so adjustments can be made, if necessary. Adjustments and changes are fine as long as they fall within the vegetarian, all-natural, non-GMO guidelines.
The assigned identifiers of each lamb appear on the label of each Pure Bred product. “Actually, the last time I checked, we are the only USDA label in existence to write such an identifier on the packaging,” says Mr. Martin. Eventually, all consumers will be able to use these identifiers to access an abundance of data. “Make sure you stay on the lookout for some exciting developments coming later this year,” said Keith Martin, “I don’t want to give too much away, so stay tuned online.”
Elysian Fields Farm ships weekly to restaurants and consumers all over the United States, as far as Hawaii. They regularly ship their products internationally, as far as Hong Kong and have done business in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Dubai and are looking to expand this market more. Their products can even be found on the Seabourn luxury cruise line.
And Elysian Fields Farm keeps in touch with its roots. They also support local efforts for the education and promotion of sheep and their fiber. They support the local Sheep & Fiber Festival, held in Waynesburg, with a donation each year.
When asked about the farm’s distinctive name, Keith Martin proudly responded that his wife, Mary, chose it. Elysian is defined by Merriam-Webster as “blissful” and “delightful” with synonyms being celestial, ethereal, and heavenly. According to Greek mythology, Elysian Fields, also known as Elysium, was the paradise reserved as the final resting place for the most heroic and virtuous individuals. Keith Martin further explained that it is “a place of great peace, tranquility, and beauty – kind of like our slice of Southwestern Pennsylvania!”
For more information, visit www.purebredlamb.com.