Farm Living Is The Life For Them

A former sheriff and assistant D.A. go back to their roots, raising livestock on 132 acres.

- Patricia Mertz Esswein

How did you get into farming?

We grew up on family farms, and Robin and I lived together on 18 acres. Robin pickled and made jelly all her life, and she began making goats-milk products after she and I retired. She sold them at local farmers markets, where she noticed the demand for meat and eggs. So we decided to raise livestock. We had bought an additional 22 acres early in retirement, and we rented another 100 acres after getting advice from university cooperative extension agents and other farmers.

When did you retire?

At the end of 2008. I was sheriff of Crawford County for 25 years, and Robin was an assistant district attorney in Macon for 28 years. I was tired of politics, and Robin was burned out. We enjoyed sitting around, drinking coffee and watching the news. But soon we were getting on each other’s last nerve and needed more to do.