B-Z-B Farm
By Cris Cadiz
The beagles greet me first at B-Z-B Farm in Canterbury. Tails wave like flags as they enthusiastically yelp from a chain-link kennel--stranger!! Petite with bright blue eyes, Amy Burroughs alerted by the dogs, comes out of the barn to say hello. As we head to the farm stand to chat, I am distracted by mini ponies and donkeys. We divert to the paddock so I can pet a velvet nose through the fence. In addition to helping her husband Andrew Burroughs raise and sell beef and much more to the local community, these are Amy’s other projects: breeding dogs and miniature equines. Oh! and crafting a line of skincare products and pet treats. Even with five part-time employees, this farmer’s wife doesn’t sleep much but her energy and love of the farm is crystal clear.
Amy and Andy Burroughs raise and sell beef, veal, lamb, pork, goat, duck, goose, chicken, turkey, pheasant, rabbit, and fresh eggs. In addition to maintaining a 90-acre farm (plus land leased to grow enough hay and corn to feed their animals), Andy works as a seasonal machine operator who travels to farms to help harvest. Housed in the old milk room of this former dairy farm, their farm stand features a wide selection of fresh and frozen meat plus products from other local farms including dairy (cow and goat milk, cheese, pudding) and artisan crafts. Amy’s line of skincare, soap, and cleaning products (using beef tallow) plus chew treats made from dehydrated animal parts (pig ears, etc.) are also well stocked on the shelves. Nothing goes to waste here. B-Z-B Farm proves that despite challenges, small farms that are creative, resourceful and that diversify are successful.
Amy and Andy were neighbors growing up. She rode her horses on their land and helped feed the calves. Andy’s family owned a dairy herd (that eventually shifted to beef cows) but it looked like the family farm would dissolve until Andy was injured in a trucking accident and decided to take it over. They bought it from his father in 2010. When they first started farming together, Amy was amused when her mother-in-law’s former boss from Farm Credit couldn’t remember her name despite meeting her several times. “You’re Andrew’s wife…the farmer’s wife…” The moniker stuck and Amy uses it on social media and her own line of farm products. She is fine with the role. “Because the job is everything. I am a chauffeur. I do parts runs. I order the feed. I do the chores when he’s out doing work. I am the bookkeeper, conflict resolution specialist, HR, vet, all of them.” The farmer’s wife is essential.
B-Z-B Farm’s herd of primarily Angus crosses is about 90 cows. “We only sell what we raise,” says Amy. “I do buy babies to raise up. At the moment, I don't have infrastructure to birth enough to keep up with supply and demand. I would love to put in a bigger barn and more pasture fence and grow the herd as finances allow.” They butcher their animals at a USDA facility and sell the individual cuts at farmers markets and their farm store. “We could sell halves and quarters but the economy's changed. People don't want to invest in that much. So, they come here every week and get their couple pounds of beef and their milk and their cheese and they're happy.”
During farmers market season, B-Z-B Farm participates in the entire NECT circuit. They travel to Plainfield, Brooklyn, Putnam, Ashford, Lisbon and Voluntown every week. They are busy enough to also staff their on-site farm stand in Canterbury Wednesday through Sunday. Amy attends many markets herself. “I really like the community of the market. I love seeing other vendors. It's very isolating here just talking to cows. And it's a fun event for the community. Less than 1% of the population shops at farmers markets. But that 1% is really passionate about it.”
Amy started making The Farmer’s Wife soap and skincare products during the pandemic, when some markets were canceled but there was still demand. “I've always known how to make soap. I've been doing it since I was a kid,” she says. “We produce several hundred pounds of suet a week, so we have plenty of it rendered into tallow. When I have dairy goats with surplus milk, I freeze it, so I started making bar soap and then liquid soap.” Everything started as a customer request. She liked the challenge and the chance to be creative. “We've been using beef tallow on our faces forever, even before it was trendy,” she says. “I had a hard time finding products that I felt worked well, so I'm like, I'll just make that myself too.”
In addition to purchasing nutritious food from the source, consumers who shop at farms and markets can speak directly with the person who made or grew a product. “You can't do that at the big box store,” says Amy. “The grocer can tell you what truck it came off or a lot number or what the producer tells them to say.” Amy addresses concerns from customers, including allergies or sensitivities. “I can't eat beef that was fed corn that the seed had a growth retardant on it or I have a tree nut allergy and every bar of soap has shea butter in it…” She hears these kinds of issues and can answer questions and offer solutions.
Another successful B-Z-B Farm product line born from necessity and ingenuity is Amy’s all-natural line of dog chews. It started with repurposing waste. “I raise beagles. I have seven dogs and when you really research commercial products, the ingredients are disgusting. We butcher all these animals, and the butcher will return my trim in a bag,” she explains. In fact, butchers must pay to dispose of waste products and pass the cost on in fees to the farms who use the slaughterhouses. One day, Amy told the butcher to give her all her trachea and ears plus everybody else's since they were just going to throw it away. The butcher was happy because it saved him money.
Andy built Amy a big dehydrator from a food warming cabinet. “It took some redneck engineering,” she said, “but it works great. A lot of people come here just for the treats.” Her pet chews are a single ingredient with no additional packaging. She also created bar and liquid soap for dogs and a balm for coats and paws. “I find customers are passionate about what they feed their families and use with their pets. That’s also a passion of mine.”
Amy assures consumers that buying direct from a farm or a farmers market is NOT an unattainable luxury. “A lot of people say they’d love to support us but can’t afford it. My beef's only a dollar more expensive than Walmart,” she says. “And it's not full of fillers and water. It’s also just beef--there's no extra packing material.” Plus, customers can know exactly how the farm’s livestock was raised--and if you want details, just ask!
For those who receive food assistance, B-Z-B Farm has accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for years. “It is a big part of our business,” says Amy. “We’re really proud and happy to provide that payment option and it means everyone's welcome.” Amy is grateful regulations have changed to make it easier for both consumers and farms. “Offering SNAP provides a service to the community because groceries are so expensive,” she says. “Everyone's feeling the pinch. A lot of times people are forced to make unhealthy choices because they can't afford it. SNAP opens up a whole new avenue for individuals who need to feed their families. More and more people tell us how much it helps stretch their budgets so they can eat more local foods.”
“Being a small farm and having your eggs all in one basket doesn't cut it,” Amy readily admits. “Just raising beef cows and selling calves isn't enough in today's market.” By raising and selling a wide variety of animals plus Amy’s creative farm products and Andy’s expert skills applied at off-site farms, the Burroughs family makes it work. “All of the soap and everything accounts for a pretty large percentage of the income that my husband and I live on. This is how you survive.”
B-Z-B Farm Stand is open year-round, 11am - 5pm Wednesday through Saturday, 12 to 4pm on Sunday. They accept cash, credit/debit, PayPal, Venmo and SNAP.
97 Barstow Road, Canterbury, CT
860-428-8364
Find B-Z-B Farm at these Winter Farmers Markets:
Westfield Church, 210 Main St., Danielson
December to March, every 1st and 3rd Saturday, 9am-12pm
Knowlton Memorial Hall, Ashford
November to April, every 1st and 3rd Sunday, 10am-1pm
