Regenerating Land and Community: Meet the Family Behind Finn’s Ranch

The Finns moved from Chicago to Michigan to start their regenerative farm, and now serve the Chicagoland community. (Photo: Finn’s Ranch)

My passion for local food began with one conversation at a summer farmers market. At the time, I considered myself a fairly mindful consumer, assuming that grocery store labels like "organic" and "grass-fed" were the gold standard. That changed about five years ago at the Glenview Farmer's Market. While buying a carton of “Happy Chicken” eggs from the Finn’s Ranch booth at Wagner Farm, I struck up a conversation with the vendor. She turned out to be a friend of the owners, and she spoke so highly of their commitment to responsible farming.

That morning, I discovered the difference between grocery store labels and local regenerative agriculture. While I didn't change my entire diet and purchasing habits overnight, I made a vow to buy eggs from responsible local farms whenever possible. From that summer on, pasture-raised eggs from regenerative Midwest farms like Finn’s Ranch became a weekly staple in my kitchen.

I enjoyed meeting Alex Finn and her son Matt at Green City Market last winter.

Fast forward to last winter, when I had the pleasure of meeting Finn’s Ranch owner, Alex, at the Green City Indoor Market. I was inspired by her family’s mission, her passion for doing things the right way, and her commitment to bringing grass-fed, grass-finished beef, pasture-raised poultry and more to the Chicagoland community. I am excited to share that Finn’s Ranch is supporting our upcoming Forage and Feast event at The Talking Farm in Skokie. Their exceptional grass-fed ground beef will be featured on the menu.

Get to know the family behind the farm in our Q&A below.

What motivated you to take farming from a hobby to a full-time career?

With careers in the floral industry, farming was a hobby for both of us, not a life plan. But feeding our family a healthier diet—and eventually sharing it with our Chicagoland community—was. So, in December of 2012, with our two young sons, Nicholas and Matthew, in tow, we took a leap of faith, left our home on the South Side of Chicago, and moved into a charming little farmhouse on 14 acres of wooded hills in Buchanan, Michigan, complete with 20 chickens.

“When you farm with the land instead of against it, everything thrives” - Alex Finn (Photo: Finn’s Ranch)

In 2014, we bought our first four cows, and a year later, we jumped into farming full-time when Sean quit his job, and I eventually followed in 2019. Today, though we farm close to 200 acres surrounding our home—on land rented, borrowed, and bartered from our neighbors—we’re still working as a small-scale, first-generation family farm with big ideas, aspirations, and heart.

We treat our animals, our staff, and our customers with kindness and respect. And we’ve learned the importance of caring for our land in the same way: partnering with nature by practicing regenerative agriculture, which results in healthier products and a more sustainable future for all of us.

What are your farming practices, and why do you choose to farm this way?

Our philosophy is pretty straightforward: raise animals with respect, keep them on pasture, and let nature do what it does best. We follow grass‑fed and pasture‑raised practices because they’re better for the animals, better for the land, and better for the families who take our products home. No crowded barns, no antibiotics, non-GMO—just clean feed, open space, and good stewardship.

What are the health and environmental benefits of grass-fed and pasture-raised products?

Grass‑fed and pasture‑raised products come with real benefits. You get higher omega‑3s, cleaner fats, and meat raised without the stress and confinement you see in industrial systems. Environmentally, it supports healthier soil, better water retention, and more biodiversity. When you farm with the land instead of against it, everything thrives.

Which farmers' markets can folks find you at this summer? What are the other options to buy your products?

See our summer market calendar below. We also offer home deliveries year-round every Wednesday, you can order online at www.finnsranch.com and choose home delivery or pick up at any of the farmers markets.

New online order customers get $25.00 off their first order of $75 or more use code NEW25.

How do you currently partner with The Talking Farm? Are there any other community partnerships we should know about?

Find Finn’s Ranch eggs at The Talking Farm’s booth and try the ground the meat at our family farm dinner.

The talking farm purchases our eggs. We donate and partner with the Chicago Food Sovereignty coalition ( CFSC) where our customers can purchase eggs at a discount and the eggs will be donated to the CFSC you can donate eggs Here.