Our Story

In 2014, John retired from the Army after 27 years and moved his family back to Central New York to start a sheep farm! Though the land had seen better days—and John had spent decades in another field, he had a plan to turn the land around and create a thriving business. John, Martha, their daughter Olivia, and son JJ, put in long hours returning the land to health by implementing sustainable management practices.

In memory of their daughter Elly, who passed away in 2016, John and  Martha started Elly’s Acres Farm. In 2014, they brought 20 breeding ewes and a ram to their 500 acre family farm in Jamesville, NY. With the help of Olivia, JJ, and our faithful dog, Stanley, the flock has grown from 20 breeding ewes to over a hundred. Elly’s Acres specializes in pasture raised, grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free lamb and wool production. They started selling cut to order whole and half lambs to friends and family in 2015 after their first lambing season, and have since expanded to local restaurants and farmers markets.