Farmer on the Rise, Megan Bogle

Farm Credit awarded a total of $100,000 to beginning farmers through the Farmers on the Rise Award Program on December 7, 2023. Megan Bogle of Chester County, PA is one of ten recipients.

Megan began farming in 2018. She owns and operates True North Farmstead, which is a small-scale family run sheep farm and dairy, raising East Friesian/Lacaune sheep. Megan produces artisan farmstead sheep’s cheese, pasture raised spring lamb meat, wool products, and seasonal batches of hot sauce. She sells direct to consumers at the Growing Roots Farmers’ Markets in Chester County and has seen a strong demand for her artisan cheeses continue to grow—and plans to expand her cheesemaking as a result.

Megan is planning to add a laboratory to the farm, so that each batch of milk processed for cheesemaking can be tested. Her operation is currently exempt from the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) for antibiotic testing, but in order to expand, she will need to bring in milk from neighboring farms to supplement current operations, which will require the addition of a testing lab on site. Acquiring the lab will allow for growth and year-round market and cheesemaking activity.

You can meet all of the 2023 award winners here, and learn more about their farming experience on our blog!