On the shores of Lake Michigan in Algoma, Wisconsin, you can find the Harmann family raising beef cattle and kids at Lakeshore Land & Livestock. For Rachel Harmann, whose family has farmed this land for six generations, the farm’s scenic location comes with both beauty and responsibility.
Raising Beef Cattle Near a Great Lake
A tree line marks the boundary between their pastures and the vast blue of Lake Michigan, reminding Rachel and her family of the delicate balance between agriculture and the environment. “It is beautiful but it brings its own host of challenges for us as farmers because it is our top priority to make sure that we have clean water for our kids, our cows and our community,” she says.
At Lakeshore Land & Livestock, sustainability is more than a buzzword; it’s a generational commitment. “We are intentional with our practices to make sure that we are leaving things better than what we found it,” Rachel explains. That philosophy includes learning from the past while embracing the future. The Harmanns lean on the knowledge of earlier generations to understand the rhythms of their land and patterns of raising beef cattle, and pair it with modern tools that help them farm smarter.
Conservation Tools for Raising Beef Cattle
One of those tools is soil testing. “We take a small sample of soil and send it into a lab and they can tell us what nutrients our land has or what we need to add to it,” Rachel shares. This precision allows them to avoid unnecessary applications and use resources wisely. “It also saves us financial resources,” she adds. Nutrient management plans serve as a prescription for the land, helping the family apply just what’s needed, no more and no less. And by collaborating with neighboring farmers, they continue to improve their conservation practices, such as implementing no-till methods.
Water Quality and Community
Water remains at the heart of their stewardship. Rachel puts it simply: “We joke that the kids and cows drink the same water here.” Whether from the same tank or not, it’s a shared resource that connects the community. To protect it, the Harmanns use buffer strips and manage water runoff to keep soil and nutrients in place, preserving the integrity of the land and water.
“Sustainability for us at Lakeshore Land & Livestock is really the meat and potatoes of everything that we do here,” Rachel says. Raising beef cattle in Wisconsin requires balancing productivity with environmental care. It’s about thriving today while ensuring that future generations can continue the work of feeding and clothing the world. This May Beef Month, her family’s story is a powerful reminder that good food starts with good stewardship—and that even on the shores of a Great Lake, agriculture and sustainability go hand in hand.
Rachel Harmann is featured as a part of Gather Wisconsin’s Leaders of the Land® segment, which features Wisconsin farmers moving agriculture forward through their commitment to sustainability.