Nestled among the rolling hills and steep valleys of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, Ed Rippley tends to his farm in Buffalo County with care, purpose and a deep respect for the land. For Ed, farming is more than just a livelihood—it’s a legacy. A third-generation farmer, Ed has spent the last 18 years raising chickens as a contract grower for Pilgrim’s Pride. Alongside the chickens, he also raises goats, steers and grows cash crops, creating a diversified operation that reflects his commitment to both sustainability and adaptability.
What does sustainability mean to a chicken farmer?
“Sustainability means continuing to farm on my family’s land for the third generation,” Ed explains. “Our family milked cows before transitioning the farm to raising chickens. We found new ways to generate income and be successful stewards of the land and our resources.” The change hasn’t just kept the farm going, it’s made it more resilient. “The chickens diversify our business and provide a benefit to our land using the chicken litter as fertilizer for our crops.”
How do farmers in the Driftless Region protect water?
This stewardship extends beyond his fields. A stream winds through the Rippley farm that local fishermen visit often. “It is important that we keep our water clean so we can be good members of our community and take care of our resources,” he says. Years of conservation efforts have followed. “I have done projects to stabilize the creek bed due to past flooding.” And on his sloped land, nature does much of the work. “In the driftless area, we rely a lot on grassed waterways to filter water as it naturally flows downhill. We also do no-till and plant cover crops on our slopes to hold the soil in place and prevent erosion.”
How do farmers use technology in raising chickens?
Technology plays a role in raising chickens. “We use technology in our chicken coop to maintain heat zones. It manages the rate that feed is delivered to the chickens and measures how much water they are consuming,” Ed shares. “The system can alarm us when something is wrong in the barn so we can actively respond when a waterline is damaged or a feed line malfunctions. This technology helps us to be more efficient and manage our time.”
Above all, sustainability for Ed Rippley is personal. “Sustainability is important to me because I want to set up our farm for success for the next generations,” he says. “My grandkids come visit me on the farm and I want it to be around for them someday.”
Ed Rippley 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.