Rosmann Family Farms in Iowa: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Rosmann Family Farms near Harlan, Iowa is a fourth-generation, certified organic farm of about 700 acres run by Ron and Maria Rosmann with their sons. The family was named Organic Farmers of the Year at the MOSES Organic Farming Conference in 2018 and has hosted more than 50 field days.
| Location | Near Harlan, Shelby County, Iowa |
|---|---|
| Generations | Ron and Maria Rosmann are the fourth generation to farm the land |
| Sectors | Organic row crops; Red Angus beef; hogs; eggs; on-farm store |
| Scale | About 700 acres; roughly 100 to 110 Red Angus cows; 45 sows |
| Why it is notable | 2018 MOSES Organic Farmers of the Year; long-time Practical Farmers of Iowa host |
| Ownership | Rosmann family; sons David and Daniel farm with Ron and Maria |
| Official website | Farm Sweet Farm site, the Rosmann family on-farm store |
History of Rosmann Family Farms
Ron Rosmann returned to the farm after Iowa State in 1973 when his father's health declined, and he married Maria in 1978. The farm began moving away from pesticides in the 1980s, and Farm Progress reports a USDA SARE grant in 1993 showed no yield difference between ridge till with and without herbicides, after which the farm went fully organic.
Certification followed in stages: crops in 1994, cattle in 1998 and hogs in 2002. The family has hosted Practical Farmers of Iowa for decades and worked with Iowa State University Extension on replicated trials.
What Rosmann Family Farms Grows and Raises
The farm grows organic corn, oats, wheat, barley, hay, hybrid rye, soybeans, field peas and turnips, with cover crops such as hairy vetch and radishes. Animals include Red Angus cows, about 45 sows, and 200 laying hens, with outdoor access and rotational grazing. Farm Progress reports about half the farm is in hay, pasture and small grains each year.
The family works with Organic Valley and meets Global Animal Partnership standards, per Farm Progress. Research on the farm has included ridge-till weed trials and a grazing study comparing cattle fed less corn.
How Rosmann Family Farms Makes Money
Organic crops and cattle
The farm sells certified organic grain and organically raised cattle, with cattle marketed at 15 to 18 months.
Farm Sweet Farm store
The on-farm store, run by Maria, sells organic meats, produce and popcorn along with other local foods.
Education and field days
The family hosts public field days and visiting groups, which builds its reputation and its customer network.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Rosmann Family Farms
Run trials on your own ground. Replicated research with Iowa State gave the Rosmanns data, not opinions, to back their choices.
Plan succession early. The family is working on an equitable transfer designed to keep debt low for the next generation.
When a farm has hosted visitors from six continents and one very curious senator, the pigs should probably get a welcome mat. The folks at farm.FM love farm satire, farm humor, ranch humor and farm jokes, and a popcorn brand sold from a farm store near Harlan is exactly the snack we would bring to a field day. Ridge-till fans, we see you.
Readers who want the full experience can pair the jokes with Tractor Tunes, the country music for farmers that farm.FM, the nation's first satirical farm site, plays between stories. This author page is a fine starting point.
How to Contact Rosmann Family Farms
Website: https://www.farmsweetfarmiowa.com/
The Farm Sweet Farm site is the family's on-farm store; confirm hours, field day dates and sales details with the operation before traveling.
Rosmann Family Farms Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Farm Sweet Farm - Rosmann family on-farm store site
- Farm Progress profile - Operation details and succession plan
- Resilience feature - Organic practices and field days
- Practical Farmers of Iowa - Farmer-led research network
- Iowa State University Extension - Land-grant agronomy resources
Rosmann Family Farms FAQ
Where is Rosmann Family Farms?
It is near Harlan in western Iowa.
Is the farm certified organic?
Crops have been certified since 1994, cattle since 1998 and hogs since 2002, according to Farm Progress.
Can I buy from the farm?
Farm Sweet Farm, the on-farm store, sells meats, popcorn and local goods.
Does the farm host field days?
Yes, it has hosted more than 50 field days, per a 2020 profile.
Rosmann Family Farms proves organic systems can run at real scale in Iowa. Read our Iowa farms guide for more.