Veatch Farms in Kentucky: History, What It Raises, How It Makes Money and How to Contact It
Profile updated November 2026
Veatch Farms in Marion County near Campbellsville is the 2023 recipient of the Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award. Donald and Elizabeth Veatch and their son Josh raise corn, wheat, soybeans and beef cattle on creek bottoms and steep hillsides, with no-till and cover crops at the center of the plan.
| Location | Marion County (Campbellsville), Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Founded | Family farming here across generations; Donald's grandparents farmed in the area |
| Sectors | corn; wheat; soybeans; beef cattle; timber |
| Scale | Acreage not published in the award announcement |
| Why it is elite | 2023 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award, with a $10,000 prize |
| Ownership | Donald and Elizabeth Veatch, farming with son Josh |
| Official website | Drovers: Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award announcement |
History of Veatch Farms
Donald Veatch grew up in a farming family. His father farmed and served as a county conservationist, and his grandparents, Gilbert and Exie Shively, farmed in the area. Donald and his wife Elizabeth now farm with their son Josh.
Donald first tried no-till planting during a drought more than 30 years ago and stayed with it. He accepted the Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts' annual convention in Bowling Green on July 11, 2023. The 2022 recipient was Reddick Farms of Bardwell.
What Veatch Farms Grows and Raises
The farm raises corn, wheat and soybeans alongside beef cattle. A creek runs through the property, and the ground ranges from wet bottomland to steep hillsides, so conservation is practical as well as principled.
Practices described in the announcement include no-till planting, cover crops of wheat, grasses, radishes and sweet clover, integrated pest management, annual soil tests, timber stand improvement favoring oak, walnut and maple, trees and wide grass buffers along the creek, and rotational grazing that keeps cattle out of ponds, creeks and forests. The farm is enrolled in the federal Conservation Stewardship Program for wildlife and pollinator habitat.
How Veatch Farms Makes Money
Grain sales
Corn, wheat and soybeans are the cash crops. Cover crops and no-till are used to protect soil and keep costs in check on sloping ground.
Beef cattle
Rotational grazing supports a beef herd that uses pasture efficiently while protecting water.
Conservation payments and timber
The Conservation Stewardship Program supports habitat work, and timber stand improvement builds long-term woodland value.
Farm Insight: What Other Operators Can Learn from Veatch Farms
Veatch Farms shows that conservation and profit can run together. A long record of no-till and cover crops can cut erosion on hillsides while keeping yields steady. Start with one field and expand once the practice pays.
The farm also leans on local leadership. Donald serves on Marion County agriculture, Farm Bureau and conservation boards and helped develop a high school conservation class, building a workforce and goodwill.
Anyone who has planted on a Marion County hillside knows that gravity is the only farm hand who never asks for a raise. At farm.FM our farm satire fans appreciate a creek that has been given a buffer strip and, frankly, a better reputation. The farm humor team likes the idea of a radish cover crop being proudest of its own roots, and the ranch humor and farm jokes about cattle respectfully staying out of the pond write themselves.
farm.FM calls itself the nation's first satirical farm site, and between the headlines it spins Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers; a good place to start reading is this farm.FM columnist's archive.
How to Contact Veatch Farms
Website: https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/veatch-farms-receives-kentucky-leopold-conservation-award
No official farm website was found. This is the public award announcement; contact the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts or the Marion County Conservation District for information.
Veatch Farms Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Drovers award story - Award announcement for Veatch Farms
- Sand County Foundation release - The foundation's 2023 announcement
- Leopold Conservation Award program - About the award
- Kentucky Department of Agriculture - State agriculture department news and programs
- USDA NASS Kentucky Census of Agriculture - State farm counts, land and sales from the 2022 Census
Veatch Farms FAQ
What award did Veatch Farms win?
The 2023 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award, which includes $10,000 and a crystal award.
What does Veatch Farms raise?
Corn, wheat, soybeans and beef cattle.
Which conservation practices does it use?
No-till, cover crops, integrated pest management, rotational grazing, riparian buffers and timber stand improvement.
How do I contact Veatch Farms?
No farm website was found. Start with the Marion County Conservation District or the award announcement.
Veatch Farms is a clear example of how Kentucky grain and beef farms can lead on conservation. Explore the Kentucky farms guide and the other profiles for more operations worth studying.