Montana family transforms ranch to organic farming

Jody and Crystal Manuel of Harlowton, Montana, converted their fifth-generation cow-calf operation to an organic, regenerative system after Crystal experienced health problems she linked to farm chemicals.

In the late 1990s, Crystal Manuel sought medical help for symptoms including weight loss and a racing heart. After a misdiagnosis, she self-diagnosed Graves’ disease using a nutrition book and found relief through dietary changes, specifically cabbage.

This experience led the Manuels to investigate the impact of chemicals on health and eventually connect with the Montana Organic Association. They began transitioning acres in 2007, achieving full organic certification by 2011 and regenerative organic certification in 2021. The couple now grows crops like Kernza, a perennial grain, alongside alfalfa, wheat, and other ancient grains, minimizing soil disturbance through a no-till system.

The Manuels expanded beyond farming by founding Gruff Grains and purchasing Cream of the West, a Montana food company. These ventures allow them to market their organic grains directly to consumers and businesses like Patagonia Provisions and Deschutes Brewing, who use the grains in their products. They advise other farmers to approach organic transition gradually and to view their farms as living ecosystems, always questioning established practices.