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Graceland Acres thriving

Family-run farm located near Iola

By Holly Neumann


Leo and Sue Johnson of Manawa have been in the agriculture business since 1992, when they purchased their first heifers.

Since then, they have continued to grow and expand in an operation that now includes their children Matt, Lauren and Makayla.

In 2016, when Sue’s father passed away, they purchased 18 of his breeding cows and Lauren purchased a home on Gjertson Road near Iola.

From there, Graceland Acres was formed.

“This is where our animals are to this day,” Makayla said. “We named our farm after my grandmother Grace, as she is a very big inspiration to us.”

The herd has now grown to over 70 breeding cows.

“Our parents own the business, but every branch of the farm is managed by either Matt, Lauren or myself,” Johnson said. “Matt does the majority of crop work and repairs. Lauren oversees the beef herd and I have taken on the role of retailing the business to the public.”

Expansion

Graceland Acres has now expanded even further by selling whole, halves and quarters of steer.

Customers that don’t have the ability to store a large sum of meat can purchase a variety of individual cuts as well.

“We stand out from our competitors by offering high-quality meat that is grown and processed locally and is state inspected,” Johnson said. “We have our products priced so that they are affordable and competitive with franchised companies.”

She is quick to point out the importance of supporting a small business.

“This is a spider web effect,” she said. “With our business open, this allows us to support local processors and other small businesses. It keeps our local economy blossoming and creates job opportunities in our neighborhood.”

Community support keeps the business going, according to Johnson.

“As a younger generation working in the agriculture industry, to have the support of our community to continue what we do means a lot,” she said. “As the pandemic has shown, basic essentials can become unavailable in a blink of an eye. When we show support to small-town businesses year-round, we are able to be there to support our community even in hard times.”

Contact Graceland Acres at 715-445-3201. They are also available via Facebook, Instagram and a website, gracelandacres.com.

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