About us
Leslie Svacina owns and runs Cylon Rolling Acres, a grass-based livestock farm near Deer Park in Western Wisconsin, about an hour west of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Leslie runs the farm with the help of her husband Scott and their two young children.
She raises Boer-Kiko cross goats for meat on pasture. During most of the year the goats are rotationally grazed on their 140-acre farm. Today Leslie’s herd includes about 40-50 breeding stock and is still growing. Leslie and Scott purchased the farm in 2011 and spent the first few years building new fence, putting in seasonal water line, installing animal walkways, and updating the tired outbuildings and farmhouse on the retired dairy farm. Later Leslie purchased her foundation herd of Boer goats and has been growing the herd ever since. She’s often asked, “Why goats?” When Leslie was looking at different farming opportunities, she discovered there is a growing demand for goat meat in her region because of the area’s changing cultural make up. Goat meat can also be challenging to find in the grocery store and if it can be found, it’s likely imported from thousands of miles away. The majority of goat meat sold retail in the U.S. is from Australia. Leslie wanted to be able to help families be able to more easily have goat meat on the menu at family celebrations or even as a regular meal option. Leslie also loves to share her passion for raising meat goats and grazing through social media (@cylonrollingacres on both Instagram and Facebook), blogging and giving workshops and presentations on related topics. Goat meat can be purchased online for on farm pick up, and shipped to your door in the lower 48-states. |
PressThe Rural Woman Podcast: Episode 52: Meat Goat Farming with Leslie Svacina from Cylon Rolling Acres, April 2020
The Country Today / Leader Telegram: Virus outbreak shows value of buying directly from farms, March 27, 2020 Sacred Cow blog: Can livestock handle cold weather? January 15, 2020. Agri-View: Celebrate 'Goatober' with goat meat, Oct. 23, 2019 Rural Route, Farm Bureau Member Finds Way into Farming, August/September 2019 Hudson Star Observer: Excellence in Ag Finalists Selected, October 10, 2016 Women Food & Ag Network Farmer Profile: Leslie Svacina of Cylon Rolling Acres, September 1, 2016. Morning Ag Clips: Women Caring for the Land events, August 1, 2016 The Country Today: St. Croix County woman taps into resources to help ensure her new farm goes mostly … According to plan, July 6, 2015 The Country Today: Meat goat producer network starts with website, April 27, 2015 Why Cylon?
Cylon (pronounced Si-lon) is the name of our township in St. Croix County, Wisconsin. Sorry fans, our farm is not named after the robots of Battlestar Galactica.
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Why we farm
Goats on pasture in the wintertime
We choose to farm for many reasons:
It's in our roots and a way of life that we know and love. We both have grown up in agriculture. I was raised in rural Northeastern Wisconsin loving the outdoors, developing a hands-on approach to life and actively participating in ag education and FFA. Scott grew up on a dairy farm in Northwestern Wisconsin. We both started our careers in agriculture working for organizations that provide supplies and services to farmers. Scott continues to do so today, while I now farm. While farming is hard work, both physical and brain power, it's a way of life we enjoy. We are thankful to be a part of agriculture and raise a family on the farm.
We love the outdoors and the land. As land owners, we're proud that we care for our land in a way that not only benefits our livestock and pasture, but also the soil and wildlife. It also the reason why we rotationally graze our goats.
Making something our own. As a small business owner, there's not a better feeling of building something of our own. It's our farm and planning that's moving it forward. As we continue to grow, it's motivating to see our hard work and business plans pay off.
Doing our part to provide nutritious food to our greater community. This doesn't really need much more explanation. It is what it is and we're glad to play a part in our regional food and ag system.
It's in our roots and a way of life that we know and love. We both have grown up in agriculture. I was raised in rural Northeastern Wisconsin loving the outdoors, developing a hands-on approach to life and actively participating in ag education and FFA. Scott grew up on a dairy farm in Northwestern Wisconsin. We both started our careers in agriculture working for organizations that provide supplies and services to farmers. Scott continues to do so today, while I now farm. While farming is hard work, both physical and brain power, it's a way of life we enjoy. We are thankful to be a part of agriculture and raise a family on the farm.
We love the outdoors and the land. As land owners, we're proud that we care for our land in a way that not only benefits our livestock and pasture, but also the soil and wildlife. It also the reason why we rotationally graze our goats.
Making something our own. As a small business owner, there's not a better feeling of building something of our own. It's our farm and planning that's moving it forward. As we continue to grow, it's motivating to see our hard work and business plans pay off.
Doing our part to provide nutritious food to our greater community. This doesn't really need much more explanation. It is what it is and we're glad to play a part in our regional food and ag system.
