Wendy Johnson and Johnny Rankin

Wendy and her husband Johnny Rankin started Jóia Food Farm where they farm holistically and implement new conservation ideas. In addition, Wendy co-manages the family’s farm, Center View Farms Co, with her father. She originally farmed organic row crops but decided to rotate the land to pasture for soil health and water quality and drainage concerns. Wendy has also helped to expand conservation practices on her family’s farm, a much larger traditional row-crop farm, to become more sustainable and regenerative by implementing 100% no-till, adding cover crops, and reducing costly inputs.

Jóia Food Farm is now certified organic and certified Animal Welfare Approved with grass-fed sheep and lamb, pigs, broiler chickens, turkeys, and a few goats and cattle. Products are sold direct to consumers. Wendy also custom grazes other people’s cattle to help regenerate the land and build organic matter. With a lot of emphasis placed on agroforestry, Wendy is developing silvopasture on her land through the integration of trees and grazing livestock on the same landscape. The pastures have a wide variety of grasses for the animals as well as a diversity of trees and shrubs including fruit and nut types. Practicing adaptive management grazing by moving the sheep and cattle daily, Wendy is able to maintain a vibrant and species diverse pasture. The pasture paddock size changes depending on time of year, rain, and flora type.

Building a Culture of Conservation: 

“I felt like I needed to be a part of it. Not just an outside person watching it. I could have some impact and be part of the food system and its potential change. Farming, and agriculture in general, is an ongoing learning occupation in which one can never be stagnant.”

Contact Information

Wendy Johnson and Johnny Rankin
2038 March Ave.
Charles City, IA 50616
562-852-7044
wendy@joiafoodfarm.com