From meat to vegetables, everything sold on the Cannon Family Farm is all-natural and homegrown, farm to table.
Born and raised appreciating a farming background, owner Sheldon Cannon stresses the importance of knowing where food comes from. Raising steers, geese, ducks, roosters, chickens, pigs, rabbits and goats, he is kept busy offering healthy, clean food.
“Everything we grow here is free of hormones, chemicals or antibiotics, is locally grown and 100% all natural,” said Cannon. “Eggs in the store selling for 99 cents a dozen might have been sitting in a warehouse for months on end until they get to the shelf for sale. Here, we have fresh-laid eggs,” he said. “We bring a hog in to butcher, and processing takes days instead of weeks to get it back.”
Also on the farm — offered in a self-serve capacity — are canned jellies and jams, farm-fresh chicken and duck eggs and homemade bird suet. Additionally, a variety of vegetables such as sweet corn, tomatoes, onions and peppers are for sale.
Presented as well are a variety of homemade beef-tallow lotions with new scents: watermelon, rum cedar, jasmine, lotus, chamomile, English lavender and unscented.
Tallow is an all-natural way to moisturize skin. Because it closely matches the oils skin already produces, tallow absorbs easily. It functions as an effective occlusive — an air- and water-tight covering — which creates a natural, breathable barrier that locks in moisture and protects skin from environmental stressors.
At their store, they sell homegrown, individually packaged beef, pork, whole roasting chickens as well as chicken feet.
“Chicken feet are good for making homemade soup stock.” said Cannon. “We also sell our meat in halves or quarters, depending on what the customer wants.”
Future endeavors include offering meat goats for sale, as well as rabbit meat. Both goats and rabbits are entered at the Shawano County Fair through Bonduel 4-H.
Joining the other animals, a horse is soon to arrive at the farm. Currently, a pasture is being prepared.
Sunflowers are grown on the farm and are sold whole, with the customers either picking themselves or Cannon cuts them. Upon request, sunflower bouquets are fashioned onsite.
Growing pumpkins for a little over four years on an approximately 2-acre pumpkin patch, that product is ready for harvest.
“This fall we’ll be busy selling pumpkins. We’ve got a pretty good crop coming in this year,” said Cannon. “We also sell pancake mix — pumpkin spice or plain. There’s nothing like a fluffy pancake with maple syrup and a hot coffee or hot chocolate on a chilly fall morning.”
Sheldon Cannon’s sons, Trenton, 11, and Robert, 5, are learning the trade early.
“My boys take animals to the fair, so they do the grunt work to get them ready,” he said.
Along with physically helping on the farm, Cannon’s friend handles the social media aspect, posting information on Facebook to help get the word out. Custom T-shirts and tumblers — using a special printer and heat press — are also available for sale upon order.
“I admit I’m old-school,” said Cannon. “I grew up with a paper and pencil, and that’s how it works. I’m a low-tech man in a high-tech world. As a kid, I didn’t do video games; I worked hands-on in the soil.”
Growing up with farming and working on farms and other occupations, Cannon graduated from the Bonduel School District and has been in this area his whole life.
“I bought this 4-acre piece with the buildings, because I just wanted to be my own boss,” said Cannon. “I’d always worked for others.”
At this time, Cannon Family Farm does not bring their products to farmers markets but may consider it in the future. For now, repeat customers are supportive and faithful, and they understand Cannon offers a good, wholesome product.
“I like promoting the natural foods versus stuff you get in the grocery stores. I was raised on eating clean, and I want to share that natural product with others,” said Cannon.
At one point, Cannon was a volunteer firefighter for five years. Growing up with his whole family involved in firefighting and emergency medicine as well as farming, he has a propensity to help people.
“We’re not getting rich by any means. We spend hours tending to all the animals and vegetable gardens, but I like helping people and standing by my product,” said Cannon. “This is a lifestyle that I’m passionate about. We know where the food comes from. We consume and can what we grow and sell the rest.”
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: Cannon Family Farm
WHERE: W3896 County Road BE, Bonduel
WHEN: Self-serve is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
CONTACT: Connect with the farm on Facebook at Cannon Family Farm. Questions and orders can be directed to Sheldon Cannon at 715-584-1843.
Some of the goats who live on the Cannon Family Farm enjoy a bale of dry hay in their new feed bunk. (Contributed)
Cannon Family Farm in Bonduel offers a variety of vegetables such as sweet corn, tomatoes, onions, peppers and pumpkins. Beef, pork, poultry, goat and rabbit meat is also available, along with various beef tallow lotions, pancake mixes and much more. (Kay Reminger)
