Reflections on Life and Death on the Farm

There is a truth we live with on the farm, one that quietly shapes our days, our work, and our understanding of life itself. It is a truth that many in today’s world have become far removed from: death; is a constant companion. It is, inevitably, a part of life's natural cycle, one that modern society has largely hidden away from its origins, its story, and life.

As farmers, we live intimately with death. It is not a distant concept but a daily reality. From the calves that are born into our care, to the pigs that are raised to maturity, we see the full arc of their lives. And when their time comes, we are there to honor that life, to give thanks for the sustenance it provides, and to guide it through its final moments with dignity.

There is no getting around the fact: we are all born and one day we will die. This is the unspoken truth of existence. We live in an age where death, especially the death that feeds us, is concealed from view, tucked away in cold, anonymous packaging. The plastic-wrapped meat that sits on the shelves of our supermarkets tells us nothing of the animal’s life, its care, or the sacrifice it made for us. It’s as if it has no past, no story, no purpose beyond its neat, sterile form.

When we raise an animal, we care for it from birth to death. We watch it grow, strong and healthy, and when the time comes to die, we are there to see it through. That beef steak on your plate, that burger you enjoy, was once a calf, tender and full of promise, cared for on this land. The same is true for the pigs we raise. That slice of salami or bacon you savor wasn’t always neatly wrapped in plastic—once, it was a living, breathing creature, nourished and protected by a farmer like us, and it is through its sacrifice that we are nourished in turn.

We believe that acknowledging death is a privilege. It is a right of passage that, in many ways, has been lost in our modern world. We no longer witness the end of life in the way our ancestors did, and I believe this disconnect leaves us impoverished in some ways. We have removed death from our daily experience, and in doing so, we have also removed a part of life’s richness. Without the shadow of death, how could we fully appreciate the light of life? How could we savor the fleeting, precious moments we have if we didn’t also acknowledge that our time here is finite?

For those of us who work with the land, the animals, and the seasons, death is not an abstraction. It is a part of our relationship with nature, a reminder that life, in all its forms, is fragile and precious. This is why, every time we sit down to a meal, we do so with a deep sense of gratitude. We know the journey that food has taken to reach our plate, and we are humbled by it. We understand that what we eat is not merely nourishment; it is the culmination of a life lived, a sacrifice made, and a gift that we must never take for granted.

So, the next time you sit down to eat, take a moment to remember where that food came from. Whether it’s a piece of beef, a slice of bacon, or a fresh vegetable from the earth, take a moment to reflect on the life that it represents. Give thanks for it and hands who raised it. Honor it. And recognize that death, though often hidden from view in our society, is as much a part of life as the joy of a meal shared with loved ones.

We are grateful for your continued support of CT Ranch, and for the opportunity to provide you with food that is raised with care, compassion, and a deep respect for the cycle of life.

With gratitude,
Nicole and the CT Ranch Family