Coyote Creek owner Rob Cunningham highlights organic production, 12,000 eggs a day in Elgin

Rob Cunningham, owner of Coyote Creek in Elgin, said his farm produces about 12,000 pasture-raised, certified organic eggs a day and sells certified organic animal feed to local farmers and backyard producers.

Cunningham said the farm's model is built on returning nutrients to the soil to grow grass that feeds animals and, in turn, people. "What we try to do is we try to feed the nutrients in the soil that feed the grass that feed the animals that feed us," he said.

He listed the farm's product mix as pasture-raised eggs, grass-fed beef and lamb, pastured pork raised without corn or soy, and meat chickens. Cunningham said the Elgin area's Blackland Prairie soil lends itself to growing grass, which supports the pasture-based approach.

Coyote Creek opened a self-service honor store last year, Cunningham said, and the store is open daily from 9 a.m. until sunset. He described the store as a way to meet neighbors while selling products directly to the community. "It's just been a great way to meet our neighbors," he said.

Cunningham framed his operation as an alternative to industrial agriculture that can still reach retail outlets. "We are the exact opposite of industrial agriculture. But we're doing it at scale that we can supply grocery stores," he said, adding that the farm aims to show that others can replicate the approach.

The remarks were a brief presentation about a local agricultural business and did not include formal proposals, requests for government action or votes.