Welcome to Iron Rock Farm
A family-run farm in Bay Minette, Alabama, where a love for animals, a little bit of grit and a whole lot of hard work turned an empty piece of land into something we never could have imagined when we started.
Built by Hand.
When we bought the property in June 2019, it had been unused for cattle for more than 20 years and was covered in more than two decades of dense vegetation. With the help of our son-in-law, Ethan, we cleared the land and uncovered the beautiful three-acre spring-fed pond that had been hidden underneath it all. That September, we laid the foundation for our home and built it ourselves. Seven months later, we moved in, just after welcoming our first grandchild and right as the pandemic was beginning.
Then we kept building.
Noel had a plan: We needed cows to keep the grass down.
Amy had one condition: We weren't raising cows for slaughter.
So, naturally, we got into miniature cattle.
On Memorial Day 2020, we started construction on our 30-by-40-foot Mini Barn. Amy designed it to be cute and functional, with heavy emphasis on the cute. Amy loves working outside and absolutely loves the animals, but also believes there's no reason a working farm can't be beautiful. We fenced pastures in October, and by January 2021 we brought home our first two Belted Galloways along with 14 chickens, mini horses and mini donkeys.
Led by Land.
Iron Rock Farm gets its name from the land itself.
The property spans approximately 50 acres of rolling Bahia grass pastures, wooded areas, natural springs, and beautiful iron rock boulders. At the heart of it all is our three-acre spring-fed pond.
The iron rocks have become part of the farm in more ways than just the name. We have dug them out with the tractor, and used them throughout our property to create landscaping, paths and even boulder steps.
We believe the land should be cared for, not simply used. We work to respect what was already here while thoughtfully building something beautiful for our family, our animals and the people who visit us.
A Love of Animals Runs Deep.
Noel's connection to cattle started long before Iron Rock Farm.
Raised in rural northeast Oklahoma, he spent his childhood learning about cattle ranching from his grandfather, Virgil. Virgil maintained a modest herd of commercial beef cattle until his passing in 1991. The knowledge and work ethic Noel gained from those early years stayed with him and helped inspire the dream of having a farm of his own.
Amy's path to farm life was a little less traditional.
After spending much of her formative years in Tampa, Florida, she was, by her own admission, a city girl. But a lifelong love of animals and a serious can-do attitude made farm life a surprisingly natural fit.
Today, that love is at the heart of everything we do, from the animals we raise to the way we care for the land.
“We are thankful to God for every opportunity we have been blessed with. We hope to leave a legacy to our children and grandchildren and make a positive contribution and impact on Bay Minette.”
-Noel & Amy Garrett
A Farm Built by Family.
Iron Rock Farm is truly a multigenerational operation.
Our children, grandchildren, and grandparents all pitch in. There is always something to build, something to fix, an animal that needs tending or a new idea that needs bringing to life.
And that's exactly how we want it.
We're not just building a farm for today. We're creating a place where the next generation can grow up knowing the value of hard work, the responsibility of caring for animals and the simple joy of working the land together.
And we're just getting started.
