Anoka-Butte Lumber Company – Marlowe Farm's

The Anoka-Butte Lumber Company was owned and operated by the Marlowe family from 1936 to 1993. In August 2003, Chris Marlowe Sr. moved onto the farm, continuing the family tradition by raising cattle, sheep, and pigs. The farm is located about 10 miles north of Butte or 20 miles southwest of Pickstown, SD. The Marlowe family has a deep connection to agriculture, with Chris Sr. having been involved in sustainable and regenerative agriculture since 2000. The family’s roots in the area trace back to Tom Courtney, an Irishman who homesteaded in Boyd County during the Gold Rush era.

All animals are raised on pasture, with cattle and sheep fed exclusively grass and a limited amount of hay in the winter months. The livestock are rotated through a series of paddocks, ensuring even manure distribution and soil health. Pigs are fed varying amounts of grain depending on their class, with sows and gilts grazing for the bulk of their diet. The farm avoids the use of chemicals, routine antibiotics, and chemical dewormers, aiming to raise livestock as close to nature as possible. The Marlowes employ managed grazing to heal and rebuild the land, embodying principles of holistic resource management.

Chris Marlowe Sr. and his son Chris Jr. handle most of the farm's construction, repairs, and technological needs. Chris Sr. is a board member of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society and has been published in various agricultural publications. The farm offers grass-finished beef, pasture-raised pork, and seasonal grass-finished lamb, with products available for shipping. The farm also sells products by the 'share,' an old country manner of conducting business.