Sopp Family
Joe and Janet Sopp set out to raise their four daughters with strong values and a clear understanding of where food comes from. They built their farm around direct-to-consumer sales, raising chickens, sheep, beef cattle and hay. The family continues to value time spent together making hay, baling straw and caring for the animals.
Their daughters, Nicole Sopp (and her husband Kevin Poffs), Samantha Sopp-Wittwer (and her husband Jonah Wittwer), Alison Nelson (and her husband Aaron Nelson), and Casey Kolstad (and her husband Anders), each contribute to the farm in different ways. Joe and Janet especially enjoy spending time on the farm with their grandchildren, Charlotte, Sydney, Cavan, Myles and Adelle James.
The Sopps are active contributors to their community. Janet teaches community education courses on how to make potica. Joe spends time in his shop repairing toy tractors, restoring International Harvester tractors and sawing lumber for both family and community members. He also serves as president of the St. Louis County Agricultural Society, which hosts the county fair each year. Over the years, the Sopps have played key roles in redeveloping the North St. Louis County Fairgrounds, helping lead efforts to construct new facilities, including the Children’s Barn, livestock buildings and most recently the 4-H Food Stand.