Central Bridge Farms is located in the scenic plains of the Schoharie Valley in Upstate New York. Blessed with fertile soils along the banks of the Schoharie Creek, Central Bridge Farms is the perfect paradise for livestock. The farm is owned & operated by fourth generation farmer, John W., & his wife, Mattea. John graduated with his Bachelors in Ag. Business and works in soil & water conservation, in addition to running the day-to-day farming operations. Mattea is a stay-at-home-mother, who’s often found baking in the farmhouse kitchen. Also, a Bachelor graduate in the field of Animal Science, Mattea assists her husband in the day-to-day farming operations. This past year John & Mattea welcomed their first child & fifth generation to the farm, John R. 

Central Bridge Farms was founded by Elon Robert VanDerwerken & his wife, Florence. The newlywed couple purchased the land in July 1926, just three years before the Great Depression. With grit, determination, & a passion for agriculture Elon was able to persevere during difficult times. After nearly a century of farming, and four generations of management, Central Bridge Farms continues to operate as a small family business; producing ethically raised, all-natural Black Angus beef. We face adversity with the same grit, determination, & passion as Great-Grandpa Elon so as to carry on & share our family’s legacy.

Our mission at Central Bridge Farms is to be stewards of the land, providing our livestock with the resources they need for a fulfilling life while providing our community with high quality, nutrient-dense food they can be confident in. It is our goal to have happy cattle and healthy soil that will continue to produce for generations to come. We’ve found that the most natural farming practices are also the most sustainable. We’ve placed years of extensive research into our mating programs to naturally improve our genetics (this means no growth hormones!). Our livestock are rotationally grazed, providing cattle with fresh grass & rest to the land. We hope to provide our customers with peace of mind from the knowledge that their food was raised using the highest standards.