Cows for the Kingdom
One Family’s Legacy of Stewardship and Generosity
Simon and Chris are no strangers to hard work. As third-generation dairy farmers, their lives revolve around a thriving business, family, and a deep-rooted commitment to faith.
Today, they operate three dairy locations, milking 6,000 cows, along with managing a dairy heifer, beef feedlot and farming business.
In 2021, their oldest son, William, and his wife, Alexa, became partners in one of the dairies. The following year, their son-in-law, Ivan, and daughter, Aubriana, joined as partners on that same dairy. Simon and Chris say these partnerships were established to give their children a hand up, not a handout, as they began their own business journeys.
Despite the demands of running a large-scale dairy, Simon and Chris remain focused on what matters most. “We’re not just farmers,” says Simon. “We’re stewards.”
That word, stewards, has shaped the way they view every aspect of life and leadership. It was a value instilled in Simon early on by his parents, especially his dad, who understood that everything belongs to God.
“He gave because he wanted to be part of what God was doing,” Simon remembers. “It wasn’t out of obligation. It was out of joy.”
When Simon’s father passed away unexpectedly, the weight of that loss was heavy. But it also served as a powerful reminder of the legacy he left behind. “You realize how short life is,” Simon says. “And you ask yourself, what am I doing with what God has given me?”
That experience ultimately led Simon and Chris to find a way of giving that reflected both their faith and their work. They found their solution in Barnabas Foundation’s Stewards Fund, a Christ-honoring donor-advised fund.
“It’s simple,” explains Simon. “The farm generates the income. The Stewards Fund turns it into Kingdom impact.”
The process has also become a way for them to model generosity to their children and grandchildren.
“They see how the farm provides for us, but also how we use it to bless others,” Chris says.
Looking to the future, Simon and Chris want their legacy to reflect a life of faithfulness. “We may not be the biggest or richest dairy family out there,” Simon says. “But we’ve been blessed, and we want to be faithful with it.”
“Don’t wait until everything feels perfect,” he continues. “Start with what you have and trust God to use it. He’s the one who multiplies the gifts.”
Whether in the barn or around the family dinner table, Simon and Chris continue to live out that calling.
Stewards Fund
The Stewards Fund (Barnabas Foundation’s donor-advised fund) provides you a simple, flexible and tax-efficient opportunity to support all your favorite causes.
Like a “charitable giving account,” you can give cash and non-cash assets into a single fund and then request grants be made to your church and other ministries that are close to your heart.
