Cows for the Kingdom – by Barnabas Foundation
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, a growing family, and a deep-rooted commitment to faith.
Today, they operate three dairy locations, milking nearly 6,000 cows, while also managing a dairy heifer operation, a beef feedlot, and a farming business. The scope of their work is impressive—but for Simon and Chris, success has never been measured by numbers alone.
In 2021, their oldest son, William, and his wife, Alexa, became partners in one of the dairies. The following year, their daughter, Aubriana, and son-in-law, Ivan, joined as partners in that same operation. Simon and Chris are intentional about how they involve the next generation.
“These partnerships were meant to give our kids a hand up, not a handout,” Simon explains. “We wanted them to learn how to build something and take responsibility for it.”
Despite the demands of running a large-scale dairy, Simon and Chris remain focused on what matters most. “We’re not just farmers,” Simon says. “We’re stewards.”
That word—stewards—has shaped the way they view every aspect of life and leadership. It’s a value Simon learned early on from his parents, especially his father, who believed deeply that everything ultimately belongs to God.
“He gave because he wanted to be part of what God was doing,” Simon recalls. “It wasn’t out of obligation. It was out of joy.”
When Simon’s father passed away unexpectedly, the loss was profound. But it also became a defining moment of reflection. “You realize how short life is,” Simon says. “And you start asking yourself, What am I doing with what God has given me?”
That question eventually led Simon and Chris to a giving solution that aligned their faith with their livelihood. Through Barnabas Foundation’s Stewards Fund, a Christ-honoring donor-advised fund, they found a simple and meaningful way to turn their work into Kingdom impact.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” Simon explains. “The farm generates the income. The Stewards Fund turns it into Kingdom impact.”
Just as important, the process has allowed them to model generosity for their children and grandchildren.
“They see how the farm provides for our family,” Chris says, “but they also see how God uses it to bless others.”
Looking ahead, Simon and Chris hope their legacy will be defined not by the size of their operation, but by 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 what God has entrusted to us.”
He offers simple encouragement to others who may be considering generosity but feel uncertain about when or how to begin.
“Don’t wait until everything feels perfect,” Simon says. “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 their calling—faithfully stewarding what God has placed in their hands.
Stewards Fund
The Stewards Fund (Barnabas Foundation’s donor-advised fund) provides a simple, flexible, and tax-efficient way to support the causes you care about most.
Like a charitable giving account, you can give cash and non-cash assets into a single fund and then recommend grants to your church and other ministries close to your heart—all while keeping Christ at the center of your generosity.