A man and a woman standing in a snowy field next to a large black and white yak with long horns.

Our Story

Clear Spring Farm is home to one of Minnesota’s largest herd of Royal and Trim Tibetan Yak. Thanks to Hugh and Melodee Smith’s passion for the gentle animals, yaks take center stage at their farm. These amazing, multipurpose animals have transformed Smith’s life and the farm they bought in 2009.

August of 2012 the Smith family visited John Hooper’s yak farm near St Cloud, Minnesota. Melodee decided that their farm needed a yak and initially she wanted to buy a cow named Autumn and her calf Tenzin. However, John insisted that yak had to be sold as a “package deal”. The package deal included 5 cows, 1 calf and 1 bull. After briefly discussing details it was decided to buy the package deal which did include Autumn and Tenzin. John delivered the new yak herd in October after the Smiths installed fencing and a waterer. Today that package deal has grown to around 40 yak.

Picture is Hugh and Melodee Smith with Emil.

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WHY YAKS?

Smiths often get asked “Why yaks?” When they were looking to add livestock to their farm, it was important that the animals be unique, multipurpose, hearty to handle Minnesota winters and edible. Yaks checked all those boxes and proved to be a perfect fit at Clear Spring Farm.

Yaks are ideal for small acreage farms. Eating just 1-2% of their body weight each day, yaks eat very little compared to traditional cattle. Dairy cows and market steers eat around 4-6% of their weight daily. The 40 acres at Clear Spring Farm sustainably supports the herd with grazing in the summer and hay for winter feeding.

Our Story

WHY YAKS?

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