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18 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MAY 5, 2025 (Left) Jim Smith, part-owner of Cushman Farm in Franklin and chairman of The Farmer's Cow LLC, with Edwin Molina, CEO of FC Development Corp. HBJ PHOTO | MICHAEL PUFFER Cattle Drive Restaurant and food brand backed by CT dairy farmers eyes aggressive growth the past three years, Ayer said. Bill Peracchio, a member of the family that owns Hytone, said there were about 1,700 registered dairy farms in Connecticut when he enrolled in the University of Connecti- cut's agricultural school in 1969. Today, there are 85. They face the constant squeeze of rising prices for feed, energy and other inputs. Hytone has about 400 milking cows and 240 calves on its 250-acre farm, which produces more than 3,500 gallons of milk daily. Peracchio's farm also hosts an organic digester that composts manure and food waste. Methane is siphoned off and burned by a gener- ator to produce electricity sold into the electric grid. The resulting compost is spread over Hytone's fields to help raise cow-feed crops. While Hytone is profitable, its long- term outlook is cloudy, the 75-year-old Peracchio said. The Farmer's Cow and FC Development are part of a multi- prong sustainability drive. The farm isn't seeing any profits from FC Development Corp. yet, Peracchio said. But he believes in the concept and the brand's reputation. Just like farming, it takes a lot of effort and a little faith early on, he noted. "If you are dealing with farmers, you are dealing with optimists, because if you are not an optimist, you can't do this business," Peracchio said. "Because we are going to put half- a-million dollars of money into the ground expecting a return at the end of the year, whether there's a drought By Michael Puffer mpuffer@hartfordbusiness.com T wo decades ago, six Connecticut dairy farms came together to launch The Farm- er's Cow milk brand, aiming to create a revenue source that would help them resist the significant decline of the state's agriculture industry. Today, the brand's logo — a peaceful cow with a pleasant farm scene behind it — is a common sight on milk jugs and egg cartons on shelves at Walmart, Stop & Shop and elsewhere. Two restaurants have also opened under the brand — in Mansfield and Berlin — featuring ice cream and a simple menu focused on locally sourced ingredients. The farmers and organizers behind the brand are eying a significant expan- sion this year, with plans to add a line of cheeses on store shelves and one new Farmer's Cow Calfe & Creamery restaurant. They aim to add at least two more restaurants and additional locally grown retail products in 2026. The effort will be fueled this spring by an equity fundraising campaign through online crowdfunding invest- ment site StartEngine, said Steven Ayer, chairman of FC Development Corp., the investment and management vehicle for the Farmer's Cow brand. Ayer said the goal is to raise up to $2.5 million from investors within six months. "It's about partnering with farmers to help launch the brand into the next level," he said. "People love the brand. They love the idea of supporting the local farmer. People are passionate about that." Growth vehicle FC Development was formed in 2019. It operates the brand's two restaurants and will also be involved in developing and licensing all new products. The farmers opened the first Farm- er's Cow Calfe & Creamery in Mansfield in 2012. FC Development Corp. opened the second location last summer, inside a former Arby's in Berlin. Retail milk sales have stayed exclusively with the original Farm- er's Cow company, which includes Cushman Farms in Franklin; Fairvue Farms in Woodstock; Fort Hill Farms in Thompson; Graywall Farms in Lebanon; Mapleleaf Farm in Hebron; and Hytone Farm in Coventry. A Mapleleaf Farm cow named Amber was the model for the logo. The farmers own the biggest share of FC Development Corp., but about 180 friends, family and supporters have bought around $2 million in shares over AT A GLANCE FC Development Corp./ The Farmer's Cow LLC Industry: Dairy farming; restau- rant; retail food products Top Executives: Edwin Molina, CEO; Steven Ayer, Chairman; Steve Lane, President HQ: 55 Main St., Norwich Employees: 40 Annual Revenue: $4M Website: fcdevcorp.com