Sow in Faith, Reap a Harvest

The Dutch Country Table Team • August 17, 2026 • 6 min read

The family, faith and farming tradition behind the fresh organic eggs served at Dutch Country Table.

Every morning, just a few miles from Dutch Country Table, the day begins early at JC Organic Farm.

Before the first eggs are gathered and before Henry Miller heads to the fields, the Miller family begins the day with family devotions and a hearty breakfast. Then come the chores. Livestock must be fed, poultry houses checked, floor eggs gathered and thousands of laying hens cared for.

By the end of an average day, those hens will have produced an impressive 5,400 eggs—or approximately 450 dozen.

Some of those eggs will make a very short journey down the road to Dutch Country Table, where they'll become part of the breakfasts served to our guests.

But the story behind those eggs began long before our restaurant opened its doors.

It is a story stretching across generations—a story of family, farming, hard work and faith.

And fittingly, even the name JC Organic Farm carries a piece of that history.

A Farming Heritage

The "JC" comes from farmer Henry J.C. Miller, whose initials stand for Junior Chester, a name connecting him directly to his father, Chester Miller.

Chester was a lifelong farmer, and Henry grew up alongside him learning what it meant to care for the land and livestock. From the time he was a little boy, Henry was outside helping on the farm. His family raised pasture turkeys, giving him an early introduction to poultry as well as the daily responsibilities of farm life.

Those early years instilled lessons that would follow him throughout his life: stewardship, perseverance and the value of hard work.

As Henry grew older, farming remained his path.

In 1982, he worked for Dick Swartzentruber milking cows, gaining experience that would eventually become an important part of his own farming operation. During 1985 and 1986, he continued gaining agricultural experience, including working with turkeys.

Then came a major milestone.

In 1987, Henry purchased the farm's current location on Juniper Avenue near Kalona.

It became home—and eventually the home of JC Organic Farm.

For many years, dairy farming was a major part of life there. Henry milked cows until 2002, but his agricultural interests extended well beyond the dairy barn.

And 2002 would prove to be a pivotal year for the farm.

From Turkeys to Eggs

That year, Henry returned to something familiar from his childhood: turkeys.

JC Organic Farm began raising fresh organic turkeys for Thanksgiving, giving local families an alternative to conventionally raised birds.

What began as a seasonal venture became an annual tradition. More than two decades later, the farm continues providing fresh organic turkeys to families throughout the surrounding communities each Thanksgiving season.

But something else happened in 2002 that would dramatically shape the farm's future.

The Millers built their first chicken house.

A second followed in 2004.

Over the years, what began with one poultry house steadily developed into the organic egg operation found on the farm today.

JC Organic Farm now operates two poultry houses with different purposes. One is used to raise young Hy-Line pullets. Once the birds are mature enough, they are transferred to the laying house, where they begin producing eggs.

Today, approximately 6,100 laying hens call JC Organic Farm home.

And although one chicken generally lays no more than one egg per day, together the flock produces around 5,400 eggs every day.

That's roughly 450 dozen eggs in a single day.

It's an impressive number.

But the Millers believe what goes into producing those eggs is just as important as how many they gather.

What Makes These Eggs Different?

One of the distinctive parts of JC Organic Farm is how closely the Millers are connected to the food their animals eat.

Rather than simply purchasing finished feed, the farm grows much of its own.

Corn and soybeans are grown right there on the farm. Feed is then ground and mixed several times each week using farm-raised ingredients, including roasted soybeans and orange corn.

That orange corn serves another interesting purpose: it contributes to the rich color of the egg yolks.

It's a small detail, but one that illustrates the connection between what happens in the field and what eventually reaches a customer's breakfast plate.

The Millers' commitment to organic agriculture also means farming without the use of synthetic insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

That choice isn't always the easiest—or the least expensive.

Organic farming presents challenges, particularly when it comes to pest management and higher production costs. But for the Miller family, organic farming is about considerably more than meeting the requirements for a certification.

It reflects something they believe.

More Than a Certification

Faith is woven throughout life at JC Organic Farm.

The Millers believe God created the world with a natural balance and design, and they strive to farm in a way that respects and honors that design while producing wholesome food for other families.

For them, organic isn't simply a label placed on a carton of eggs.

It's a way of life.

That belief influences how they approach the land, their animals and the uncertainty that naturally accompanies agriculture.

Farmers can prepare soil, plant crops and work from morning until night, but there will always be things beyond their control. Weather changes. Pests come. Costs rise. Seasons don't always unfold according to plan.

Through it all, the Miller family has chosen to trust God's provision.

For Henry, some of his most meaningful moments happen while he's working alone in the fields.

He enjoys the opportunity to reflect, pray and thank God for His blessings while surrounded by His creation. As he plants, Henry prays over the fields and admires the beauty of the land around him.

There is work to be done, certainly.

But there is also time to be grateful.

A Day on the Farm

Life at JC Organic Farm follows the rhythms of agriculture rather than the hands of a clock.

The family's day begins with devotions and breakfast before morning chores.

Sheep, cattle, turkeys and chickens all require care. The poultry houses are checked, the birds are fed and eggs are gathered.

Once those responsibilities are complete, the day's work often depends upon the weather.

When conditions are right, Henry may spend hours working the fields before returning to the poultry operation, where eggs must be gathered and processed for customers and deliveries.

Before the day ends, livestock is checked again. And when the season demands it and daylight permits, there may still be more fieldwork waiting.

Tomorrow, they'll do much of it again.

But Henry doesn't do it alone.

A Family Farm in Every Sense

Although Henry oversees much of the operation—including planting crops, caring for livestock and managing the farm's daily activities—JC Organic Farm truly is a family effort.

His wife, Ila, and daughters, Retha and Renita, play an important role in processing the eggs and preparing them for customers and deliveries.

It's a picture of agriculture that has become increasingly uncommon: a family working together to grow food that will be eaten by other families living only a few miles away.

That local connection matters to the Millers.

Supporting neighboring businesses and strengthening the surrounding community has long been important to JC Organic Farm.

And that belief eventually brought their eggs to Dutch Country Table.

When Neighbors Work Together

At the beginning of this year, JC Organic Farm began independently processing its eggs.

Around the same time, a conversation between neighbors began.

At Dutch Country Table, we've made a commitment to seek out local farmers and producers whenever it makes sense—not simply because "local" sounds good on a menu, but because we believe there is value in knowing where our food comes from and supporting the families who produce it.

That conversation developed into a partnership.

Today, JC Organic Farm supplies fresh organic eggs to Dutch Country Table.

The distance between the farm and restaurant is measured in only a few miles.

That proximity means eggs don't need to travel hundreds or thousands of miles through an anonymous supply chain before reaching our kitchen. They can be delivered directly from a farm operated by a family we know.

For the Miller family, that's something worth celebrating too.

They're grateful to know that eggs produced on their farm are helping meet the needs of another local business—and that customers are enjoying food produced close to home.

It's the kind of relationship that once defined rural communities: farmers, businesses and neighbors depending upon one another.

And it's one we'd like to see continue.

From Their Farm to Your Breakfast

When breakfast arrives at a table, it's easy to see only the finished plate. A couple of eggs can seem like a very small thing. But behind those eggs are acres of corn and soybeans. There are chickens that must be fed and cared for every day. There are eggs to gather, inspect and process. There are fields to plant. There are early mornings and long evenings. There are decades of experience.

And there is a family.

For us, that's what makes partnerships with farms like JC Organic Farm special. We want our guests to know that there are real people behind the food we serve.

In this case, those people are practically our neighbors.

5,400 Eggs—and One Farmer's Favorite

After spending decades raising food for other families, you might wonder what Henry himself likes for breakfast.

His answer fits his farming roots perfectly:

Fried mush with eggs and molasses on top.

Simple. Hearty. Traditional. And, we'd argue, pretty hard to beat.

JC Organic Farm's story is much the same.

It isn't built around flashy ideas or passing trends. It's built around principles that have endured for generations: faith in God, love for family, stewardship of the land, hard work and neighbors supporting neighbors.

A verse that has been especially meaningful to the Miller family during this season of growth is 1 Thessalonians 5:11:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

It's an idea reflected in the relationship between JC Organic Farm and Dutch Country Table. Two local businesses can do more than simply buy and sell from one another. We can encourage one another, strengthen our community and help preserve the agricultural traditions that make this area special.

The Miller family's own tagline may summarize their story best:

"Sow in Faith. Reap a Harvest of Health."

For JC Organic Farm, those aren't merely words beneath a logo.

After generations of farming, decades spent caring for livestock, thousands of mornings tending chickens and countless seasons planting and harvesting the land, they describe a way of life.

And the next time you enjoy an egg at Dutch Country Table, you'll know a little more about the family—and the faith—behind it.