Lending Successful

Mobile Coops And New Farm Infrastructure

by Horse Shoe Ranch
Mobile Coops And New Farm Infrastructure

Horse Shoe Ranch is purchasing a legacy mobile chicken coop business and joining a regenerative farm community to grow production of their pasture-raised eggs.

Project Summary
  • Location: Fredericksburg, PA
  • Products: Livestock Poultry
  • Loan Term: 60 months
  • Interest Rate: 8.00% APR
  • Repayments Begin: 3 months after disbursement
  • Individual Lender Cap: $5,000
$165,000
100% of $165,000

Funded on 01/24/2022

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Overview

Horse Shoe Ranch is a regenerative poultry and livestock farm run by Bryan and Brittany, a husband and wife team dedicated to responsibly raising poultry and nourishing the land. Horse Shoe Ranch makes it their priority to offer products that are less accessible for their local community, specializing in pasture-raised hens for eggs, slow-grown chickens for meat, as well as turkeys and cattle. The customer base for their pasture-raised meat and eggs includes restaurants, specialty grocery stores, farmers markets, and CSAs in the Philadelphia area. 

Horse Shoe Ranch recently purchased a mobile coop business, which significantly increased their pasture-raised egg production. Additionally, their operation will be moving in December of 2021 to build out a new farm at Lundale Farm, a community of regenerative farmers enhancing the ecology, health, and diversity of the land. The new property is located an hour outside of Philadelphia in Pottstown, PA⏤a prime location for their budding customer base. 


Use of Funds

Horse Shoe Ranch was recently given the opportunity to purchase Stoltzfoos Mobile Layer Coops, a business specializing in mobile chicken coops. With the purchase of this business, Horse Shoe Ranch received the following: 4 mobile layer coops, 2,500 chickens, water filling system, feed storage, egg handling equipment, egg packing cartons, and boxes, and a shipping storage container. 

A local restaurant from their existing customer base provided the down payment on the purchase of Stoltzfoos Mobile Layer Coops. Now Horse Shoe Ranch is seeking additional capital to pay off the rest of the business purchase as well as to prepare their new land at Lundale Farm for production. Infrastructure improvements on the new property include fencing and converting an old barn into an egg packaging facility, as well as the purchase of a greenhouse for winter egg production.


Regenerative & Sustainable Practices

Horse Shoe Ranch raises chickens entirely on pasture with mobile, rotational management to maintain high soil fertility. They operate their farm with the future of the planet in mind, sequestering carbon into the soil and allowing the wildlife to flourish. Additional practices include:

  • All chickens are fed a non-GMO, chemical-free feed and are able to scratch and peck in the grass, foraging for seeds and bugs all day long. Chickens love the high-quality forage they’re given, which includes a mix of brassicas, kale, and wildflowers.

  • Emphasis on animal welfare and providing their animals with the best conditions to live as close to nature as possible. Mobile coops move across the pasture to give the hens access to fresh grass, bugs, and seeds.

  • All animals are entirely pasture-raised, moving to a new spot throughout the property every day to maximize soil fertility. The chickens follow the cows, allowing them to forage on bugs and consistently spread nutrients across the soil.

  • Connecting people with their food and providing as much transparency about their practices as possible. In their new location, their farm will be even more accessible for on-farm visits and educational experiences for the public.
  • January 24, 2022

    Thank You!

    We want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of you! We truly cannot express how much this will help us grow.

    As I type this, our first round of pasture fencing is being installed, and we are so excited to get our animals out to put some much needed life back into this farm and soil. Additionally, we scheduled and put a deposit on the winter housing (green house) for our laying hens, and we got some estimates on concrete flooring for our egg packing facility. We are hitting the ground running over here!

Business Equipment Purchase--$100,000.00: The purchase of Stoltzfoos Layers, a company specializing in mobile chicken coops and pastured poultry, includes the acquisition of 4 mobile layer coops, a flock of chickens, and a variety of farm equipment. 

Pasture Infrastructure--$23,000.00: This includes fencing allowing for rotational grazing of poultry and beef. 

Egg Packing Facility--$20,000.00: This includes converting an existing barn into a commercial egg packing facility equipped with concrete floors, wiring, and plumbing, and a walk-in cooler for egg storage. 

Greenhouse -- $17,000.00: This includes the purchase of a used greenhouse and installation to allow the laying hens to stay warm in a greenhouse during the winter months. In the summer this will be used for hatchlings. 

Total Budget: $165,000.00

This loan will be made to Horse Shoe Ranch LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company, which grows and sells pasture-raised poultry, beef, and eggs.

This loan will fund the purchase of Stoltzfoos Layers, a business specializing in mobile chicken coops and pastured poultry, pasture infrastructure, a greenhouse, and the build-out of a new egg packing facility. 

The total loan amount is $165,000 which will assist Horse Shoe Ranch in growing and expanding its business.

This loan is set at an 8% interest rate, with a 60-month term, and fully amortized monthly payments beginning 3 months after funds are disbursed.


Borrower Loan Agreement Download
Lender Participation Agreement Download

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