Dave and Joan Lutchka have lived in Grass Lake, Michigan since 1968. Dave and Joan own and operate a farm where they raise purebred Angus breeding cattle. They have three children, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren. 2005 marked the 50th year that Dave has raised Angus cattle. The American Angus Association has designated the Lutchka herd as a Historic Herd. The farm is Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) certified, which is an “innovative, proactive, and voluntary program that helps farms of all sizes and all commodities voluntarily prevent or minimize agricultural pollution risks” (MAEAP, 2013).

In 1997 a roadside market was added to the operation, and in 2006, Joan began running the Bushel Basket Market as the market manager, where she also sells her farm produce, like peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and sweet potatoes. Joan worked at the Chelsea Community Hospital for years, and likes to help educate future farmers through school and college field trips to their farm. Check out the Lutchka Angus and Farm at the Bushel Basket Market this week, and pick up some essentials for the chile recipe above!

The farm stand is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Monday through Sunday, July to October, at

1439 S. Francisco Rd.

Grass Lake, MI 49240