RAVEN & BOAR : Help Support a Hudson Valley Farm & Charcuterie
Our Goal: To raise $150,000 to keep our business open
Dear Community, Friends, and Family,
Vulnerability does not come easily to me. I have built my life around independence, resilience, adaptability, and being someone others can rely on.
But the last two years — and especially the last six months — have brought me to a place physically, emotionally, and financially where I must ask for help or I must close down a business that has been part of this vibrant community for the past 18 years.
I could quietly close the doors. Or I can reach out with honesty, vulnerability and dignity and invite you into this moment. I am choosing to reach out.
WHERE WE ARE AND HOW WE GOT HERE:
Raven & Boar Farm is facing a financial crisis shared by many small food and farming businesses. Extreme weather events, infrastructure failures, equipment breakdowns, rising utilities, insurance increases, labor costs, and broader economic instability have converged at once.
Despite rigorous business planning, relentless work, and deep commitment, endurance alone is no longer enough.
Over the past three years we have navigated a number of crisis:
- A broken pipe and flooding from an extreme weather event that damaged our USDA facility, causing a six-month delay in opening and approximately $60,000 in debt.
- Refrigeration failure in mid-summer that halted production and spoiled 75% of stored and in-process product, resulting in roughly $40,000 in losses.
- Herd illness resulted in mortalities and veterinary costs totaling approximately $24,000.
- A key management employee taking leave during a critical operational period.
- A legal separation from a business partner, resulting in legal debt and the need to hire for a previously unsalaried role.
Current ongoing pressures include:
- A damaged fermentation cabinet that has halted salami production ($3,000 repair or $25,000 replacement).
- Septic system limitations requiring monthly pumping ($1,200 per month).
- A distribution vehicle with over 200,000 miles that must be replaced.
- Insurance currently at $62,000 annually and projected to rise.
- Payroll taxes at $56,000 annually.
- Electric costs at $40,000 annually and increasing.
- Seasonal first-quarter revenue decline due to restaurant closures, extreme weather conditions affecting market attendance, and broader economic shifts.
- Alongside this, I have been balancing elder care responsibilities and the personal cost of sacrificing family time and health to keep this business afloat.
WHY KEEP THIS FIGHT GOING?
#KNOWYOURFOOD
#KNOWYOURFARMER
Because Raven & Boar is more than a farm. Hudson Valley Charcuterie is more than a USDA production kitchen. We are a part of a vital community.
- We raise heritage-breed, whey-fed pigs on pasture and woodland in East Chatham, New York.
- We practice whole-animal butchery in our USDA-inspected on-farm facility, bridging traditional craft with regulatory compliance — something that is increasingly rare.
- In the past year alone we processed 140 pigs raised on our land. Through disciplined product development and a strict no-waste ethic, we significantly increased per-pig yield over the past two years, strengthening both sustainability and financial viability.
Our work provides:
- Regional food security
- Hyper-local distribution
- Small-batch artisanal products
- Jobs with fair wages
- A workplace that is inclusive and welcoming
- Support for other farmers and regional food businesses
DUE DILIGENCE / FINANCIAL PLANNING
We have not been navigating this alone. We have received financial planning and technical assistance through organizations including Berkshire Agricultural Ventures , Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation , Columbia Economic Development Corporation , Hayseed Collective , and The Farmer’s Office .
HOW $150,000 WILL MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
• This fundraiser is part of a strategic restructuring plan — not a reactive gesture.
• These funds will stabilize operating costs for several months while we repair critical infrastructure and strengthen operations.
• The funds will allow us to repair essential equipment, restore production capacity including salami, replace failing infrastructure, rebuild working capital, and improve distribution and operational efficiency.
•.Approximately two-thirds of the funds will support direct operating costs including payroll, feed, utilities, insurance, and septic management.
• Over the past year I have actively pursued outside investment and collaborative partnerships. I remain open to aligned partnerships that bring both stability and shared vision.
•.If you believe in craft, compliance, ecological farming, and the importance of resilient regional food systems, I am asking you to stand with us now.
THE ASK:
Our goal is $150,000. Your contribution — whether $25 or $5,000 — absolutely matters. It will directly sustain our company which has a role in our community.
- Local agriculture
- Skilled craft labor
- Food integrity
- A woman-owned farm business
- A resilient regional food system
If you cannot contribute financially, sharing on social media or through word of mouth will make a real difference. So please reach out on our behalf, we so appreciate it!
If you’ve picked up our most popular miso scallion sausage for yourself or family, had bratwurst “sausage on a stick” at a local event or farmers market, or eaten our pork chops at a local restaurant we hope you will consider contributing or sharing this fundraiser with someone in your community that might.
If you have an interest in a larger role in the company as an investor please reach out to me directly and I can provide more granular business data and our business plan.
VULNERABILITY & POSSIBILITY
This is a moment of vulnerability — but also a moment of possibility. With community support, we can move through this chapter with dignity, restore stability, and build a stronger, more resilient future for Raven & Boar .
It is my fervent hope that this company can continue to serve the community and grow, creating high-quality products and a safe and productive work space.
Thank you for taking the time to read, to care, and to consider contributing.
With gratitude,
Ruby Duke
#knowyourfood
#knowyourfarmer
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