THE FOUNDER
Meet Ted Sanford
The story of Sanford Farm begins with its founder, Ted Sanford. Long before he became a farmer, Ted spent summers living off-grid in the woods of Northern California. He later went to sea, starting as a deckhand and working his way up to Master aboard some of the world’s largest vessels.
Those years shaped his independence, resourcefulness, and instinct to figure things out for himself. In 1978, he brought that spirit to 70 wooded acres in Exeter, Rhode Island, and began building Sanford Farm.
Built From the ground up
Where It All Began
When Ted arrived, there were no pastures, fences, or barns. He cleared the land piece by piece and built the farm’s structures and systems with his own hands. For more than 30 years, Sanford Farm operated entirely off-grid, powered by solar energy and a 110-foot wind turbine.
A Life on the Water
As the farm took shape, Ted continued his maritime career. After years traveling the globe, he worked as a marine pilot, guiding large commercial vessels into ports in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The same steady judgment that served him on the water guided his work back on the farm.
The Next Generation
Today, the next generation carries Sanford Farm forward. Equipment and methods continue to evolve, but Ted’s care for the land and the herd remains at its heart. The farm he built from wooded acres still raises 100% grass-fed and finished beef, one season at a time.