NEK Grains

NEK Grains is a new and upcoming business created by Shawn and Sara Gingue at the Gingue Family Farms in Waterford, VT. The business encompasses the growing, harvesting, processing and storage of wheat, barley, oats and soybeans for use in malting, baking, brewing and feed production in the region as well as custom seeding work and the sale of wheat berries and flour. Shawn has worked on the family’s farm since childhood, but started growing grains in 2018 to diversify the farm and look into alternatives to dairy farming.

NEK Grain’s focus is on bringing small grains back to Vermont’s fields. Throughout the last two years they have worked with various businesses that depend on sourcing local grains. With these connections and Shawn's vast knowledge and experience as a crop manager they plan to put grains back on the map in Vermont.

Currently they are milling their wheat into sifted and whole wheat flours, and whole wheat pancake mix. They also send a portion of our wheat off to be steam flaked for brewers, and their barley crop is shipped to a malthouse in Massachusetts where it is malted and distributed to brewers around the region. New this year they are growing oats that will be steam flaked and used by brewers and they are also growing soybeans that will be used by a local feed producer.

NEK Grains will use their VFF Business Builder Loan to create a larger on-farm store to offer more retail products and to also house their 40" New American Stone Mill. They currently outsource all of their milling so by purchasing a mill they will be able to fill more orders, more efficiently.