Bayou Sarah Farms

“I never stepped foot on the same side of the fence as a water buffalo until I owned one,” says Sarah Roland, the owner of a water buffalo farm, a pastoral stretch of fields and farmlands just off Highway 61, in northern Louisiana. “They’re great for this environment. They don’t get hoof rot. They love water. And they’re self-sufficient. They don’t really need a human.”

Their milk also makes incredible cheese, which Roland sells through private buying clubs and memberships programs. Roland views her farm as one living organism, the health of which is “dependent upon the health of the soil, the quality of life of our animals, and every component in-between."

Beyond the buffalo, the farm teems with life. Roland collects her own honey from several hives, cares for over 350 blueberry bushes, and tends to nearly 70 fruit trees on her property. There are also chickens and a brand-new dairy cow named Susie Q.

But farming isn’t without its struggles. The work can be grueling, often tangled in red tape and obscure regulations. Yet, it remains its own reward, the peace found in this pastoral place. 

Roland has diversified her efforts, hosting private farm-to-table dinners and tours where visitors can meet the buffalo, explore the grounds, and leave with a deeper appreciation for the artistry of agriculture.

Recently, one of her new cheeses, crafted in collaboration with Guatemalan cheesemaker Mercedes Moreno, took first prize in a local competition. It’s yet another testament to Roland’s dedication—not just to her farm but to the broader agricultural community. Reach out, say hello, and maybe book a tour, or a seat at one of her dinners. You’ll leave nourished in every sense of the word.