Mark Osmer, a Marine Corps and Virginia National Guard veteran, is the owner and operator of Oz Homestead, a pasture-based poultry and pork farm located in Fauquier County, Virginia.
Mark’s journey into agriculture began after years of service. He enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after graduating high school in Prince William County, VA, and served with 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance, Delta Company. After completing his USMC training, he joined the Alexandria Police Department, where he continued serving his community. Later, Mark transitioned to the Virginia National Guard as an Intelligence Analyst and deployed to Iraq in 2019 as a military contractor.
It was during this deployment that Mark met his wife, Chelsea. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the couple began homesteading on two acres of land, driven by food shortages and a desire to become more self-sufficient. Their first experience of raising and eating pasture-raised chicken sparked a passion for high-quality, responsibly raised food.
In 2023, Mark and Chelsea purchased a 21-acre property and launched Oz Homestead, named after Mark’s family nickname. Their mission is to provide their community with pasture-raised poultry and pork using regenerative farming practices. Inspired by Joel Salatin’s methods, they rotate poultry daily and use pigs to clear wooded areas, gradually converting dense forest into silvopasture.
Pigs assist with clearing wooded areas, making the area suitable for silvopasture.
The farm’s terrain presented a challenge: much of the land was heavily wooded. In early 2025, Mark applied for the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund and was awarded $4,500. Funded by the Farmer Veteran Coalition Virginia Chapter, Oz Homestead hired Fischer Land Management to forestry mulch over two acres of land. This cleared space will be used to expand their broiler operation and convert an existing shed into a butcher barn for on-site processing.
“Fischer Land Management went above and beyond for us,” Mark said. “I remain very thankful for their help and the FVC’s support. This grant has made a real difference in our ability to grow and serve our community.”
Oz Homestead sells their products at the Archwood Green Barns Farmers Market in The Plains, VA, and through their website, https://www.oz-homestead.com/. Mark also documents the farm’s progress on his YouTube channel, Oz Homestead, sharing videos of land clearing, animal care, and daily life on the farm.
The Osmer family is deeply involved in every aspect of the operation. Their son Johannes, born in 2024, is already a regular helper on the farm – feeding animals, riding the tractor, and attending farmers markets. With a second child on the way, Oz Homestead is truly a family-run business.
Community support has played a vital role in the farm’s growth. Mark built a strong relationship with 4Js Farm and Brewery in Warrenton, VA, where he vends and brings animals to their Summer Kids Camp. After receiving the Fellowship Fund award, he was invited to speak at their Memorial Day event, sharing his story and the journey of Oz Homestead.
Based in Fauquier County, Virginia, Oz Homestead raises pasture-poultry and pork.
“It was an emotional moment,” Mark said. “The kindness and encouragement from our community has meant everything. We’ve had people doubt us, but the support we’ve received – from FVC, our county, other farmers, and our customers – has been incredible.”
Mark’s passion for agriculture is evident in everything he does. Whether it’s processing broilers in the summer heat, clearing land by hand, or watching his son’s excitement as they feed animals together, he finds purpose in his work. “I love the connection and respect I have with my land and animals,” he said. “Our mission is to offer our community a healthier and more connected option for pork and poultry, and we’re on our way to making that a reality.”
