ABOUT
Heather at the Baker City Farmers' Market
Meet Heather
Baker City has always been my home, though I have lived in many other places across the country. My grandparents moved to Baker, as we always call it, from eastern Colorado when their poultry hatchery caught fire and burned to the ground in the late 1940's. They worked their way to eastern Oregon with their family of three small children, my dad being the middle child. With family values of "work for what you want" that was supported by participation in many 4-H and FFA animal projects, I learned public speaking, a strong work ethic, and a love of animals. I was encouraged to get a college degree upon completing high school and find a career to support myself. I did and many years later, I felt that it was time for me to come home to Baker to stay and to do something meaningful to me but also to give back to the community for which I have such a strong love.
I raise pasture pigs on a piece of rangeland between Old Highway 30 and the railroad. It has no irrigation rights which severely limits its value, if crops or beef are your passion. Pigs, however, can be used to stir up old seedbeds, and if moved often to new pasture, stimulate growth and regeneration by their natural rooting instinct. Meanwhile, they grow into delicious, healthy meat for the community.
I focus on pork but this website is for Heather's Family Farm because Dad and Sara (my sister) raise the grassfed, grass finished beef, just three miles east of Baker on Highway 86. Sara has also gone a little chicken crazy so a lot of the eggs come from her backyard. You might even see me advertising duck eggs. My other sister, Katrina, is duck crazy and there might be some ducks to eat coming soon. Her ladies have been prolific this summer! You'll also see glimpses of my niece and nephews and family friends who stop to help or visit. This is truly a family farm.
Want to meet me or try the pork or see how we raise our animals? I'm at the Baker City Farmer's Market every week. You can also call or email me and stop for a visit. I hope to see you soon.
What We Do
Growing healthy food for the community
Our beef is raised on grass and alfalfa that is never chemically treated. Our pork is raised on pasture, is fed a non-GMO, corn free grain, and is supplemented with fruits and vegetables, as available. Our chickens roam free in pastures and lawns that are never chemically treated, therefore turning weeds and bugs into food for all of us. We don't spray our fruit trees or our gardens so our produce may be blemished by pests but you know you're eating real food. Anything you buy from us, whether pork, beef, eggs, fruit or vegetables has been grown with your health and ours in mind.
Farming with a chronic health condition
Heather was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) just before turning 3 years old. It causes chronic inflammation in her joints which limits movement and causes fatigue. Her love for animals has been a lifelong passion. She participated in 4-H and FFA while growing up, always knowing that she wanted to raise animals. Horses and pigs are her favorites. She is the pasture pork producer of the family but also loves her chickens. Having arthritis complicates physical activities associated with farming but as a wise woman once told her, "You don't have to figure out how to farm like they do. You have to figure out how to farm in a way that works for you." She creatively works around having arthritis and some of her frustrations and triumphs will be featured in the blog associated with this website.
SUPPORTING the local economy and environment
When you buy from us, your money goes into northeastern Oregon's economy in several ways. You are helping us support the farmers who grow the grain we feed the pigs, the custom haying family who cuts and bales for us, and the custom butcher shop where the meat you buy is packaged just the way your family prefers. Since we are able to source our feed and farm services locally (within 100 miles), it decreases the carbon footprint of the food we are able to provide you. Finally, through rotational grazing for all of our animals, we are able to manage them without any of the negative complications that come with confinement operations. No nitrogen run off. No antibiotics. No chemicals. We grow good food in an environmentally and economically responsible manner.
Treating animals humanely
We farm the way we do because we truly enjoy the lifestyle. All of our animals are treated with respect and dignity for their whole lives. We love seeing new calves born every spring and a few surprises at other times of the year. Seeing Mama Pig gently endure her tiny newborns climbing on her face as they try to figure out where milk comes from makes our day. The animals all have room to run, grow, and play. They all have healthy living environments suited for their needs.