We had the opportunity to go visit with a couple of local farmers/ranchers and hear about their practices and what makes their products unique. We went to the Hawkins Sisters’ Poultry Operation, where we met with Mary Hawkins, and then to 6 Ranch, where we got to talk to Liza Jane and Adele.
At the Hawkins Sisters Farm, we got to see Mary’s operation, which takes place on less than 10 acres of her family’s 300 acre farm. She told us about how she has been enjoying trying to learn to raise chickens for the last 3 years. She creates her own feed for the chickens from local wheat, barley, and field peas. Through this process, she is able to add additional value to the local products that are grown here in Wallowa county.
It was really interesting to get to listen to Mary talk about her entrepreneurial aspirations to expand her business and make a profitable, part time production. She is enjoying the puzzle that is figuring out how to produce locally. She also sells her products to locals, local restaurants, and to some places in Portland, Oregon. She is currently planning on expanding her business to include a processing facility, where she will be able to process her own chickens as well as being able to create opportunities for more small scale chicken farmers in the area.
Following our tour of the Hawkins Sisters’ Farm, we got to go visit 6 Ranch and learn about their operations. This ranch is a century ranch meaning that it has been in operation for more than 100 years. It has been in Liza Jane’s family for 130 years. Liza Jane is a fourth generation rancher, and her daughter Adele is following in her footsteps as a fifth generation rancher. The family raises grass fed Corriente Cattle, which is a slower growing, smaller breed used for rodeos. They then participate in the “eat it to save it” program to keep this breed, which is one of the oldest breeds around.
In addition to their cattle production, the family also has many side projects including a farm stand, a greenhouse, u-pick herb garden, dog and horse training, conservation & restoration projects, and a guided fishing and hunting business called “Cast and Blast”. It was really interesting to see the diversity and passion that they brought towards their business.
Following the tour of the ranch, greenhouse, and farm stand, we got to go across the street to see the river restoration project that they were implementing. They had previously incorporated meanders to another stretch of the river on their property too, so we got to walk along the river and see how the improvements that they had made. I really enjoyed this part of the day because it ties very closely to my Forest Engineering and Civil Engineering major. When we walked along the river, we ended up having to trek through some swampier sections, so we all ended up with wet feet, but it was really fun.
We then ate lunch in the shade by the river, and traveled to Joseph to visit the Josephy Center where we got to here a history of Wallowa County from Rich Wanschneider. He taught us a lot about the Nez Perce tribal history in the area.
