"Washington [D.C.] is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable. Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country." -Horace Greeley
Our family has two things in common, going back over 250 years. Everyone of us has farmed, and everyone of us headed west. This blog is about our family farming at the final stop on a generational tour, as far west as one can go, Alaska.
We are thrilled to be farming in such a unique and challenging environment. The beauty and grandeur of the landscape is unparalleled, with snow-capped mountains, rugged coastlines, and dense forests all around us.
How we got here
The tradition of farming in our family was very close to being lost. Tough times in the lower 48 meant all of us ended up getting careers outside of farming. Our families grew, and so did the need to provide. The time and ability to get a farm became more of a dream, than the reality it was for me and my siblings as children. Myself and Shana, my wife were looking at retirement, and Alaska looked like our final home. Our sons ended living in Alaska after falling in love with it when we lived on the slope when they were younger, and Shana and I found ourselves always wanting to go back. But something happened between us departing Europe and moving to Alaska. My son Dylan and his wife, wanted our help taking over a peony farm of all things.
Their love of farming was contagious, and spread to me and my brother. Our three families all pitched in, and we ended up in Pt. Mackenzie, the rest of our story to be written here!
Where we are going
Our farm offers horse boarding, and we take pride in providing one of the highest quality hay products in the state. Our goal is to grow and produce hay that is both nutritious and delicious for our equine friends. We understand the importance of high-quality forage in a horse's diet, and we strive to provide the best possible feed for our boarders.
As we continue to farm in Alaska, we are mindful of the challenges that come with this unique and sometimes unforgiving environment. The extreme weather conditions and limited growing season require careful planning and flexibility, and we must always be prepared for the unexpected.
Despite these challenges, we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to agriculture in Alaska and to carry on our family farming tradition. Our hope is to inspire others to join us in fostering the growth and success of agriculture in this great state.
We invite you to visit our farm, meet our horses, and sample our delicious hay and produce. We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and look forward to a bright future filled with growth, learning, and adventure in the world of farming.
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