Sustainability: Stewardship, Local Community and Succession

Sustainability at Highwood Valley Ranch means: 

• Stewardship:  Care for the land, air and water.
• Promoting and supporting our local community and it's economy.  This includes local food.
• Assisting our young people in remaining on or returning to the farm. 

Stewardship:  At Highwood Valley we recognize that the land sustains us all! We have a strong connection to the land and actively work to promote conservation and good stewardship practices. We also realize that the land, air and water are connected.  Our management practices reflect a desire to treat our animals and the environment with care and concern. A portion of our lands along the river are protected in perpetuity with a conservation easement.  These riparian lands will remain undeveloped and all future owners will have to follow the management practices laid out by the land trust holding the easement.

Local: Supporting and promoting local food is part and parcel of supporting our local community. Communities whose economies have a strong local component based on sustainable industries are more resilient. Connecting with and supporting other local producers and businesses just makes sense to us. 

Keeping the land in agriculture:
Without young people returning to the family farm, lands are often lost to development. We are pleased to say that a new generation has come back to Highwood Valley Ranch. We are beginning the farm succession process with Wade and Jaimie Nelson full of enthusiasm and good ideas for growing the business in the years ahead.   


Highwood Valley Ranch Animal Husbandry Protocol