VanaTee Farm, a small family owned farm you can trust. In 1996 the VanderZanden Family moved to Central Oregon, establishing the small family farm. In the beginning VanaTee Farm was home to Beef Cattle and Horses. After 24 years we have grown to include a Cow/Calf operation, Pigs, Chickens, Goats, Lambs and now an Apiary! The products VanaTee Farm produces have changed some over the years but our guiding principals have always remained the same.
The farm is located on 20 acres offering views of the majestic Three Sisters Mountains and Deschutes River Canyon. This small parcel of land is great for growing luscious grass that all of our animals enjoy.
VanaTee Farm is dedicated to sustainable agricultural practices, conservation of resources, humane and compassionate animal husbandry practices and producing high quality natural products.
Chickens
Chickens arrived at VanaTee Farm in 2014. Our mixed flock of laying hens are free range and happily scratch and peck their way through the yard, pastures and horse runs year round. We love their delicious eggs and all the varieties and colors they come in!
Currently we have Americana hens which produce blue/green eggs, California Grey hens which produce white eggs, Cuckoo Maran hens which produce brown eggs with dark spots and Rhode Island Red hens that produce brown eggs.
We usually have eggs available for purchase most of the year, however most Fall months our chickens will go through a molt, producing little.
Cattle have been part of VanaTee Farm since its inception. We started with purchasing and raising a few steers a year for locker beef, until our daughter Chana purchased and raised steers for her FFA projects in 1998 and 1999.
In 2005, VanaTee Farm expanded to with breeding cattle. We started with one Simmital/Angus cross heifer, named Sabrina, who produced one calf annually. This was not enough to meet our needs so we continued to expand our breeding cows to include Murray Grey/Angus cross, Hereford/Angus cross and Red Angus.
For the male genetics we have decided to forego artificially inseminating our cows and heifers and have decided to lease Registered Purebred Black Angus Bulls. These bulls, because they are leased, come to us in late November/December and stay with us through the winter until they are needed out on the range in the Oregon Outback.
The calves produced start arriving in late August with the latest arriving the first of October. They then winter with their mothers on our dry pasture being fed high quality hay and are weaned at approximately 6 months of age in the Spring. They then spend the summer on our lush Cental Oregon Irrigated Pastures growing like weeds. In the fall at a year old they are then sorted into three different categories: retained heifers for future breeding at 2 years of age, retained steers for feeding out and becoming locker beef at 15-18 months of age and steers and heifers to be sold.
When we have selected the steers for locker beef we immediately settle them into our large dry pasture and begin feeding them high quality grass/alfalfa hay and sweet feed. These beef are finished on Sweet Feed for 3-5 months to ensure a tender, well marbled good tasting product that scores between Choice+ and Prime.
For the latest news and events with our Cattle please check out our Farm Life blog!
Pigs
In 1997 pigs became part of VanaTee Farm. These cute, fun, charismatic creatures have been a long favorite of the VanderZanden family including both our children via FFA and 4-H raising pigs for projects. Since that time VanaTee Farm locally sources piglets with partial heritage breeding to raise in our irrigated pond pasture in late summer where the piglets enjoying the lush grass of the pasture along with high quality feed to balance their ration.
They are also supplemented with organic produce, locally sourced, from gardeners that have over producing plants. After 5-6 months of this life they then become locker pork and processed locally by a USDA inspected facility.
All animals (including animals raised for meat) at VanaTee Farm are naturally raised. This means there are no growth hormones or steriods. Antibiotics have a limited use and are only used if the animals life is endangered. All withdrawal periods are strictly observed.
For the latest information on our Pigs please checkout our Farm Life blog!
Apiary
The Apiary of VanaTee Farm will commence Spring of 2020! Our Apiary will begin with one Honey Bee colony that was graciously gifted to us. We hope to expand to two or three colonies by mid summer. The addition of the Apiary will help encourage better stewardship and conservation of our land and to assist with the pollination of our local plants and gardens.
We are also looking forward to offering products from our own hives as they grow and mature, including Beeswax Wraps and Lip Balm. Currently, these For Sale items use locally sourced beeswax.
To see what the latest developments are with the Apiary, check out our Farm Life blog!
