The guiding principles of Yampa Valley Farms are those of observance and interaction; we operate on a small-scale and rely on an understanding of the patterns of nature as specific to our site and our animals, understanding the interconnectedness of everything on our farm. As such, we farm with great love and respect for our animals, a determination to continually improve our land and the environment, and a certainty that we produce the healthiest meats possible.

 

The local, natural food movement has been gaining great momentum in the US. As people become more aware that pigs are raised in crates indoors in concrete barns, that most layer birds are raised in 1'x1' cubicles, inside huge warehouses steeped in their own feces, and that some cows spend their lives slowing dying in grain barns, and all on a diet of daily antibiotics and hormones, they are looking for healthier, more humane options. All of our animals are raised based on the Farm Animal Welfare Council’s ‘five freedoms’. These five freedoms require that animals have freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom from discomfort, freedom to express natural behaviours and freedom from fear and distress. Our pigs are all raised outdoors and spend 6 months rotationally grazing in the forest, foraging on oak scrub. Our layer chickens spend their first 3 weeks in safe, warm brooders before moving to passive solar chicken houses (the Hilton, the Hyatt and the Marriot) where they are free to roost, lay and, most importantly, have free range across fresh grasses all day every day. Our cows also all live outdoors with free access to grasses that have never been chemically fertilized. The have shelter and icelandic kelp to help them thrive in this environment.

 

Environmental concerns, along with a desire to support the local economy, are also making people look for local products. Until we started producing chicken and pork there were no local options available. We believe it is important, where possible, to support local produce of any type.