About

Rusty Nicholls Ranch is a small family farm located amongst the rolling hills of central Washington just outside Yakima. We have lived at this location for over 20 years and have spent quite a bit of time revamping the pool and landscaping as well as the pastures, corrals, fences, stalls and of course, the barn.  Originally the ranch was meant to be a facility for horse boarding and training, with plenty of room for grazing and roaming.   The 10-stall barn was actually attached to a garage and studio apartment for a ranch-hand which were both part of the main living area.  When we purchased the property, the horses were gone, and we felt that some changes needed to be made, to make the human part of the building more livable.  We converted the garage into a large living room and two stalls into additional bedrooms.  The kitchen part of the studio was removed and is now an office/craft room for the wife.  We have added raised beds for the vegetable garden and recently, a hot house with the hopes of starting our favorite heirloom veggies a little earlier in the year.

All the while, our dream was to add a small beef cattle herd to keep our immediate family supplied with plenty of good meat that didn’t contain growth hormones, steroids or an abundance of antibiotics.  Over time, our we wanted to increase the herd and explore selling it beyond our own backyard.  So far, it has been a successful and interesting adventure because it has given us the opportunity to meet all kinds of people from all over Washington State from the heart of Seattle to the high desert of the northeast  – and a few folks in Idaho.  At this time, we have a herd of 20 beef cattle - cross steers and are developing a line of wagyu animals that won’t be available for another year or two.  

Of course, as we expanded the number of steers, we also added a few other beasts to the collection.  Like many of our farming neighbors, our menagerie consists of several different kinds of animals.  Some are for profit, some for sharing their eggs, others, just because they are cute.  At this time, we have a flock of chickens, several alpacas, numerous goats, a couple of dogs and cats, and a mare, that lazes around in the sun, and eats.  A lot.

 Both of us are retired, and we are amazed with how much time and energy this lifestyle takes.  In the end it keeps us very active.  Despite the sore muscles and extra worrying that comes along with farming we are happy to do it all, and especially enjoy sharing our bounty with others and by that, making lots of new friends.