Vranes Farm
The original homestead was settled by the Vranes family, immigrants from Yugoslavia, in 1914. In 2000, Jay Cablk and Carrie Linder purchased the Vranes Farm from one of the Vranes grandchildren. While the original home is no longer standing, and the windmill has since been replaced with an electric pump, both families came to believe that this land was the key in the pursuit of a better life.
The barn, over 70 years old remains an integral part of what the land stands for today. While no longer a dairy operation, the homestead is thriving in a different manner. A large vegetable garden and greenhouse, both egg laying and meat chickens and a small flock of sheep carry on the homesteading tradition.
It really all began when we wanted to create our own compost for the vegetable gardens. We first started with the chickens, but they did not provide quite enough composted material, so a small flock of sheep was acquired in 2003. Over the past few years it has become an integrated system with being able to provide the nutrients for the gardens from that which is produced by the sheep. We are just pleased to know the animals live a good life, and that we can provide healthy, humanely raised lamb and poultry. Great taste is our goal, achieved through our animal husbandry principles that include treating our animals humanely, feeding them chemical-free hay and feeds, and allowing them to mature naturally. As said by our customers, our lamb is the best they have ever tasted.
In addition to raising chickens, sheep, a few occasional pigs and produce, we operate Jay’s Tree Care. Jay is considered the “Tree Guy” by many and has a special knack for climbing the tallest of trees imaginable. The tree business includes other opportunities such as fire wood and wood chips.
Products available include:
- Pastured poultry
- Grass-fed lamb
- Wood Chips