Local Farm Grows Fresh Produce and Quality Meats

Sandoz Farm’s origins can be traced back to the settlement of the American West when six boys of the 12 children of Frederick and Julia Sandoz immigrated from Switzerland to California and Oregon in the late 1850s. Three of the brothers bought property in The Dalles in 1880, and now, fourth-generation family members run the farm, which still specializes in many of the same commodities it started with, including sweet cherries. Full-flavored pastured beef and pork were added to the enterprises by third-generation Charles J. Sandoz in 1950. Over the years, the family has added a farm stand, a certified kitchen for preserving and crafting sweet and savory treats, a FREE harvest festival and more!

One of the Sandoz boys went to a Horticulture school in Switzerland and was to teach his brothers all he learned. After spending ten years in San Francisco, they moved to The Dalles, Oregon, in 1878 and worked on the existing farm for two years before they bought it. After planting grapes for wine, their primary focus was fruit trees, for which the dry land was perfect. These days, Mary, Ted, his wife Holly, and cousin Dan, fourth-generation Sandoz Family members, run the farm.

In the 1940s, Charles J. Sandoz, father of Mary and Ted, returned from World War II, raving about the meat he was served on the ship coming home. In 1950, the family purchased their first Angus cows. The goal was to utilize the land more effectively to raise quality beef. “It’s continued to grow in terms of modern technology and sustainable land use as farming techniques have improved,” Mary says. Nowadays, the family grows hay and natural grasses in areas that can’t grow good quality fruit trees, land on which their cows are raised exclusively.

In addition, Sandoz Farm raises pork in a dedicated pig barn on their property, complete with roomy stalls and a covered outside area. Both the cows and pigs are raised on a custom feed mix Mary’s father developed in the 1950s, specially formulated for each animal and freshly ground onsite. All meat is processed at a USDA facility in Sandy, yielding a variety of tender, flavorful cuts frozen and sold at the farmstand, at the farmers market, or by direct retail, including specialty products like summer sausage, pepperoni and pork brats.

Visitors to the farmstand can shop for an assortment of USDA pork and beef, fresh vegetables grown right on the farm, and seasonal fruits, including the sweet cherries they’re most famous for. A cozy enclosure with heating and air conditioning, the stand features a walk-in cooler, a display freezer and a certified kitchen. “We developed the kitchen so we could process our fruits and vegetables and give the community access to good, local foods even in the wintertime,” Mary says. Offerings include jams, jellies, pickled and preserved fruits and vegetables, and sweet and savory pies. Summer hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm, Fridays and Saturdays only during the winter. The family attends The Dalles Farmers Market when it’s in season and brings a similar sampling to share.

Autumn is a particularly magical time at Sandoz Farm because the family invites the whole community to celebrate the season at their FREE annual harvest festival! Wasco County isn’t known for its abundance of pumpkin patches, and Sandoz is proud to offer a place for families to visit and enjoy all the traditional fall activities. It’s become an expensive outing to go to the pumpkin patch, but not at Sandoz, where the only required cost is the pumpkin, and visitors can select from a beautiful variety of standard and specialty pumpkins in all shapes and sizes.

The festival has grown exponentially in the last three years, with around 3000 people attending in 2023. “We’re not a big operation like some others, but we host all the fun activities and people have a wonderful time just coming to the farm and hanging out. This is a community event, so all our Mill Creek neighbors pitch in,” says Mary. The celebration features a petting zoo with miniature farm animals like Herefords and sheep, hayrides, a giant slide constructed from the original (formerly located in The Dalles Sorosis Park), and food vendors with treats like popcorn, pumpkin cookies and caramel apples. Join in this year on October 19th from 11 am to 4 pm.

Apart from the harvest festival, other yearly traditions for Sandoz include an antique sale in May, hosted at their farm, and a winter craft sale every November, now hosted at The Mill Creek Hall. Mary hosts group farm tours by appointment. “It’s fun for people, especially kids, to experience something new and enjoy fresh, real food that’s come straight from the farm.”

Sandoz Farm is located at 5755 Mill Creek Rd, The Dalles. Please give them a call at 541-296-3859 or visit their website at sandozfarm.com