Wee Family Farm with Ann Partridge

In today’s episode we’re visiting a small farm tucked into the rolling hills of Yamhill County, where oak trees lean over the road and the landscape opens into sloped pasture and woodland. This is Wee Family Farm (https://www.weefamilyfarm.com/home), a diverse ten‑acre property where animal welfare, ecological diversity, and deep connection with customers guide every decision. Sheep, pigs, laying hens, and broilers have grazed across the south‑facing slopes, At the heart of it all is Ann Partridge, a horticulturist‑turned‑shepherd whose journey has taken her from New Zealand to the Pacific Northwest, and finally to this piece of land she now calls home.  Anne named her Farm after her love of the word wee — the name of her creek, the French oui of yes, the “wee” that means little, and the meaning of togetherness. That playful curiosity shapes the way she farms. We talk about her evolving dairy‑sheep breeding project, her experiments with pasture‑based pigs, the rhythms of milking and cheesemaking, and the art of building a flock with both temperament and udders in mind.We also explore what it means to arrive in a new rural community — through neighbors who become mentors, through shared work and traded skills, through Extension workshops, NRCS projects, and the kind of mutual support that makes small‑scale farming possible.Join us as we learn how one farmer is shaping a life and a landscape with intention, curiosity, and a whole lot of heart. This episode was recorded in march of 2026