Protein for people, better lives for livestock

Michelle Paxton and Wade Traphagen have long been generous with the products of their farm, which sits on about 50 acres in rural Bonner County.

After the introduction of a boar named Giovanni left the couple with more pigs — and more pork — than they knew what to do with a few years ago, they began giving much of it away for free.

“We ended up giving it to friends and family who were raving about it,” Traphagan said.

Eventually, they decided to begin donating the extra pork and beef from their farm to individuals in need through local food banks and other organizations.

It was then that they learned the true extent of the need for healthy protein options in North Idaho.

“What we found working with some of these food banks and senior organizations is that what’s really hard for them to get for their food pantries is protein,” Traphagen said.

Traphagen explained that while food banks are an invaluable community resource, much of the food tends to be prepackaged or processed, making fresh protein harder to come by for those who can’t afford grocery store prices.

“Meat has gotten much more expensive over the past few years,” Traphagen said. 

As the couple began working with an increasing number of area food banks and nonprofits, Paxton said they received “an overwhelming response."

“I’ve seen more than one person brought to tears because there’s just such a need and they’re so passionate about the people they work with,” Paxton said.

Until recently, all costs associated with raising their livestock and butchering it to then donate has been out of pocket for the couple — even so, they dreamt of expanding their reach in the community.

“We decided we’d really love to scale up and help more people,” Traphagen said.

Over the last few months, the couple has officially incorporated their farm as Jewel Lake Ranch, a new nonprofit organization.

By forming a nonprofit, they’re able to apply for grants and take donations.

They’re also able to continue providing a high quality of life for their animals, which was the main driver for the couple to begin raising their own livestock in the first place. They've even started taking in some animals from people who could not provide adequate care.

The pigs and cattle at Jewel Lake Ranch are raised in large open spaces and graze freely on the land. Their diets are supplemented with organic, non-GMO feed.

In contrast, the average amount of space a single pig has to move around on a commercial farm is usually 8-10 feet for a finishing pig weighing 120-180 pounds, and a mere 2-4 square feet for a weaned nursery pig weighing up to 60 pounds, according to Paxton.

Cattle typically have 20-40 square feet per head in bedded confinement, Paxton added.

“It’s really kind of tragic, the way those animals are raised,” Traphagen said. “Here, we give them a really great life up until it’s time for them to go off and feed people.”

    Wooly Mangalitsa pigs are adorable residents of Jewel Lake Ranch.
  

    Jewel Lake Ranch in rural southern Bonner County.