Farmville: 3 Sisters Farms offers closer look at unique working farm, lifestyle with Farm Day

Although his daughters were raised on the farm, Ron Muzzall is confident their appreciation for what they do has grown just like they have. The sisters that make up 3 Sisters Family Farms are all in their 20s now but remain committed to the family business and working farm culture that comes with being fifth generation farmers.

Although his daughters were raised on the farm, Ron Muzzall is confident their appreciation for what they do has grown just like they have.

The sisters that make up 3 Sisters Family Farms are all in their 20s now but remain committed to the family business and working farm culture that comes with being fifth generation farmers.

“When they were younger they didn’t understand the ramifications,” Muzzall said. “On the farm, people learn the consequences of their actions.”

Caring for one domesticated animal can be tedious for anyone at times.

At 3 Sisters Family Farm, that responsibility includes hundreds of cattle, hogs, lambs and chickens over hundreds of acres.

The grasses and grain that the animals eat also are grown on the farm and other leased property around Whidbey Island.

The public will get a glimpse of the inner workings of the Muzzall’s 120-acre working farm in Oak Harbor and learn a little more about the family business during a Farm Day at 3 Sisters Family Farms Saturday.

Normally closed to the public, the century-old farm off Scenic Heights Road that overlooks Penn Cove will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include food vendors, information booths, a petting zoo, hay maze, a barbecue and farm tours.

The farm’s original store also will open for the day, where beef, lamb and eggs will be sold.

A mobile slaughtering unit the farm uses also will be brought to the farm for educational purposes. No slaughtering will take place Saturday.

“This gives us a chance to show our customers and other people a working farm and a family working on a farm,” said Ron Muzzall, whose great grandparents started farming the land in 1910. “Ninety percent of agriculture is family farms.

“Very few corporations want anything to do with production agriculture because of the low margin.”

Jessica Muzzall, 24, the middle sister who serves as event planner and store manager for the 3 Sisters Market in nearby San de Fuca, said planning for Farm Day has been in the works since January.

Activity has picked up  this week with the entire family preparing for the special event. Jennifer Muzzall-Jones, 27, is the farm’s production manager. Roshel Muzzall, 20, is the youngest of the three sisters who’s home this summer from college.

It’s been five years since 3 Sisters Family Farms has opened its farm up to the public on this sort of scale and first time since the store opened in 2012.

Although admission to the farm is free, there is a cost for food that will be served.

Serendipity Catering from Coupeville is preparing a barbecue meal. Toppins Frozen Yogurt and Whidbey Coffee also will be serving beverages.

The farm is located at 938 Scenic Heights Road. There will be signs for parking.

“Every year we pick some sort of event to do,” said Shelly Muzzall, Ron’s wife and mom of the three sisters. “Last year, it was the Farm to Table dinner.

“The public is always interested in farming and the animals and just want to come by and learn.”

3 Sisters Family Farms prides itself on grass-fed beef and lamb, all natural barley-fed pork and cage free laying hens.

Ron Muzzall said it’s a rare venture these days for a business to derive its sole income from farming but 3 Sisters is managing to do so to keep its family heritage going.

He and his wife returned to the farm where he grew up in 1986. Once a commercial dairy, the farm sold its last milk cows in 2006 and started turning the focus to direct marketing of beef, pork and eggs to the community.

The farm’s products also are sold in some grocery stores and restaurants on Whidbey Island.

“The agricultural community is always having to adapt,” Ron Muzzall said.

“That’s one thing the dinosaurs didn’t do was adapt. And we all know what happened to them.”

To learn more about the 3 Sisters Family Farm Farm Day, go to www.3sistersbeef.org