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News Advertiser
JUNE 24, 2020
www.NewsAdvertiser.com
Ridge Lane Ranch Delivers Farm to Fork Products and Services Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Ridge Lane Ranch, a family owned and operated local business offers top quality beef, pork and poultry to consumers. They also have a variety of cattle breeds with a commercial herd and purebred Gelbvieh and Speckle Park cattle along with some longhorn breeds such as: Highlands, Longhorns, and Pictured from left to right are: Miranda Ketchum, Hedi and Jim Sokalski (holding Ashleigh Ketchum), Matthew, James, Jesse, Austin Sokalski, with Kaden Sokalski in front in the navy shirt. Missing are: Joshua and Ashton Ketchum, Jessica Sokalski, Jon and Mykaela Van Soest and their kids Karol, Gemma, Casimir and Rosalie.
Brahmas. On the farm you’ll also find llamas, pig and horses and at certain times of the year, chickens and turkey. They throw in a few goats and sheep for good measure. The farm, located about 20 kilometres from Vegreville was founded by Jim and Hedi Sokalski who were married
in 1979. Together they established a yard and a home where there had previously been grainland. They were brought together by a shared vision of raising their family within a rural setting. Because growing up on family farms meant a lot to them, that was the lifestyle they wished to continue and pass on to their children.
The farm started as a mixed operation with cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and grain. Over time the grain farming aspect was phased out and the livestock operation flourished. “Our main areas of focus now are cattle and chickens, though we also have llamas, horses and pigs. We have been selling meat chickens directly to customers since 1979; however, within the last five years we also started marketing our beef and pork for farm-to-table sales,” say the Sokalski’s. “While we are no longer into growing cereal crops, plants are still very important to us! We believe in staying away from pesticides and herbicides in order to turn out nutritious plant food for ourselves and our animals. A huge garden every summer means that we get to eat our own fruits and vegetables for quite a large part of the year - oh so tasty!” They went on to say, “We strive to be good stewards of the earth by being friendly to our animals and our environment. We are committed to raising our animals as naturally as we can, without added steroids or hormones, and we incorporate a variety of grasses, legumes and other plants into our pastures to help promote soil health. Healthy soil is lasting soil, and without lasting soil...well...WE wouldn’t last!”
Ridge Lane Ranch - CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
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