A Big First at Valhalla North Ranch: Processing Our First Broilers!

This week brought one of our biggest milestones yet here at Valhalla North Ranch — we processed our very first batch of pasture-raised broiler chickens!

When we started this journey, we knew there would be plenty of firsts, a whole lot of learning, and probably a few moments of wondering what on earth we'd gotten ourselves into. This week was certainly one for the books!

Raising our broilers from tiny, fluffy chicks to full-grown birds has been an incredible experience. From feeding and watering to moving them onto pasture and watching them grow, every step has taught us something new about raising our own food and building a ranch we can be proud of.

But processing day? That was a whole new adventure!

A Day of Hard Work and Gratitude

Processing our first broilers was a big undertaking. We spent time preparing our equipment, setting up our processing area, and making sure we had everything ready to do the job properly.

It was hard work, no doubt about it. But it was also one of those days that reminded us exactly why we started Valhalla North Ranch in the first place.

There is something incredibly humbling about raising an animal from the very beginning and taking responsibility for its care through the very end. We don't take that responsibility lightly.

We're thankful for every bird that will help feed a family, thankful for the opportunity to learn these skills, and thankful that we're able to take another step toward producing good, locally raised food.

And we're pretty darn proud of ourselves, too!

Lessons Learned and Big Plans Ahead

One thing we've learned about ranching is that no amount of reading, researching, or watching videos can replace actually getting out there and doing the work.

We learned so much during this first processing day. What worked well, what we'd like to improve, how to make our setup more efficient, and how to better prepare for larger batches in the future.

Every lesson is something we can carry forward.

We're already excited about putting everything we've learned into practice for next year's growing season. Our goal is to continue improving our processes, expanding our broiler production, and making locally raised chicken available to more families in our community.

This first batch wasn't just about putting chicken in the freezer. It was about laying the groundwork for something much bigger.

Looking Ahead: 2027 Chicken Shares!

We're excited to announce that we have chicken shares available for the 2027 growing season!

Our broilers are pasture-raised right here at Valhalla North Ranch in Blackduck, Minnesota, and fed locally sourced grain.

Our goal is simple: raise quality birds with care, be transparent about how they're raised, and help connect local families with the people producing their food.

If you've been wanting to fill your freezer with locally raised chicken and support a small, veteran-owned family ranch, we'd love to have you join us!

We're currently accepting inquiries and reservations for our 2027 chicken shares. Reach out to learn more about availability, pricing, and ranch pickup.

Visit us at www.valhallanorthranch.com or send us a message!

From Our Ranch to Your Table

As we look back on this week, we're feeling a little tired, a whole lot more experienced, and incredibly grateful.

We're grateful for the opportunity to build this life, for the animals entrusted to our care, and for the people who have encouraged and supported us along the way.

We're still learning. We're still growing. And, we're certainly not going to get everything perfect the first time.

However, that's part of the beauty of building something from the ground up.

One flock, one lesson, and one milestone at a time.

Thank you for following along with our journey and supporting Valhalla North Ranch. We can't wait to see what next season brings!

Led by Faith. Guided by the Northern Lights. Semper Fi.

— Valhalla North Ranch
Blackduck, Minnesota
Proudly Marine Veteran-Owned