Co-op Member Spotlight: Ryan Cheeke Farms

Ryan Cheeke, Ryan Cheeke Farms

Ryan Cheeke Farms, of Philomath, OR, got its start in 1996, when owner Ryan Cheeke was just 14-years old and took over the cattle portion of his family’s small farm. He has since grown the operation to 400 cow-calf pairs, while custom feeding 200 additional Angus yearlings. Ryan and his wife, Stacie, grow all of their own hay to support their cattle business and farm 1500 acres of grass seed, while also custom baling straw for export.

He got into the grass seed business in 2019 when his uncle passed away unexpectedly and had 500 acres that needed tended. Within a year, Ryan was farming upwards of 2000 acres of grass seed. Farming comes naturally to him as the sixth generation on his mom’s side to farm cattle and grass seed. His mother’s family settled in Harrisburg, OR in the 1800s after coming to Oregon on the wagon train.

As parents to two boys, Tyler (11) and Logan (9), Ryan and Stacie value being able to work beside their kids, whether that’s riding in the combine with them or supporting them in their 4-H beef project, which Ryan himself grew up showing and selling market steers.

“I appreciate the youth support Wilco provides to 4-H programs and youth auctions,” Ryan said. He serves as the Beef Superintendent at Benton County Fair, is a member on the Benton County Fair Foundation, and serves on the Benton County 4-H Youth Auction Committee. “You have to be involved in the community you live in, don’t simply exist in it; and that’s what I like about Wilco, they do just that,” Ryan added. In addition to his 4-H and fair volunteerism, Ryan also serves as a member of the Philomath School Board, as well as being the Benton County Representative on the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Board.

Conservation and habitat restoration projects are a strong focus of the Cheekes. “We try to graze sustainably to improve native species and plants to preserve and enhance the environment,” Ryan said. They work with individual landowners that partner with Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Fish and Wildlife, so cattle and natural plants and species can co-exist. They graze their beef herd and sell their grass-fed beef direct to local customers, in addition to providing beef to a Corvallis Charter School for all of their lunch needs.

While Ryan says labor and input costs are the greatest challenges to their business, he has no plans of giving up his way of life, saying farming is something he was born to do. “I like running equipment, working with cattle, and improving the areas we farm,” Ryan said. “Best of all, I get to work outside every day and have my family working beside me. Every day is a new adventure. You have a plan, but you never know where your day will take you,” he added.

The Cheekes rely on their local Wilco Farm Store for many things, including their fencing, hardware, and clothing needs. They also utilize the Purina Livestock Production Specialist (LPS) Program, which allows them to order feed products through a Purina salesperson via Wilco. “The LPS Program is a great benefit to us because instead of going to the store to buy a small amount in multiple trips, they will direct ship the Purina products I need in larger quantities, like mineral products for my cattle,” Ryan said. “This Wilco-Purina partnership helps us maximize efficiencies and results.”