Farm Life Near Newcastle: Broken Arrow Farm advocates for sustainable farming
Paul and Bailey Eitel own and operate Broken Arrow Farm near Newcastle and are a passionate, hardworking couple, generating agricultural opportunities for their family.
Their passion for wholesome, farm-to-table food products has been the driving force of their operation, which raises fryer chickens, egg layers, meat rabbits and beef and dairy cows for their local community.
The family farm also harvests and processes the majority of their animals on the farm themselves.
The Eitels have a passion for producing local, quality-sourced products and take great pride in raising happy, healthy and high-quality animals, a tradition they are passing down to their boys.
Broken Arrow Farm ensures their animals have access to fresh forage and wide-open pastures, maintaining hormone-free diets and residing in stress-free environments.
“This is what makes for great-tasting, healthy and delicious products, the way nature intended it to be,” Paul states.
Farm-to-table food products
When it comes to current operations, Paul explains Broken Arrow Farm specializes in raising Cornish Rock fryers.
“At the Broken Arrow Farm, we start our chicks in a brooder, and all of our chickens are fed a chemical- and hormone-free diet,” Paul shares. “Once the chicks are old enough, we move them outside to a movable electric netting pen.”
He further notes, “While on fresh pasture, the chickens benefit from eating green grass and insects, as they frequently move along to a new spot, giving them access to fresh forage.”
Paul shares this results in a juicy, tender and flavorful chicken, bringing in repeat customers.
“Some customers have been purchasing fryers from us for over nine years and come from multiple states,” he says.
Another specialty product Broken Arrow Farm produces is quality meat rabbits. The family operates a purebred and pedigreed rabbitry, consisting of New Zealand Whites, Black and Blues, along with Rex and Californian breeds.
“Right now, we are housing over 500 rabbits annually, and all of our rabbits are also fed a chemical- and hormone-free diet,” Paul remarks. “In the warm months, rabbits are supplemented with fresh greens.”
Broken Arrow Farm has branched out over the years and are now raising beef and dairy cows as well.
“Our small family farm has incorporated emus,” Paul notes. “A few years back, we purchased three emus, all of which turned out to be boys. So, we acquired some females to secure future breeding stock, and this fall was the first year they laid eggs.”
Most recently, Paul and Bailey built a large high tunnel and are experimenting with a winter wheat cover crop.
Paul notes, “We will be creating a multi-crop system to assist Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to meet the area’s need.”
By optimizing the use of space in a high tunnel through succession planting and intercropping, a grower can maintain continuous production throughout the market and CSA distribution season.
How it started
Paul grew up on a family ranch in northwest Nebraska, where his family raised cattle and grew wheat and alfalfa.
“I developed a love for poultry during my years as an active 4-H competitor. I showed everything growing up,” Paul laughs. “But, I have been raising meat rabbits for over 30 years.”
Paul and Bailey both went to college to study rangeland management, but Paul spent his collegiate years at Chadron State College, minoring in ag-business. Bailey attended the University of Wyoming, placing her focus in botany and forestry.
“My ranching heritage instilled a deep passion for locally-sourced food, so I continue to advocate for agriculture and produce quality food for my family and nearby communities,” he shares.
Paul further notes the diversification of their program has multiple benefits.
“Our cows will hit wherever the chickens were due to the increase of nitrogen in the grass from the chickens scratching up the ground and new growth coming up,” Paul explains. “Meanwhile, the chickens spread out the cattle manure, naturally fertilizing the soil.”
The future
Much of the country remains disengaged or misinformed about the food system, which is a big problem since agriculture plays a major role in all individualsʼ lives, and Broken Arrow Farm is addressing this issue.
On a daily basis, Paul films different aspects of the farm – from the birth of new rabbit kits to collecting emu eggs in the dark and facing the issues harsh weather creates when living in northeastern Wyoming.
“I utilize multiple social media platforms, but the most rewarding avenue of broadcasting is filming and posting to our YouTube channel,” he declares. “We want to share our agricultural lifestyle and tutorials on how to run a small family farm, letting viewers see what day-to-day life is like, along with educating people about agriculture and how important it is.”
Broken Arrow Farm’s YouTube channel has around 1,600 followers and over 300 videos to view.
For more information on Broken Arrow Farm, visit brokenarrowfarm307.com or check out their YouTube channel @BrokenArrowFarm307.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
