As a young boy growing up on a farm in Iowa, Joe Schueller always knew that he wanted to own a ranch someday.  “I wanted a ranch like it was in the 1930’s, before farming was industrialized,” says Joe.  Fast forward to the late 1980’s, Joe found himself working in Eugene, Oregon in the construction industry.  But even then, the lure of the area farmlands would bring him out on long Sunday drives.  In 1996, Joe’s dream finally came true when he opened up his first ranchette in Southeast Portland.  Initially focusing on chicken, rabbits, sheep and pigs on a ½ acre, Joe met his wife, Karen, in 1999.  Originally from New York City, Karen comments, “I never dreamed growing up that I would live in Oregon and raise bison – never even entered my mind until I met Joe and he told me about his goals.  My initial reaction was ‘You’ll have to tell me how that turns out for you.’  Who would have guessed that in just a few years, we would be here living out his vision.” Now located in Scio, Oregon, Rain Shadow El Rancho is now home to sheep, turkeys, chickens, 30 bison, and a llama named Dolly.  “Bison are easy to care for,” explains Schueller, “I try to create as natural an environment as I can.”

 

Joe loves his bison, though, and these gentle giants roam Schueller’s 145 acres.  A personal favorite, Indie the Bull, a 2100-pound male buffalo, would come to the fence to be hand fed by Joe.  When the treats ran out, Indie just shook his head at Joe and would then wander off.  “He was just a big baby,” says Schueller.  Indie currently resides at a neighboring ranch, as the bulls are rotated out regularly at the farm.

 

Joe Schueller first met Marco Shaw, chef/owner of Fife Restaurant, at the Farmer/Chef Connection.  Chef Shaw was on a discussion panel and Schueller approached him afterwards, intrigued by what Marco had to say.  Joe has now been working with Fife Restaurant as “The Buffalo Guy” for 4 years, supplying the restaurant with delicious buffalo, rabbit, pig and chicken that you find on the menu today.  Committed to sustainable agriculture, Rain Shadow El Rancho re-uses and recycles everything they can, utilizing a systematic approach with the animals that naturally break up and fertilize the soil.  “I’m always searching for the best way to use the land,” says Schueller, “I just really enjoy being a rancher.”

 

You can find Rain Shadow El Rancho’s organic products on the Fife Restaurant menu year around.  To view a sample menu, please click here.

 

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