In America’s early history, farmers and bakers took the time to make beautiful food in…
Meet Diamond-S Farms: A Shepherd’s Grain Grower
Meet Family Farmers: Art & Sue Schultheis
What is the name of your Farm, Ranch, or Homestead?
Diamond-S Farms, Inc.
Where are you located?
9451 SR 195, Colton, WA 99113,
½ mile west of Colton, WA along Highway 195. 12 miles south of Pullman, WA
90 miles south of Spokane, WA
When did life as a farmer begin for you and family?
Born and raised on our family farm, I am the fifth generation to operate our farm. Graduated from Colton High School in 1980 and Walla Walla Community College in 1982 with an Ag Mechanics degree. Came home to farm full-time with my parents in March 1983. Married my wife Sue in November 1984. Worked for my parents until 1987 when we formed a partnership and farmed together for the next 7 years. My parents moved to town in 1989 and we moved into the farm house that I was raised in. My Dad retired in the fall of 1994. Sue and I formed Diamond-S Farms, Inc. in February 1996 and have continued to expand the farm acres. Our son, Kyle, was born in 1987 and daughter, Kelsey in 1989. In July 2017, we moved into our new house we built in Colton. Kyle and his wife Stacie, along with their 2 children, Bria 5, Colin 2, moved into the farm house. Kyle is now farming full-time with me after teaching high school math for the last 8 years. Kelsey and her husband, Kevin, live in Durham, NC.
What do you grow and raise?
Hard red winter wheat, soft white winter wheat, dark northern spring wheat, hard white spring wheat, soft white spring wheat, malt barley, food barley, garbanzo beans, small brown lentils, Kentucky bluegrass seed, fescue for seed, alfalfa hay, grass hay, and 12 cow/calf pairs.
What traditional methods do you use on your farm to grow your crops?
We direct-seed all our crops, meaning we fertilize and seed in one pass, directly into the previous years’ crop residue without any prior tillage.
What is one of your favorite farm-infused recipes you wish to share?
This recipe came from my mother’s cookbook:
French Pancakes (Crepes)
1 cup flour
2 eggs, well beaten
½ tsp. salt
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 ½ cup milk
Mix thoroughly with blender. Fry on hot griddle turning once.
What is at least one farm tradition your family upholds?
Each winter we have a family butchering weekend where we cut and wrap our own beef and make German pork sausage for our families.
What inspires you to continue a farm lifestyle?
Seeing the sixth and seventh generation now living on the farm inspires me to leave our farm in better shape than when I started farming 35 years ago. Our direct-seed program has improved soil health and our yields continue to improve as we work to refine our program.
What words of inspiration or uplifting wisdom do you hope to impart on our future generations of farmers, ranchers, beekeepers, and homesteaders?
Do not worry about things you cannot control (i.e. weather). You must adapt to the changes that come your way.
Where can people find you/your products online?
A Shepherd’s Grain Grower
Farmers Art & Sue of Diamond-S Farms are one of the dedicated growers for Shepherd’s Grain. Shepherd’s Grain sponsored FarmMade’s Inaugural Pacific Northwest Pie-Way Tour. We baked many delicious pies and galettes during our tour thanks to Shepherd’s Grain Unbleached Pastry Flour. Shepherd’s Grain flour is milled from grain grown by farmers Art, Susie, and other farmers dedicated to preserving precious soil with a sustainable no-till method.
You’ll find Art, Sue, and many other family farmers on Shepherd’s Grain website. “Find Your Grower feature reinforces our commitment to renew the relationship between consumers and the farmers who grow their food. We want you to get to know the men and women who build the Shepherd’s Grain tradition today.
Each grower is certified by Food Alliance™ for sustainability and complies with our strict standards for land improvement. When you enjoy Shepherd’s Grain, you become a steward of the land and part of the story we’re still writing for future generations. And, you get the tastiest flour possible.
Shepherd’s Grain. It’s for us, it’s for the planet, and it’s for you.” (Continue reading about Shepherd’s Grain here.)
THANK YOU Art for sharing your family’s farm story with FarmMade’s community of folks that are helping farmers stay farmers. We happily preserve farm craft and traditions together!
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