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Located in the glacial valleys of Stevens County, the Hagen Cattle and Hay Ranch has long been a cornerstone of agriculture and community. Specializing in registered Black Angus and polled Hereford cattle, the Hagen family has built a legacy around quality genetics for cross-breeding and responsible land management.
Their stewardship extends beyond the ranch fence lines. Working in partnership with the Stevens County Conservation District (SCCD), the Hagens have engaged with the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) and Floodplains by Design grant program to explore ways to enhance floodplain function, manage runoff, and protect water quality while maintaining a thriving livestock and hay operation.
The ranch also manages a manure storage facility built in 2008, supporting a nutrient recycling system that naturally fertilizes their hay fields, an approach that benefits soil health and reduces nutrient loss.
As both a producer and community leader, Pauline Hagen, who serves as a Board Supervisor for SCCD, plays a vital role in advancing local conservation efforts and connecting producers to voluntary programs that work for agriculture.
Through their practices and partnerships, the Hagen family continues to demonstrate that responsible land management and agricultural productivity can grow together in Stevens County.
Generations of farming along Hangman Creek have faced erosion and water quality challenges. Through a partnership between the Spokane and Pine Creek Conservation Districts and the Washington State Department of Ecology, local landowners are restoring natural stream channels, planting native vegetation, and stabilizing creek banks, all while keeping working lands productive. Together, they’re proving that voluntary conservation benefits both farms and fish.
Generations of farming along Hangman Creek have faced erosion and water quality challenges. Through a partnership between the Spokane and Pine Creek Conservation Districts and the Washington State Department of Ecology, local landowners are restoring natural stream channels, planting native vegetation, and stabilizing creek banks, all while keeping working lands productive. Together, they’re proving that voluntary conservation benefits both farms and fish.
Established in the 1890s and donated to Washington State University in 2020, Vetter Farm is jointly managed by the Stevens County Conservation District and WSU Extension. This 158-acre property serves as a working demonstration farm, supporting soil health research, agroforestry trials, and educational field days that bring local producers together to share ideas and test new approaches.
