October Dawn, Horse Drawn Farms

This farm has symbolized the Lopez Islands' rural character like no other. Formerly "The Ellis Ranch" when I moved to Lopez Island in 1974, it is now a working farm transformed by Ken and Katheryn into the most sustainable, anti-corporate (GMO free) farm in the San Juan Islands, or anywhere else for that matter. Belgian draft mares plow the fields, steered by Ken, who once said "I always hope that the horses and I get to the same end of the row at the same time. They personify the very spirit of Lopez Island that I experienced as a young artist just a mile around the corner at Grayling Gallery and Fine Art School when I moved to this island. Hard work, integrity, respect for the land, animals, people of every sort are just some of the hallmarks employed by them on this 200 acre farm.