Rooted in the Basin: A Legacy of Sustainable Farming at McPherson Farms & McPherson’s High Desert Highlands

Meeting the McPhersons

Nestled in the expansive beauty of Southern Oregon’s Klamath Basin, just south of Klamath Falls, lies a landscape defined by open farmland, the rugged Cascade Mountains to the west, and rolling desert hills to the east. This is the home of McPherson Farms & McPherson’s High Desert Highlands, a family operation where tradition meets regenerative innovation.

 

Since the family purchased the property in 1980, the farm has been a labor of love. For Josh McPherson, this land isn’t just a workplace—it’s his lifelong home. Raised on these 750 acres, Josh has spent over 25 years mastering every furrow and fence line, from managing complex irrigation systems to operating heavy equipment and caring for the herd. Today, alongside his mother, Jani, and his wife, Marlena, Josh leads the farm with a philosophy that balances production with stewardship.

Stewardship of Land and Livestock

On their farm, the focus is on humane, healthy practices that respect both the animal and the soil. The farm produces local meat that the community can trust, specifically raising Scottish Highland Cattle and heritage breed hogs.

“We raise hay, cattle, hogs, and grain on our farm,” the family explains. “We butcher a small number of our cattle and all our hogs to sell meat direct-to-consumer through our farm store, the Northwest Makers Market, and the Klamath Grown Online Market.”

Their approach is distinctively conscientious:

  • Cattle: The Scottish Highland herd is pasture-raised and rotationally grazed—a method that mimics natural patterns to improve soil health. They are never grain-fed or finished and are raised without growth hormones or antibiotics.
  • Hogs: The heritage pigs enjoy a diet of barley and alfalfa grown directly in the McPherson fields.
  • Land: Describing their methods as “somewhere between conventional and regenerative,” the McPhersons utilize no-till cultivation where possible, rotational grazing, and cover crops to nourish the earth.

A Sanctuary for Wildlife

The farm’s commitment to nature extends beyond livestock. Located in the Pacific Flyway near several National Wildlife Refuges, the ranch serves as a vital rest area for migratory birds. It is not uncommon to see sandhill cranes, eagles, and hawks sharing the skyline, while the fields support a diverse ecosystem including coyotes and badgers.

Growing the Next Generation

For Josh and his family, their farm is more than a business; it is a classroom. As a proud Host Farm for the Oregon Farm Corps, they are dedicated to passing the torch to the next generation of agriculturalists.

Josh believes that farming can make the world better by rediscovering traditional farm practices while embracing new methods. Through the apprenticeship program, aspiring farmers get hands-on experience in everything from irrigation and crop establishment to direct-to-consumer sales, learning to integrate agriculture with the wild landscape.

 

Want to taste the difference or join the journey?

Connect with McPherson’s High Desert Highlands to support local agriculture or explore apprenticeship opportunities.