{"id":3855,"date":"2026-01-21T16:09:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T00:09:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/klamathid.org\/home\/?p=3855"},"modified":"2026-02-05T11:54:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T19:54:47","slug":"rooted-in-the-basin-a-legacy-of-sustainable-farming-at-mcphersons-high-desert-highlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klamathid.org\/home\/2026\/01\/21\/rooted-in-the-basin-a-legacy-of-sustainable-farming-at-mcphersons-high-desert-highlands\/","title":{"rendered":"A Legacy of Sustainable Farming at McPherson Farms & McPherson\u2019s High Desert Highlands"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rooted in the Basin: A Legacy of Sustainable Farming at McPherson Farms & McPherson\u2019s High Desert Highlands<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meeting the McPhersons<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nestled in the expansive beauty of Southern Oregon\u2019s 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\u2019s High Desert Highlands<\/strong>, a family operation where tradition meets regenerative innovation.<\/p>\n

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Since the family purchased the property in 1980, the farm has been a labor of love. For Josh McPherson, this land isn\u2019t just a workplace\u2014it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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Stewardship of Land and Livestock<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/strong> and heritage breed hogs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe raise hay, cattle, hogs, and grain on our farm,\u201d the family explains. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their approach is distinctively conscientious:<\/p>\n