Like many before them, our family moved to Oregon in the early twentieth century to build a new life. Farming opportunities were abundant, and after years of moving around the state our family settled just south of the old Methodist Mission in 1958.
Don and Rosalie Weathers grew a family of six children there, along with a variety of crops that rotated between hops, wheat, clover, kiwis, apples, onions, sweet corn, bent grass, tall fescue, and even raised reindeer at one point. When they bought the farm, it was about 190 farm-able acres with 60 more acres in timber that was eventually cleared and turned into farm-able ground totaling 250 acres. That wood was used to fire the kilns of the hop dryer for multiple years.
They were natural hop farmers; it was in their blood. Rosalie’s father, Ray, had been a hop broker for S.S. Steiner and provided guidance and connections to the early farm. He also had his own hop farm only a few miles away from Don and Rosalie that Rosalie grew up and worked on. The busy man Ray was, he also started a supply company in 1967 that sold parts specific to hop growers for growing, harvesting, selling, and shipping hops. Later on, fifteen cousins would work together all summer long to produce a good harvest.
The family was involved in many other aspects of the industry, from producing twine and selling specialty machinery parts to serving on commissions and supporting scientific research. This diversification was a major source of stability and quality control.
In 1983, Doug and his wife Audrey took the reins and became Sodbuster Farms. Together they’ve weathered changes in the brewing industry by focusing on the quality of their product, sustainable business practices, and close connections with brewers. Doug and Audrey are proud to be grower-owners of Yakima Chief Hops, the world’s leading provider of American Hops from the Pacific Northwest.
In 2023, generation four stepped up as leaders and established Lakeside Ranches. Erica and Jake Lorentz are continuing the family tradition of raising exceptional hops with exceptional people. Their core values for quality of product and a balanced life for their people are visible in their crop and in our farming environment.
We’re proud that our family is part of the great history of hop cultivation in the Willamette Valley, and look forward to providing hops for your favorite brews for generations to come!