When Disaster Strikes

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posted on

June 2, 2025

Even in this modern day and age... Farming is hard.

Farmers and ranchers frequently encounter a variety of stress-related challenges. These include significant financial burdens resulting from high levels of debt, fluctuations in market prices for their agricultural products, social isolation, pressures of keeping the family farming legacy running, stigma associated with mental health issues, and reliance on uncontrollable factors such as weather conditions.

Due to this extreme stress, farmers and ranchers experience depression and suicide rates that are double those of the average person.

Every season, those in agriculture face new uncertainties and challenges. Will it be a mild or rough winter? Will we have a storm that wipes out my crops? Did that hot, dry summer last year cause my cattle to not get bred? There was a fire on the range where I run my cattle, and now I don't have enough feed for all my cows. What will commodity prices be when I'm ready to sell?

Unfortunately, our pasture-raised chicken provider, Brian, recently experienced a disaster.

When chicks first arrive on the farm, they are too fragile to be put directly on pasture. Therefore, they spend their initial weeks inside a brooder, where the temperature is consistently maintained until they are old enough to tolerate outdoor living conditions. These cozy houses are typically heated with propane heaters or heat lamps. However, a downside to this heating method is that it can pose a fire hazard. A good friend's shed burned down because a heat lamp fell during the night and ignited a fire.

Unfortunately, Brian experienced a fire incident. Fortunately, none of his other brooders caught fire, and the local fire department was able to contain the blaze quickly. It's truly heartbreaking to lose an entire batch of chickens; the stress and weight of that loss can be incredibly overwhelming. Though Brian is good at persevering, it doesn't lessen the financial impact that this type of event can cause.

Brian works hard through the hottest summer months to provide us with the highest quality chickens you can find in the area. Despite this setback, his first batch of chickens was already out of the brooders on pasture, so we will be receiving our first batch of fresh chickens the second week of June.

Brian is best supported by your loyal purchases of his delicious chicken. Season after season, he dedicates himself to raising chickens on pasture, ensuring that you receive the highest quality chicken for your family.

Your continued support of our business is what keeps us going, helping us navigate both emotionally and financially challenging times.

Thank you for your continued support! ❤️

Full 2026: Series on The Big Grass Fire "It Starts with a Spark!"

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Standing Together During the Big Grass Fire When wildfires threaten our communities, they don’t stop to ask whose land they’re on. They move quickly, changing lives in a matter of hours. But in rural communities like ours, something else moves just as quickly—neighbors stepping up to help neighbors. As the Big Grass Fire continues to impact parts of Idaho and Oregon, Sean Cunningham of Cunningham Pastured Meats has joined countless ranchers, volunteers, firefighters, and first responders working tirelessly to support those directly affected. But, in spite of the effort to mitigate the damages, the devastation is real to life and property. While the Cunningham ranch has not been directly impacted by the fire, Sean has been spending long days assisting neighboring ranchers whose grazing lands, livestock, fences, and livelihoods have been threatened. Whether helping protect cattle, building fire lines, moving equipment, or supporting firefighting efforts wherever needed, the work reflects something deeply rooted in ranching culture: when one neighbor is hurting, everyone shows up. With but a brief reunion with Sean after his 3 days of fire service. As you can imagine, while Sean is all smiles to finally be home for some much-needed rest, tears were shed by the littles in his reunion with the family! As many of you know, Liz and Sean, while still only in their late 30s, have seven children and one on the way. To date, Liz and Sean have spent days apart, each taking on the role in their own capacity against the fires. Sean on the dozer in the field and Liz capturing the story in a digital war to garner the attention of news agencies like KTVB7, the Lt. Governor's office, the White House, electric company CEOs and others for much needed assistance and support for the communities who are now at the mercy of a rogue grass fire, The Big Grass Fire and simultaneous fires stretching thousands of acres throughout the Jordan Valley and beyond. That spirit of service and capitalizing on each person's strengths to wage the war against the fires is nothing new to ranchers. Across the West, ranchers have long been among the first to respond when wildfire strikes. Their knowledge of the land, equipment, water sources, and terrain often makes them invaluable partners alongside local, state, and federal fire crews. Many volunteer through Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, organizations that have become an essential part of wildfire response throughout Oregon and Idaho. These partnerships help firefighters respond more quickly while protecting communities, grazing lands, wildlife habitat, and homes. For ranching families, these fires aren’t simply headlines—they’re deeply personal. A single fire can erase years of stewardship, destroy fencing, eliminate forage needed to feed cattle, and disrupt generations of hard work. Yet even in the face of tremendous loss, ranchers continue helping one another because that’s simply what neighbors do. We are incredibly grateful to every firefighter, volunteer, dispatcher, law enforcement officer, ranch family, and community member working around the clock to protect lives and property. Their courage and commitment remind us that the strength of rural communities isn’t measured only by the land we steward—it’s measured by the people willing to stand together when it matters most. Please continue keeping the families directly affected by these fires in your thoughts and prayers. Recovery will take time, but our communities have always been built on resilience, compassion, and a willingness to lend a hand. As of Wednesday July 29, 2026 at 8 am the non-official update includes official agencies holding the line with the yellow circles area in the image below a wild card. With potential winds pushing north again, critical barriers may not be enough to hold the fire from encroaching on Silver City. The blue circled area on a post seen here with images is the most difficult to manage, with juniper trees, canyons, and rock formations making it difficult terrain to navigate intervention and support. See more details and images here From all of us at Cunningham Pastured Meats and Cliff’s Country Market, thank you to everyone serving on the front lines and behind the scenes. We are honored to stand alongside a community that continues to embody the very best of what it means to be neighbors helping neighbors. We continue to remain steadfast in prayer in the midst of a very active and devastating fire season.Watch Sean's interview with KTVB news.

Full 2026: 6 week series is housed here: real food, real health, and why quality meat matters

So as we step into 2026, we’re beginning a 6-week educational series to share what we know, what we’ve learned on the ranch, and why how your food is raised matters just as much as what you eat. We’re starting with the foundation. Why Protein Matters—Now More Than Ever. Discover the entire 6 week series here!

Why Beef Prices Are Rising Across America — The Full Cunningham Ranch 6-Week Series

This 6-part series breaks down the real reasons beef prices are rising across America — from retiring ranchers and shrinking cattle herds to land-use changes, disease threats, and extreme consolidation in the meatpacking industry. Each email in the series explains a different pressure facing ranchers today and how these issues ultimately impact consumers. Most importantly, it highlights why supporting small, local, transparent producers matters now more than ever.

When Disaster Strikes

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Full 2026: Series on The Big Grass Fire "It Starts with a Spark!"

Full 2026: 6 week series is housed here: real food, real health, and why quality meat matters

Why Beef Prices Are Rising Across America — The Full Cunningham Ranch 6-Week Series