LYNDEN, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – As lifelong residents of Lynden, Glen and Lisa Oostema know what it means to be a Whatcom County farmer.
The two own and operate Oostema Farmstead, a mixed-use 117-acre property in Lynden that serves as both a lodging area and a Wagyu beef farm.
But before the couple started this agritourism business, the two worked in the dairy industry for many years.
Glen was born and raised on a dairy farm in Lynden, where his parents worked in the dairy industry for about 30 years. Glen and Lisa ultimately took over that dairy farm and worked it before leaving the dairy industry 22 years ago.
“I like the animals,” said Glen. “And the crops – you’re doing all different kinds of stuff. You’re not just doing one thing because you’re a veterinarian, you’re pulling calves, you’re everything.”
Lisa was also raised in Lynden, where her mother ran a fabric store. It was there that Lisa would learn the trades of the retail world, and she later worked for Procter and Gamble in merchandising.
For around 10 years, the farmstead has hosted visitors from far and wide. The Oostema’s have built a barn cabin and a “little farmhouse” for visitors to reserve as well as spaces for RVs and tents.
“When COVID hit, people started looking for places to stay and they just started showing up [at the farm],” Lisa said. “It’s not glamorous by any means. You’re on a farm and that is what it is.”
On the farm side of things, the couple is now utilizing the cows for beef products including the highly sought after Wagyu beef.
A friend of theirs was getting rid of some Wagyu cows and offered them to Glen and Lisa with the idea that the two could raise and market them. Since then, the two have pivoted their business to be not just accommodations for visitors, but to a rising beef business in Whatcom County.
Lisa explained the difference between angus and Wagyu beef, stating that Wagyu has intermuscular marbling while angus does not. The cow itself also has a substantially different build, with more muscular and broader shoulders when compared to an angus cow.
The two have traveled around Washington and Oregon to meet other Wagyu beef farmers and see how they operate their farms. The couple was familiar with traditional dairy cows like Jerseys and Holsteins, so adapting to raising Wagyu cattle was something they had to learn.
“I’m used to Holsteins and Jerseys on a dairy farm – you go get these goofy things, get them in a corner and they’ll take you,” Glen said.
According to Glen, it takes around three years for a Wagyu cow to mature and grow before it is taken to the butcher and sold by the farmstead.
The farmstead’s products can be found The Green Barn in Lynden and at their very own Farm Store on Saturday’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Farm Store sells a variety of locally made products ranging from cheeses, honey and Steensma Creamery skyr yogurt.
The Oostema’s are not setting any lofty goals for themselves, as they enjoy what they do and don’t want to stop doing it anytime soon. A slow approach to the business, Lisa says, is what has helped them be confident as they continue to grow.
“We just take baby little steps and it’s like ‘Okay, that worked or that didn’t work,'” Lisa said. “So what can do better? And we’re still always learning.”
For more information about the Oostema Farmstead and their Wagyu beef products, head to their website at oostemafarmstead.com.
We are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.
