This month, we’re excited to dig into a standout project in the WWRP – Farmland Preservation category: Olma Farm, where productive fields, thriving wildlife, and critical cold water flows all come together in one remarkable landscape.
Thanks to a $861,496 WWRP – Farmland Preservation grant, this project ensured that more than 1,500 acres of Okanogan County’s rich agricultural land remains available for farming in the future.
Keeping a Legacy Alive
At Olma Ranch, farming isn’t just an occupation – it’s a way of life. That’s why the Olma Family sold the development rights to their property via a conservation easement to the Okanogan Land Trust, who used a WWRP grant to purchase the land. Rather than risk watching their ranch be subdivided and developed, as has happened to so many working operations across Washington, the Olma family chose to safeguard its agricultural future forever.
The project permanently protected 260 acres of high-production corn and hay fields and 1,277 acres of working ranchland. That means the land will continue supporting the local economy through hay, forage, and cattle production – while giving the next generation of farmers a fighting chance to keep the family legacy going. In a county where keeping farms connected and viable is a top priority, the Olma Ranch project is a major win for the entire community.
A Haven for Wildlife
But Olma Farm isn’t just busy with tractors and cattle. It’s also buzzing, fluttering, grazing, and swimming with life.
The project protects two unique habitats:
- A spring-fed grassland meadow bursting with plant and pollinator life
- About two miles of Siwash Creek, a cold-water lifeline flowing into the Okanogan River
And these waters and meadows support some of Washington’s most iconic and vulnerable species, including:
- Upper Columbia River steelhead (Threatened)
- Canada lynx (Threatened)
- Sharp-tailed grouse (Federal species of concern)
- Golden eagle (State listed)
- Plus rainbow trout, spring Chinook, and countless small mammals, birds, and bees
With fenced riparian zones, improved livestock water access, and careful seasonal grazing, the land will continue to provide high-quality habitat while staying firmly rooted in agricultural production.
Why Farmland Preservation Matters
WWRP’s Farmland Preservation category is the only source of state funding dedicated to saving working farms. These projects help families stay on the land they’ve cared for over generations – while giving Washington communities access to healthy, local food and thriving rural economies.
With its blend of productive fields, resilient habitat, and cold, clear water, Olma Farm is a reminder that when we protect land, we grow more than crops: we grow community, connection, and the future of Washington’s working landscapes.