A long time ago, before roadside farm stands and pumpkin festivals became a trendy family tradition, Mary Sandoz's great-grandfather and two great-uncles arrived in the Columbia Gorge with little more than a dream. They settled here in 1878, and two years later, they purchased the land that would become Sandoz Farm. They began planting orchards of apples, peaches, apricots, and cherries, along with root vegetables, building a life that has now stretched across nearly a century and a half.
Each generation has shaped Sandoz Farm in its own way. Mary's great-grandfather planted the first orchards. Decades later, her father returned home from World War II with a new vision.
"When he was in World War II, and they sent him home on the ship after the war was over, they fed the soldiers really, really well. They fed the soldiers good beef, and he had never in his life had good beef until he was on that ship. Right then and there, he decided, 'I am going to raise good beef on this farm.'" Mary says. "That's why we raise Angus cattle. He did his research to find the right breed, the right consistency, and the best meat quality. We've been feeding these cattle the same way since 1950."
Mary laughs that her love of cattle started almost from birth. "My first word when I was born was the word 'bull,'" she says. "I have always loved calves."
Today, nearly 150 years later, Mary is the fourth generation caring for the same soil. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
Nestled in a peaceful valley outside The Dalles, where Mount Hood helps create the perfect climate for her sweet cherries, the farm still feels almost timeless. Cherry orchards blanket the hillsides, cattle graze nearby, gardens overflow with vegetables, and Mill Creek winds gently through the property before finding its way to the Columbia River. It's beautiful to all who visit. But to Mary, beauty has always come wrapped in hard work on the farm.
"Growing up on the farm, from the very first time you could throw a flake of hay at four or five years old, you were incorporated into doing work,” Mary says. “We all grew up on this farm as little worker bees."
Summers weren't filled with sports practices or school dances for young Mary and her siblings. The children were busy moving irrigation pipes, feeding cattle, harvesting crops, and helping wherever her family needed on the farm. Looking back now, she laughs. "When you don't know anything different," she says, "you just do what you're supposed to do."
Only after leaving for college did she realize just how special that childhood had been. Mary attended Oregon State University before spending nearly three decades as a veterinary technician. She built a family, raised two daughters, and created a life away from the farm.
But life has a way of bringing us home. "You go away, and then you realize, boy, I had it pretty damn good. I'm coming back."
Mary and her family ended up returning to the place where her story began. What started as helping her family slowly became something more; she started to see opportunities to preserve what generations before her had built. She also wanted to be intentional with supporting the farm's growth for the future.
Today, every generation has left its fingerprint on Sandoz Farm. The orchards remain the heart of the operation, producing sweet cherries enjoyed around the world. Black Angus cattle still graze the rolling hills. And now pork is raised with the same attention to quality that Mary's father began decades ago with their cattle. The family farm stand has become a destination filled with fresh produce, locally raised meats, homemade jams, pickled vegetables, pies, and countless other creations prepared in the farm's certified kitchen.
When autumn arrives, Sandoz Farm’s hayfield transforms into a pumpkin patch. Families and friends come to enjoy the hayrides and activities. During the holidays, another tradition begins across the river, where Mary and her husband, Larry, open their Christmas tree farm in Mill A, Washington. In the cooler weather, families wander through rows of Noble, Grand, and Douglas firs searching for the perfect tree. When they find it, they can wave Larry over to cut it fresh from the field. A cozy log cabin, handcrafted wreaths, and festive displays transform a simple tree farm into what Mary lovingly describes as "kind of a getaway." Families come to slow down, breathe in the crisp air, and create holiday memories together. So many of us locals have made it an annual tradition that the farm is often sold out after just two weekends.
Mary’s personality is part of the farm. She finds joy in the small things, like watching calves in the pasture or pulling weeds by hand rather than reaching for chemicals. She smiles when ladybugs and praying mantises become partners in helping her protect the garden. There is a gentleness to the way she speaks about farming. Good food is a result of someone caring for the land, the animals, and the people who will gather around the dinner table. Every decision is thoughtful at Sandoz Farms, and every improvement is made with the next generation in mind.
"I enjoy this farm because it is my peaceful ground. It is my love. Producing good food for the local community in a peaceful environment, in the best way possible."
Mary’s heart is shared with far more than her farm. She helped care for both of her parents through the final years of their lives, allowing them to remain on the farm they, too, loved so much. Her oldest daughter followed her love of animals and became a veterinarian. Her younger daughter, she says, “has Dani’s Kitchen Shop, which is a teaching kitchen, and she does the fancy cookies."
Mary's sense of humor is as practical as her approach to farming. She doesn't romanticize the work; she simply does what needs to be done. Asked how she handles potato bugs in her garden, she shrugs with a smile. "I don't spray anything in my garden," she says. "I have this pinching action, and I just pinch them." Chickens, however, are another story. "I hate chickens," she laughs, “I hate washing eggs.” Mary admits the chickens were her late brother's specialty, which she has carried on.
Sandoz Farm has had the same values that have guided the family since 1880: hard work, quality, and a genuine love for sharing the harvest with others. Back in the day, customers didn't visit a farm stand. They stopped at the old cellar, where Mary's grandfather stored fruits and vegetables. Her parents were still selling produce from the cellar and beef from the freezer. Mary's generation has reimagined that tradition. Under Mary’s care, Sandoz Farm has grown beyond its orchards and cattle to include a welcoming farm stand, a certified kitchen, a pumpkin festival, and seasonal experiences.
Not long after the last cherry has been picked, the final pumpkin has found its front porch, and the Christmas trees have been carried home, the work quietly begins again. The seasons change alongside the generations. And somewhere between the orchards, the gardens, and the pastures, you'll probably find Mary, doing what four generations before her have done: caring for a place that's never been just a farm. It's home.
The Sandoz Farm is located at 5755 Mill Creek Road, The Dalles. To check the hours of operation, visit SandozFarm.com.
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