CEO of Central Coast Farms, Andrew Carlson, seems to like multiples of three: third-generation farmer, father of three, and raising chickens on three Step-rated farms. Nearly 20 years ago, Andrew and his family first prioritized animal welfare, personally and professionally, and are eager to help bring about incremental change in the ways chickens are raised. Meet Andrew.
In 1951, my grandfather, Cecil Daggs, bought a small plot of land in Crows Landing, California, about 90 miles southeast of San Francisco. He built a chicken house and raised his first flock of chickens with my grandmother Ruth to support his family, including their two young children. I grew up on that very farm, working alongside my father, Wayne Carlson, who still raises chickens there today.
Over the years, our Crows Landing farm has expanded greatly, and I know my grandfather would be proud of how we’re caring for our birds who are marketed by Field to Family Natural Foods. Why do I believe this? Because for us, animal welfare is a priority and has been one for two decades.
All of our chicken farms are in the Northern Central Valley of California. Three have already been certified to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step Animal Welfare program—two at Step 3 and one at Step 5. We have one more farm scheduled to be audited and certified to the 5-Step program this summer.
Given how many responsibilities I already had, raising chickens with my dad, growing corn on a farm I run in Nebraska for our feed program, and serving as the CEO of Central Coast Farms, not to mention being a son, a father, a husband, and then some, I suppose it’s reasonable for folks to wonder why I’d add the responsibility of being part of Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step program.
It’s pretty simple, actually.
I believed—and still do—that the steps we’ve taken as farmers over the last 15-20 years and our long-held commitment to improving the welfare of our chickens would most effectively be recognized and shown to our customers if we became involved with the 5-Step program. I truly feel that 5-Step has provided us a platform from which we can both showcase our chickens and our husbandry, and also help incrementally change the way chickens are raised.
Even within our own operation, we’re working towards continuous improvement. We hope to one day be able to process birds on our own farm. For us, the pinnacle of the welfare ladder is a place where animals never have to leave the farm or ranch. Never has to be put on a transport truck.
Every day has its own challenges. There aren’t any “typical” days in farming. It all depends on the weather, what piece of machinery decides it wants to take the day off, and what “fire” might need to be put out so we can continue being viable small family farmers in an ever-consolidating agricultural industry.
But, despite all of that, I embrace it wholly. Being outside, raising chickens with care, and actually seeing that what I do for a living has a positive effect on the world as a whole by feeding others—what could be better than that?
—Andrew Carlson
