Cinderella said it best when she sang, A dream is a wish your heart makes. Sometimes you don’t even know you have a dream until it’s unfolding right in front of you. This one starts with three chicks and a few dozen eggs.
Ali Buckland and her husband, Brandon, had four chickens on their farm and a few more eggs than their family could eat. Buckland and her daughters, Blair and Maebry, began collecting and selling the extra eggs in 2023 and Three Chicks Farm was born.
The family never intended to have more than 10 chickens at a time, but this changed when they were introduced to different breeds that lay eggs in various colors. Excited to begin selling these rainbow dozens, Buckland also included offering sourdough bread and specialty items like beef tallow moisturizer. The family quickly realized that their porch pick-up style of sales was too small for the rate at which their product line was growing.
In June 2025, Three Chicks Farms brick-and-mortar store opened. Customers dont have to travel far. The shop is attached to the original porch pick-up area. Shoppers will be pleased to see the shelves lined with sourdough bread, sourdough sweet treats, honey, maple syrup, and homemade jams. They will also find a row of freezers filled with pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb, and chicken, with the potential for turkey in the future.
Bringing farm-to-table food to the community is a passion for this family. When asked why it was so important, Buckland said, I think its important connecting people with where their food comes from because people think their food comes from the grocery, which could not be farther from the truth.
She also noted that some hidden food additives, such as Red Dye 40, can cause behavioral issues that she has witnessed firsthand with her own children. Her primary concern at Three Chicks Farm is that families can always trust that they will be educated about what is in their food and where it came from.
In keeping with this standard, the farm implements rotational grazing for its animals on multiple pastures and supplements with feed. They allow the animals to graze on different parts of the land to ensure they have nutrients from multiple areas of grass and soil. Its also not uncommon for you to be walking the property and find duck eggs on your path. The animals are genuinely allowed to roam freely for their health and ours.
Including the community in this venture is key for Buckland. She would like to have more on-farm events in the future. She describes coming to the shop as an experience because people arent used to seeing animals and how they are treated and cared for before they become sustenance for their families. She wants to build a community of like-minded people who want to take back the food system.
Beyond all the health benefits, the farm has most importantly allowed the family more time together. As a busy infusion nurse with a husband who was working 90 hours a week as a lineman, running the shop has allowed Buckland to cut down to nursing one day a week. Nursing is still critical to her because she worked hard to get where she is, but this business has allowed her the best of both worlds.
Three Chicks Farm is a dream come true for this family, and they would love to share that with your family. You can visit the farm, located at 1538 W. 200 S. in Portland, on Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. Follow the farm on Facebook to keep up with news, updates, and any new product information.
Carly Nichols is the marketing and communication coordinator at Jay County REMC
