Minder Angus Meats has been operating in Kitsap County since 1943. George Minder got started in the cattle business here, leasing properties in the Tahuya River Valley and other areas near Kingston. In 1962, he purchased 46 acres north of Bremerton and eventually established a herd of about 140 registered Angus cattle.

With the passing of George Minder in 1983, the farm was reduced to a size of about 20 acres with a herd of 23 animals. Most of the herd was sold as breeding stock to Stuart Anderson. Minder Angus Farm and the Minder Meats company are currently managed by Jim Carlson, grandson of George Minder. The farm now houses 12 Angus cattle as breeding stock. Recently, Minder Farm has enrolled in two voluntary conservation programs available through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Conservation District.

The programs they have committed to are the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). EQIP provides technical, financial and educational assistance to farmers and ranchers who are facing threats to natural resources. Incentives of this program include up to 75% cost-share for recommended conservation practices. The CREP program provides compensation to farmers for taking land out of production to create stream buffers.

CREP eligible landowners may receive annual rental payments for the newly established stream buffer areas as well as maintenance payments and 100% cost-share for installation of the prescribed practices.

With both of these programs combined, Minder Farm will implement about 20 conservation treatment practices over the next few years to protect and enhance natural resources.

  This commitment demonstrates Minder Farm's dedication to sustainable agriculture.