Hello! We are Martin and Anne Chavez, the proud owners of Chavez Farms, and we’d love to share our story with you.

Martin grew up in Southeast New Mexico, a “skater boy turned country.” I (Anne) grew up in Northwest Pennsylvania as “the horse girl.” I often ask Martin, “Do you think we would’ve been friends in high school?” He always answers with a sly grin and a twinkle in his eye, “Not a chance.” Looking back, we can see that everything aligned perfectly for us to meet—God had a plan for us, despite all the differences in our paths.

Fast forward to the summer of 2016. Martin was working as part of a Wilderness Trails Crew in the Gallatin National Forest near Gardiner, Montana, the gateway to Yellowstone National Park. This crew was responsible for clearing trails by hand—yes, with hand saws to remove fallen trees—and they also worked on projects like bridge building and explosives handling. It was an incredible job with an even more incredible group of people.

Meanwhile, I had just graduated college and was eager to explore the world. My first stop was Colorado, where I volunteered for my Aunt and Uncle’s program, Will’s Hope (click for more info). Will’s Hope provides outdoor educational and self-development opportunities for young adults with mental disabilities, veterans, and others. With my degree in Adventure Education, it was a perfect fit for me. From Colorado, we took a group of young women with mental disabilities to Gardiner, Montana.

On the third day of our trip, my Aunt told me, “The Forest Service is coming up with horses this afternoon!” Horses… my weakness! I’ve loved them since childhood. When the time came, we headed outside to meet the Forest Service Trails Crew, and there, riding a black horse, was a very handsome man. I thought, “Wow, he’s good-looking!” Then I noticed his stirrups were ridiculously long, and I thought, “That guy’s probably sore after riding like that!” That man with the long stirrups was Martin.

As he dismounted, he began teaching the young women how to feed treats and pet the horse. I tried not to seem too eager to meet him, but when he brought his horse over to me, he asked, “Would you like to learn how to pet a horse?” I told him I’d owned horses since I was a girl, and he replied, “Oh, you’re a volunteer, not a participant, huh?” I didn’t know how to respond, so I just laughed.

An hour later, Martin left, and I was completely smitten. But I had no way to contact him and thought that was the last time I’d ever see him. But God had other plans! On Friday, Will’s Hope hosted a big dinner to thank everyone who had helped out that week, and who walked through the door? Martin! We chatted through the meal, said our goodbyes, and I once again had no way to reach him. After a few moments of pondering, I decided to ask my Aunt if she knew how to contact him. I stepped outside, and there was Martin! He claimed his truck battery had died, but I like to think he didn’t want to leave without getting my number. He asked if I’d like to go dancing the next night, and luckily, my Aunt and Uncle gave me the night off. The rest, as they say, is history.

I had originally planned to stay out West for just three months, but I ended up staying longer. Martin and I both worked and lived in Gardiner until 2017. That year, Martin moved to Gunnison, CO, and I followed him a few months later. In August 2017, we were married in Colorado, where we settled down, bought a house, and started our family, welcoming two beautiful daughters.

Our love for adventure has always been a big part of who we are—rock climbing, white-water rafting, fishing, skiing, snowboarding, horse riding, shed hunting, and more. Our passion for animals and self-sufficiency also led us to start this farm, as we wanted to raise our daughters to understand the importance of caring for the earth and the animals that sustain us.

In 2021, we packed up our small farm in Colorado and moved across the country to Northwest Pennsylvania. Fun fact: we brought a pig, two horses, a mini donkey, a rabbit, and a dog with us on the move!

When we're not working on the farm, you’ll likely find us out rock climbing, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, or traveling.

Thank you for visiting our website and reading our story!