Meet Penny & Brian Stahl, Farmers at Winney Farm

Winney Farm has a lot of history and many stories. When we took ownership of the farm, we rebranded to honor the original owners, the Winney family, and their dedication to create this farmland. From our beginning moments here people commented on the spirit of happiness, hope, and healing. There’s room here for beauty, hard work, play, loss, growth, and rest—sometimes all in the same day.

Care for the land, care for the animals, and care for people. I try to choose what’s regenerative, humane, and honest, even if it costs more time, money, or energy.

We hope this farm feels like a place people belong. A place where food, beauty, and experiences are accessible—not exclusive—and where people can reconnect with land, seasons, and each other.

Our pork represents a commitment to raising animals the way I believe it should be done—pasture-raised, grass-fed, and with respect from beginning to end. It carries both responsibility and gratitude.

In fact, every animal on our farm is named; that is a way to honor that life as it is in my care. I want each animal to know that I love and care for them and greatly appreciate the gift that they are to us.  

Unpredictable weather, rising costs, and shifting markets make planning harder every year. Small farms don’t have much margin for error, so even small changes ripple quickly through everything we do.

There’s also the emotional weight of it all. The responsibility of stewarding life—plants, animals, land—while balancing finances, regulations, and unpredictability can be heavy.   

Interestingly enough the most essential part of what we do to keep this farm going is not even our work on the farm. Brian works full time for the Conservation District and I work as a caregiver. We share all of the jobs on the farm between the two of us but rely on that income to continue to farm. We see this as a community service and labor of love.

Kitsap has a strong sense of place—water, trees, and community woven together. Being a farmer here means stewarding something people deeply care about and contributing to a landscape that still values local and intentional work.

People are asking better questions. They want to know where their food comes from and who grows it. That curiosity—and the relationships that grow from it—gives me hope.