South County Profile: Christine Michelson

Christine Michelson

For Christine Michelson, owner of Hidden Treasure Farm, every animal of hers is like a family member, even her 800 pound pig Julia.

Michelson has almost any type of farm animal you can think of on her 20 acre ranch. She has around a dozen horses, a dozen goats, six sheep, six dogs, six puppies and one giant pig. While this may seem like a lot to some, Michelson wishes she had more.

“I want to give the animals a happy home,” Michelson said. “They all roam free, get lots of love and attention and have names.”

However, Michelson’s main reason and goal for having all of the animals is to provide a place where children, teens and college students interested in animal science and agriculture can come to learn, she said. She is in the process of setting up programs with schools where kids can visit the ranch on field trips to learn about different animals, where they come from and how to care for them properly.

“Ag programs are being cut everywhere. I want to provide a place where kids can come to learn,” Michelson said.

While the ultimate goal for the ranch is to provide education to others, Michelson also sells some of her animals that she breeds. In fact, the farm used to be purely that and Michelson’s focus was very strong on breeding and artificial insemination.

Michelson has a degree in agricultural business from the College of the Redwoods and also a certificate in horse reproduction from Colorado State University. For the past four years she was also an on-call veterinary assistant, she said.

“I have a love for all animals,” Michelson said. “They just make every part of your day nicer.”

Living on a ranch requires constant attention and hard work, not often allowing a vacation but Michelson wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I can’t imagine sitting behind a desk all day. Plus, you’re always outside which is so nice, well sometimes,” she said with a laugh.

Michelson mainly does all the work on the ranch by herself but does have help often from her 21-year-old son Dalton, who is a West Valley graduate.

Michelson said she loves her animals just as much as she loves the community that she lives in.

“The people here are wonderful, helpful, it’s a community. You actually know your neighbors here,” she said.However, Michelson’s main reason and goal for having all of the animals is to provide a place where children, teens and college students interested in animal science and agriculture can come to learn, she said. She is in the process of setting up programs with schools where kids can visit the ranch on field trips to learn about different animals, where they come from and how to care for them properly.

“Ag programs are being cut everywhere. I want to provide a place where kids can come to learn,” Michelson said.

While the ultimate goal for the ranch is to provide education to others, Michelson also sells some of her animals that she breeds. In fact, the farm used to be purely that and Michelson’s focus was very strong on breeding and artificial insemination.

Michelson has a degree in agricultural business from the College of the Redwoods and also a certificate in horse reproduction from Colorado State University. For the past four years she was also an on-call veterinary assistant, she said.

“I have a love for all animals,” Michelson said. “They just make every part of your day nicer.”

Living on a ranch requires constant attention and hard work, not often allowing a vacation but Michelson wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I can’t imagine sitting behind a desk all day. Plus, you’re always outside which is so nice, well sometimes,” she said with a laugh.

Michelson mainly does all the work on the ranch by herself but does have help often from her 21-year-old son Dalton, who is a West Valley graduate.

Michelson said she loves her animals just as much as she loves the community that she lives in.

“The people here are wonderful, helpful, it’s a community. You actually know your neighbors here,” she said.