Link Land & Livestock is a premium, pasture-based lamb operation dedicated to productive pastures, collaborative rural community, and exceptional meals. We are a 100% mobile operation, grazing over 50 acres of Whatcom County pasture from hay fields to rural properties and partner farms. Every season of our management keeps meat quality in mind; forage selection, animal health and nutrition, low-stress handling, maximum days on pasture and excellent genetics make for happy, healthy lambs and exceptional, mild, high-quality meat.
The Shepherd
Elizabeth Link, Owner-Operator
What do you get when two plant scientists raise a kid in the grass seed capital of the world, fueled by James Herriot bedtime stories and a well-used kitchen full of Hungarian recipes? Turns out 30+ years later, you get Link Land & Livestock. LLL is the result of a life spent in agriculture, a desire to spend my days with as many animals as possible, and a dedication to making exceptional food from pasture to plate, part of a livelihood.
For more than 12 years, I have worked across Pacific Northwest agriculture from mill floors to orchards, farmers markets & commodity grains, agronomy to nursery sales. Impatient with lack of land access in a county where farmland can push $50,000/acre, I bought my first 40 sheep through word of mouth on a shearing job, not a single acre to my name. We, and the community around us, have been grazing, braising, and evangelizing lamb ever since.
The Sheep
Our mule-eared sheep are Avondales, a 4-way meat cross bred and refined to thrive on Pacific Northwest pasture.
This unregistered breed is the incredible work of Snoqualmie Valley Lamb, the only 100% organic, grass-fed lamb operation in western Washington.
Avondales are primarily a Clun Forest-Blue Faced Leicester cross, with New Zealand Texel & New Zealand Suffolk. They are large-framed hardy animals who gain well on pasture, have exceptional mothering and lambing ability, and have some of the friendliest, most manageable rams around. Their meat is exceptionally mild, clean tasting, and easy to cook with. We sell their fiber through Farmers Flock, where it finds its best home and use in capable hands.
“I didn’t take a plating photo because I am here eating with my hands like a caveman. The fat flavor is excellent.”
—Review of LLL Rib Chops