A man selling blueberry bushes a few years ago stumbled upon Chris Rash's family property after taking a wrong turn. Rash walked away from the encounter with a couple of bushes to plant. 

A happy accident, Chris said, looking at the now 500 bushes behind him on property near Ashley Lake. After a few years of growing and selling bushes, Chris, his wife Stephanie, and friends and business partners Danica and Alvin Young opened the Flathead Valley’s first pick-your-own blueberry farm.  

"Once we realized how good of a product this is, we wanted to share it,” Chris said. 

The Rashes and Youngs met years ago through 4-H, an activity their children have participated in throughout their lives. Chris spent the past couple of years selling blueberry bushes on the side, with plans to eventually start a farm.  

Chris sold the Youngs a couple of bushes this year, around the same time Chris started talking about buying a piece of property to make a self-pick farm. 

Danica is the fourth generation living on her family’s property west of Kalispell. Nicknamed by her father as Hidden Meadows Ranch, the property sits on a massive clearing surrounded by forested Forest Service land.  

It’s a special place, all business partners agree, and just so happened to have acreage meant for growing and harvesting. From there, the couples partnered up to make the dream a reality, thus creating Hidden Meadows Berries.

In just three weeks, the Rashes, Youngs and plenty of neighbors and friends cleared out a patch of land, set up an irrigation system and planted 500 blueberry bushes with plans to double the amount by next summer.  

“Everyone’s always intended to grow something here,” Danica said. “We just never would get around to it. I don’t think any of us thought we would run a blueberry patch, but it’s been awesome. We’ve had so much help.” 

As the business grows, the Rashes and Youngs hope to add various other fruit picking opportunities, with staggered harvests to extend the season. They also sell fresh-picked blueberries as well as bushes to purchase on-site.  

The four owners hope to see families come to pick and bask in the sun, the community come to support farm-to-table endeavors and individuals come to escape the mundane of day-to-day life in a beautiful place.  

“Life’s too short when you look at the grand scheme of things,” Chris said. “If we can be a fix, rather than something bad for you, this can be your reset. We can provide a healthy outlet to get away from daily life.”  

U-Pick farms are a popular way to get fresh fruit and vegetables without owning a farm or orchard. There has not been a blueberry U-Pick farm in the Flathead Valley as of 2022, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Census.  

The berries at Hidden Meadows Berries are organic and not genetically modified. Right now, the farm operates by appointment only but plans to expand access in the coming months. To schedule a time to pick, call Danica Young at 406-471-3119 or Stephanie Rash at 406-750-1056.  

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].