Cory and Shanti Rade. Photos courtesy of Shanti Rade.
Cultivating community and sustainability in the Central Highlands
Whipstone Farm is a story of passion, resilience, and the transformative power of local food. Located in Paulden, it was founded in 1996 by Cory Rade and joined in 2003 by his now-wife, Shanti.
What started for Cory as a hobby of selling produce to his neighbors quickly transformed into something more. In 1998, he teamed up with a few local farms for a six-week market trial in Prescott. The community response was more than they could have hoped for. Shanti became interested in farming while in high school. Eventually, she pursued a degree in agroecology from Prescott College, where fate connected her with Cory—first through a soil science project, then through the Prescott Farmers Market, and ultimately through life, love, and farming.
Initially a quarter-acre plot, Whipstone Farm is now a thriving 20-acre operation that reflects both Cory’s and Shanti’s hard work, determination, and dedication to sustainable agriculture. It offers a year-round supply of produce and flowers, which brighten up the market, and unique items to expand each customer’s palate. Their shared vision blends organic practices with innovative approaches, creating a farm as resilient as the desert landscape it thrives in.
In its early days, the farm operated on a limited budget with minimal labor and a steep learning curve. “There wasn’t as much information available online back then,” Shanti recalls. “We learned through trial and error because there weren’t many other farmers around.” They often relied on volunteers and WWOOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), offering housing in exchange for help on the farm. This system not only provided much-needed hands but also created a space for knowledge exchange and community building.
“Being at the farmers market isn’t just about selling produce. It’s about education—helping people understand why local food matters and the work that goes into growing it.” —Shanti Rade
Peppers for sale at Prescott Farmers Market.
Farming in Arizona’s high desert comes with its own set of challenges: intense sun, minimal precipitation, and temperature extremes. Paulden’s location outside of the Prescott Active Management Area—which monitors agricultural, municipal, and industrial water users within its boundaries— means they have better access to water resources, though conservation remains a top priority. Drip irrigation systems, row covers to mitigate sun exposure, and cover crops that help retain soil moisture all help the farm thrive despite environmental hurdles.
“Climate change is always in the back of our minds,” Shanti says. “But we focus on what we can control, choosing crops that perform well in our environment and using sustainable practices that conserve water and soil health.” Sustainability at Whipstone goes beyond environmental stewardship; it’s also about economic resilience.
Whipstone has implemented crop costing to better understand what it takes to produce each item from seed. “Every crop has a different input cost—from seeds and labor, to plant, to weed, and harvest.” Through a point-of-sale system, they are able to monitor how each product sold contributes or takes away from overall profitability. “You could lose or break even if you don’t know your metrics on each item.”
As one of Prescott Farmers Market’s founding vendors, Whipstone has helped shape the local food scene, introducing shoppers to unique crops and encouraging a deeper connection to their food sources. Shanti says, “Being at the farmers market isn’t just about selling produce. It’s about education—helping people understand why local food matters and the work that goes into growing it.”
“Climate change is always in the back of our minds, but we focus on what we can control, choosing crops that perform well in our environment and using sustainable practices that conserve water and soil health.” —Shanti Rade
If Cory and Shanti could change one thing about the public’s perception of farming, it would be the misconception that it’s simple or low-stakes. Shanti says, “Farming is incredibly challenging, especially in a climate like ours. We face economic pressures, weather risks, and the responsibility of supporting not just our family but the families of everyone who works here.” Their resilience was put to the test a few years ago when a devastating hail storm wiped out significant portions of their crops. The community rallied behind Whipstone Farm and created a GoFundMe campaign to help recover the loss and support the farm and employees. It truly showed Shanti and Cory the deep connection their farm has created with the community around them.
As they continue to adapt, educate, and inspire, Whipstone Farm stands as a beacon for what is possible when passion meets purpose in the heart of the desert.
- Learn more at whipstone.com.
