Vanderbeck Valley Farm

10/03/2026

Had some great guesses on what I was putting in my empty stall. I think a couple people guessed correctly!
This is Lily! She is a miniature horse & absolutely the sweetest! She loves Charlotte!
Welcome to the farm Lily! 🩷

10/03/2026

Taking guesses on what I’m putting in this lonely empty stall 😉

09/30/2026

09/25/2026

On Sunday September 20th we said goodbye to someone very special to us. Gordon "Flash" McDonald wasn't just an employee, he was part of our family for the past 50 years! It was a touching tribute to a man very much loved & respected. As a veteran of the Air Force a flag was presented to his sisters in his honor.
Our cousin Anne made a really fun cake in the shape of a log truck for the occasion. My friend Kim hand painted a beautiful card for Flash when he retired several years ago & we thought it was fitting that it be given back to her.
He will be greatly missed! RIP Flash! Keep on truckin'!

09/17/2026

Today was ALL the emotions…sadness, grief, joy, gratitude, love, laughter & some tears!
We had the privilege of taking our dear friend’s ashes to their final resting place.
Gordon “Flash” McDonald & his wife Colleen got to make that final trip in our 1985 Mack truck.
My husband Mike Burton had the honor to drive the Mack today escorting Gordon & Colleen to the cemetery in style with ALL the flashing lights!
I know I’ve told the story before, but I’ll tell it again.
When Flash came to work for us in 1976 my parents company was called Vanderbeck Logging Co.
Flash drove the #2 truck, a used Peterbilt. In 1985, my dad Wilbur bought a brand spankin’ new Mack log truck which became Flash’s truck!
Through the years more trucks were added & we diversified into excavating along with the log trucking. In 2000 we changed the name to Vanderbeck Trucking & Excavating and with that Flash got a newer truck to drive & the Mack was converted to a dump truck. Flash drove truck for us for 43 years before retiring.
2 years ago when we decided to shut down the trucking & excavating we sold off almost all of our equipment but I couldn’t bear to part with the Mack. We retired the trucking name & have incorporated our farm name, Vanderbeck Valley Farm. The “Mack” is still being used on our farm.
Today, with his sisters Jill & Sherie, we followed the Mack with its precious cargo (seat belted in of course) in a “convoy” to Willamette National Cemetery.
After driving millions of miles in a few different trucks over the years, today Flash rode those final miles in HIS truck! I can’t even tell you the sadness in my heart knowing he will never drive truck again on this earth. But I’m pretty sure he borrowed a truck from St. Peter & is hauling logs in Heaven. 😂
Flash, you are so dearly loved & will forever be missed! 🩵
If you knew Gordon “Flash” McDonald please join us in celebrating his life this Sunday September 20th 1pm-4pm at Vanderbeck Valley Farm
Mt. Angel, OR

09/13/2026

Did y’all get your kiss from a Panda cow today? 🤣
Magnum loves to give kisses!

09/02/2026

Celebration of Life for Gordon "Flash" McDonald will be Sunday September 20th 1pm-4pm.
Please come & help us celebrate this special guy!

08/27/2026

This farming thing ain’t for sissies! What pi**es me off the most is I put holes in a perfectly good pair of jeans!
Mike, can I take the rest of the day off? 🤣