Jessica Nadeau is the owner and certified animal nut behind Baby Bear Farms. She works full time as a veterinary nutritionist for Purina’s veterinary diet team, and – like most veterinary professionals – never met a medical disaster that she didn’t want to adopt and care for. Jessica is a graduate of Yale University and did her doctoral work at the University and Pennsylvania and then Johns Hopkins before leaving the East Coast in her rear view and heading west.

Andrew Wheat is the co-owner and voice of reason at Baby Bear Farms. A trained professional musician (guitar and bass), Andrew’s recording studio and guitar collection offer a safe haven from crowing roosters for those who want a little more Darryl Hall and a little less Old MacDonald. Andrew is a veteran of the live-music bands Qui Lo and the Will Hill Band in Baltimore, and is looking forward to making new friends to jam with in Napa. Want to jam or visit our recording studio? Drop Andrew a message!

Jon Waters (not THAT Jon Waters) is a fine carpenter and wine afictionado. He abandoned Baltimore to join friends Jessica and Andrew in sunny California and set up a drool-worthy mill and carpentry shop. John specializes in original furniture and lighting designs, as well as architectural plans for ADUs and modern tiny homes. While he’s a whiz at building chicken coops, his true passion belongs more in the dining room than the barn.

Kathleen MacDonagh is our “chicken auntie,” providing snuggles and crucial socialization to our chickens. “Mac,” as we call her, was our neighbor in Concord and became a part-time chicken wrangler and farm hand as our flock grew. Mac’s sunny personality and incredible kindness keep us all in good spirits, and her nightly “tucking in” of the baby chickens is a beloved ritual.