Before Ray of Sunshine: A Glimpse at the History Behind this Land
- Kat St.Pierre
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 8
Never in a million years did I, once a tiny tot from Tucson, think that I would be a caretaker of almost 125 acres of land in rural western Pennsylvania.
Working with my family on making this community space for all of us has been an honor. Sharing our farm with you and your family will be an honor too. This land is for us to enjoy, create, learn, grow, explore, and be.
Curious about how this land found our family? Keep on reading for a fuller scope of this farm’s history.
Native History
Before this land was in the family, it was clearly Native land. As we celebrate what the farm is today, it is impossible and reckless to ignore the history of this country, how we settled here, and the many stewards of this land. To be clear, colonization made the farm, as we know it today, possible.
We hold deep reverence for those who came before us. There are several historical records that point to various tribes in this area over time. This land has likely been with the Lenape (Delaware), Erie tribes, and Six Nations. Colonizers displaced and removed Native peoples from their land–this land.
(I am not a historian. If you are, or if you know a deeper history, please reach out to hello@rayofsunshinecamping.com with sources so that I can make updates.)
Settling at Iron Tooth Farm
“Iron Tooth” is a translation of Rick’s family name. Coming from Germany, the Zahniser family settled in what is now known as Mercer County in 1753. My grandmother, Shirley, was a Zahniser descendant. Around 1807, her grandfather settled on this land, making it his homestead. As part of a land grant, he received over 150 acres as his payment for fighting in the Revolutionary War.
My dad and his four siblings grew up as farmers. Predominantly a dairy farm, they also raised cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and sheep. They always planted corn, wheat, oats, and occasionally buckwheat. Here is a video of Rick recalling growing up on a farm, his tasks, and some of the shenanigans.
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The farm work slowed as Rick’s parents, Shirley and Fred, aged. They were able to keep the land by sharecropping it with local farmers. With the cost of living increasing, the members of Iron Tooth Farm met in 2024 to brainstorm how we would keep the farm afloat.
Today
Iron Tooth Farm is co-owned by Rick and his three siblings, Tricia, Kathy, and Marty. Currently, my dad and Tricia are the only siblings who live on the property. Tricia resides in the 1905 farmhouse that they grew up in. In 2008, my parents built a warehouse called Art Farm Central
to replicate our Tucson home. In 2025, I moved back seasonally to be my family’s 5th generation to care for this land.
Ray of Sunshine Camping & Glamping is more than what the name suggests. We exist to uplift a diverse, skilled, and creative network of people. We support access to nature, camping, agriculture, and art. Read more about us here.
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