Nate and Elly Barak run Strawberry Canyon, a hay operation serving livestock and equine businesses across eastern Oregon. Their business grew naturally from their backgrounds — Nate raised on farming, Elly raised with horses — and evolved from Nate's experience as a hay broker.
After years hauling hay over mountain passes for others, Nate was ready to get back to family farming. "Instead of going and buying hay, it just made sense to grow our own," he explains. Today, they run their operation across two sites located in Hermiston and Stanfield.
The Challenge
As their operation matured, the systems that worked in the beginning couldn't keep up. Elly, who handles the books, found herself fighting software instead of focusing on developing their hay business.
"I have zero accounting experience. None whatsoever. So trying to jump in and learn accounting software like QuickBooks was such a challenge," she explains.
Their accounting software created more problems than it solved. "We ran into an issue with how QuickBooks was reporting with our bank. Trying to get it corrected was a nightmare. We ended up having to pay a lot of taxes," Elly recounts.
When they needed straight answers to make business decisions, their tools left them guessing. "With other accounting software, you really had to pay attention. You'd have a question about where to categorize this, and the answers weren't there," Nate explains.
While Nate and Elly built a successful hay operation through hard work and expertise, the financial tools meant to support their business became obstacles instead of assets.
The Solution
Their frustrating experience left them searching for alternatives.
"Ambrook has been a game changer for us. I feel like a lot of farm wives probably are in the same boat as I am, where they don't have a bunch of accounting experience and kind of get thrown into this. Ambrook has been so easy to learn and so helpful," Elly shares.
For Nate and Elly, switching to Ambrook wasn't just about new software—it gave them financial clarity that matched their agricultural expertise and supported their growing business.
The Results
The improvements were immediate. "The invoicing has been probably the biggest game changer," Nate emphasizes. Their customers noticed too—"Our customers love it because they can pay online now versus just having to send us a check or Venmo. I've even had some customers reach out and ask us about getting set up in Ambrook," Elly adds.
With Ambrook, Nate and Elly transformed their financial management from a one-person responsibility to a collaborative effort. "He can invoice now. He has no problem getting on and invoicing. He can figure it out. So that's huge," Elly notes. With both partners now contributing to the books, they've gained a shared understanding of their operation's finances.
Beyond better organization, they now have improved visibility into the value of their operation and cost of production. "I can categorize all my equipment, and if I go buy a baler part at the store, it doesn't just go under maintenance. I can actually, just by the click of a button, assign it to the baler. At the end of the year, I can look back and see exactly how much I spent per piece of equipment that I own," Nate explains. This detailed tracking helps them know exactly where their money goes.
Looking Forward
Strawberry Canyon recently reached a significant milestone—purchasing additional land to expand their operation, resulting in a 23% expansion. This strategic investment strengthens their farming presence in eastern Oregon.
"With this FSA purchase and gathering all the documents we need, the reports are very accessible on Ambrook," Elly explains. They're eager to see how their accountant responds to their clearly organized financial records.
In a competitive market, Nate and Elly build genuine connections with their customers. Elly competes in barrel racing and sponsors local events, putting their hay directly in front of the people who need it most. She's also invested in equine nutrition courses to better understand her customers' needs and help them find the perfect hay for their horses.
Growing their presence in the community while building a business meant to last generations is central to their vision. "The main end goal is to build a sustainable enough business with a good customer base that would support a small family. Something that we can pass down to our kids."
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