In dispensaries across Whidbey, patrons can find a popular brand of cannabis known for its consistency, kindness to the environment and colorful packaging. What people may not know about the Port Angeles-based weed farm, Falcanna, is that it would not exist without an iconic falconer on South Whidbey.
Bethany Rondeaux started training with falcons at the age of 14 in Oklahoma, inspired by "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George, an adventure novel set in rural New York. When she was 18, she set off to Clinton to meet with Steve Layman, a well-known falconer whom she considered the best in the world.
To become a falconer, one must work under someone certified through the game department. The certified falconer must agree to sponsor the apprentice and assume liability for them, which is not an easy thing to find, Rondeaux said.
One February day, Layman introduced Rondeaux to his apprentice, Justin, a Washington native who was also inspired by falconry after reading "My Side of the Mountain." By August, the two were married.
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