Quail products are the specialty of this Centre County family-run farm

Shanny Farms got off to a seemingly simple start in Shingletown in 2021.

“We tried quail just for fun. We wanted some fresh eggs,” said Dana Agostinelli, who runs the farm with her husband Eddie.

What began as something “just for fun,” though, turned into a full-time, multifaceted business for the couple. Friends in the catering business expressed interest in quail products, including quail eggs. Then, the Agostinellis began selling their products to restaurants around Centre County. From there, looking for a way to use the entire bird, for a no-waste system, the couple began making quail-based pet treats. They also sell live birds throughout Pennsylvania and adjacent states. Most recently, this year, they launched their own catering business, dubbed Pasti Bella.

Just prior to founding Shanny Farms, Eddie worked in real estate and property management, while Dana ran a fishing lure company. Before that, Eddie owned Agostinelli’s Market in Boalsburg, and he said the new Pasti Bella offerings will make a nod back to some of the market’s fan favorites, like the signature Italian sandwich and gorgonzola cheesesteak. Pasti Bella also highlights Italian family recipes, serving classics like lasagna and meatballs when catering office lunches or private events.

Eddie also has a long history of raising poultry as a hobbyist but only had experience raising quail once before.

“I’d been seeing a few things about quail becoming pretty hot,” he said. “We got an incubator and got the eggs, hatched [them] and it went from there. ... They’re also a lot easier to raise than chickens. They take up less space and they’re very efficient, [in terms of] feed consumption versus egg production. They’ll produce between 250 and over 300 eggs per year per bird.”

At the time of launching Shanny Farms, the Agostinellis weren’t aware of any other farms or producers selling quail products and are only familiar with perhaps one other individual pursuing it in the area currently.

With so many irons in the fire, Eddie and Dana admit that every workday is a little different (maybe even a little chaotic), but the two seem to thrive on the variety. Additionally, the business comes with a work-life flexibility that allows for them to put a greater focus on their family.

“We get to see the kids off to school every day. They come home off the bus and we can meet them. We just want to be with the family,” said Eddie. “I get to work with my wife. My kids are involved. That’s very cool.”

“There’s also not a lot of other jobs you can go to and get positive affirmations on a daily basis,” he added. “We get emails after we do an event, and people are like, ‘We loved meeting you and your food was fantastic.’ We get companies with the pet treats ... they’ll call us and say, ‘Please, can we work with you, because your stuff is beautiful and people are going crazy over your treats?’”

Dana chimed in, “We can schedule around what’s important in our lives, while doing all of these crazy things… Also, we named Shanny Farms after my cousin Shannon, who passed away. We’re keeping her name alive and she motivates us to get up every day and do it right for her.”

Want to try some of Shanny Farms’ quail for yourself? Orders can be placed on the Shanny Farms website, with free delivery offered in State College. Nature’s Pantry also stocks Shanny Farms quail eggs.

If you’ve never tried quail before, Eddie described it as a darker, more flavorful poultry when compared to chicken, though not as greasy as duck. The birds are also brined for three days. As for the quail eggs, the Agostinellis note that they’re “insanely healthy,” with Dana explaining that there are more vitamins and protein in quail eggs than chicken eggs, even though they’re a third of the size.

When it comes to the quail-based pet treats, there’s similarly reason for pet parents to appreciate this offering beyond just the tasty appeal.

“Commercially raised chicken is used in everything — pet treats, pet foods,” said Eddie. “Dogs are developing allergies. Changing to something like quail, it’s a really high-protein meat and it’s still poultry, but it’s not chicken, so a lot of pets with poultry allergies are able to eat quail.”

The pet treats are available for purchase on Etsy, as well as at Felicity’s Pet Supplies in Bellefonte and The Pet Pub in State College.

For Pasti Bella catered events open to the public (Pasti Bella regularly appears at University Wine Company), keep an eye on the business’s Facebook page.

Holly Riddle is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle writer. She can be reached at holly.ridd@gmail.com.