2023 ANNUAL REPORT

A Message

from our Board President and Executive Director

Photograph of a close-up of a blooming cherry tree branch with snow-covered Mt. Hood in the distance

2023 was a banner year for OAT. We protected over 29,000 acres of ag land, educated hundreds of farmers and ranchers across Oregon on succession planning and working land easements, and embarked on a partnership to protect farmland with oak habitat and provide access to tribal members for harvest and ceremony on those lands. 

We would not be here without your support. Thank you for being an important part of our community. 

We look forward to continuing to serve our important mission of partnering with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of Oregon’s economy, communities, and landscapes in 2024!

Photo of Valentin Celaya

Valentin Celaya, Board President

Nellie McAdams, Executive Director

2023 At a Glance

Land Protection

Completed 3 working land easements protecting 29,872 acres of diverse ag land

Regional Conservation Partnership Program

We were awarded $9.2 million dollars to work with two watershed councils in Lane County and the Grand Ronde Tribe to protect farmland with oak habitat, reintroduce traditional burning on that habitat, and grant access to Tribal members for harvest and ceremony on those lands.

Advocacy

We advocated alongside Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts and other partners for the continued funding of Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP).

Ag Business Support

We educated 606 producers and 441 service providers about easements and succession planning across the state.

What’s Ahead in 2024

  • We will close 5 easements this year across Oregon, representing 18,389 acres.

    We have over 120,000 acres in the works to be protected from Clatsop to Klamath to Lane, Linn, and Lake Counties.

  • We will finalize our application for accreditation in 2024. The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever.

    “We are thrilled to embark on this next phase of growth as an organization. Through this process OAT looks forward to demonstrating that we adhere to the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.”

    -Jenn Clemo, OAT Deputy Director

  • OAHP advocacy in 2023 paid off with a $5.8 million allocation in early 2024.

    We will continue to advocate alongside Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts and others to increase OAHP funding next year and beyond.

  • We will educate 500 farmers and 250 service providers.

    We will launch our 1:1 Ag Business Support program which is designed to provide guidance to producers at all stages of succession planning, business management, and financial analysis.

  • We launched Stories from the Field, a comprehensive 7-part video series guides property owners on how to maximize the business benefits of working land easements. A comprehensive guidebook will be published in Spring 2024.

  • Cheers to the Land returns in October 2024! Stay tuned for information about participating breweries, beverage makers, and events.

  • 10 Barrel Brewing Co

    47th Avenue Farm

    AgWest Farm Credit

    Alesong Brewing & Blending

    Atticus Wine

    Baerlic Brewing Company

    Barley Brown’s Beer

    Bethel Heights Vineyard

    Block 15 Brewing

    Bridges Organic Produce

    Cameron Winery

    Coldfire Brewing Company

    Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers

    Crux Fermentation Project

    Falling Sky Brewing

    Forest Edge Vineyard

    Fort George Brewing

    Freebridge Brewing

    Gorges Beer Co.

    Hope Well Wine

    Hummingbird Wholesale

    King Estate Winery

    Level Beer

    Loyal Legion

    Nehalem River Ranch

    Organically Grown Company

    Rotator Creative

    Schwab Charitable

    Son of Man Cider

    Soter Vineyards

    Steel Keg Association

    Sweet Cheeks Winery

    Thunder Island Brewing

    Tillamook County Creamery Association

    Umpqua Bank

    Wilco

  • The Ford Family Foundation

    Hampton Family Foundation

    Harbourton Foundation

    Ned and Sis Hayes Family Fund

    Hollis Foundation

    Jubitz Foundation

    Lora L. & Martin N. Kelley Family Foundation Trust

    Land O’ Lakes Foundation

    Oregon Community Foundation

    Redtail Foundation

    Roundhouse Foundation

    The Bridges Foundation

    Burning Foundation

    The Healy Foundation

    The Nature Conservancy - Oregon

    Schamp Family Foundation

  • Ron Alvarado

    Jocelyn Bridson

    Valentin Celaya

    Kimberlee J. Chambers, PhD

    Tim Copeland

    Lauren Johnson

    Teresa Retzlaff

    Megan Thompson

    Mike Wilson

Photo of rancher Jim Wood pointing across rangeland dotted with juniper. Text on photo: Working land easements lower the cost of ag land while safeguarding it from development and fragmentation.