By Zach Wilson and Cynthia Lopez

OAT’s Communications Administrator, Cynthia Lopez sat down with OAT board member and General Manager of Wilson Cattle Company, Zach Wilson, to learn more about what it means to be a 6th generation rancher and how his family stewards the land. In this first installment, Zach talks about the education that’s been most valuable to him, from working on The Hill in DC to ranching in Hawai’i and New Zealand, to learning context about ranching decisions from his 90-year-old grandfather.

By Nellie McAdams

It goes without saying that 2020 has had its share of challenges, but a bright spot for me and my family was a bountiful hazelnut harvest. This October, a cascade of nuts of different varieties - tiny and sweet Casina; golden Ennis the size of pullet eggs; and mahogany-colored Barcelona - flowed in by the tote-full. And for that I am grateful.

By Kimberlee Chambers

In all my travels, work, and studies, I have been fascinated more than anything by the food that we eat, where it comes from, how it was grown, and who grew it. “What is that crop in that field? What are those farmworkers doing? How does that harvesting equipment work? What is the land tenure like in this area? How is that crop processed before it goes to market? What is the supply chain to get this crop from the farm to the market? How do you cook that?”

By Valentin Celaya

Preparing for the future isn’t easy. How many of us had a “2020 Vision” this year with plans for our time and our business that all changed due to factors beyond our control? The real value in preparing for the future is that when we encounter unexpected and disruptive change, we can maintain clarity in our purpose and values and convert challenges into opportunities. “The better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.”

By Peter Jensen

Driving through Gilliam County, it may seem like the rolling hillsides outnumber the full-time residents. As a lifelong resident of Eastern Oregon, Jay Gibbs thinks that works just fine.

By Javier Lara

The first time I crossed the border, I was confronted with an imaginary line, since transformed into a literal wall steadfast on halting human passage. Perhaps for some this could be a given, a matter of course. “At the very least,” you may think, “borders are necessary to protect this country’s way of life and autonomy.” But, whose lifestyle, now I wonder?

By Katherine Daniels

Oregon's Outdoor School Program has for years provided 5th and 6th grade students an outdoor educational experience over several days at participating sites across the State. There, students have enjoyed hands-on learning about soil, water, plants and animals. In 2017, the Oregon Legislature added agriculture, forestry and other natural resources to the topics to be studied by students at the Outdoor School.

By Cynthia Lopez

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our partners and friends have compiled and shared lists of valuable resources for the farming and ranching community. Below are collections created by Rogue Farm Corps, Oregon Food Bank, and the National Young Farmer’s Coalition that include business, financial, health, and other resources.