Oregon Farmers & Ranchers Unite to Shape the Future of Agriculture

On Sunday February 28th, over 70 Farmer & Rancher Delegates, representing communities from across the state, came together for the first annual Farmer and Rancher Delegation. Participants gathered to voice their support for the Agriculture Reclamation Act or “ARA” for Oregon, a road map for future food and agricultural policy, which prioritizes family-scale farms and ranches, food security and rural economic viability.

The event was a culmination of a year and a half long effort to band farmers and ranchers together.  Over the past months, hundreds of family farmers and ranchers have participated in 17 community meetings throughout the state. During these meetings, participants identified common challenges and obstacles that make it difficult to raise and produce food for members of their community; they also elected Delegates to attend the meeting in Corvallis this weekend.   This kind of unprecedented, grassroots campaign demonstrates the collective strength of Oregon’s independent family farmers and ranchers, and has connected communities across our vast and diverse state.

Participants in the Farmer & Rancher Delegation discussed and deliberated on a number of key issue areas where they hope to bring about change. A few of the topics discussed were lack of access to meat slaughter and processing, the fact that the current farming population is rapidly aging, and the lack of support the Oregon Department of Agriculture provides to Oregon’s family farmers and ranchers. Within each issue area discussed, the Delegates voted on three action items that can be taken to keep agriculture vibrant and economically feasible in our state.

The work in Oregon is the first of its kind, and provides a unique perspective to the growing national food movement that is focused on vitality and cultural connectivity.  A final version of the Agricultural Reclamation Act, drafted by the farmers and ranchers who attended the Delegation, will be approved and made public in May.  From there, the group will take their recommendations to the next Board of Agriculture meeting and will be looking for broad-based support from the food and agricultural community.  Stay tuned for how you can sign on and be a part of changing the future direction of food and agricultural policies in Oregon.

Thanks so much to all who participated in this historic day.  It was an incredible effort and we look forward to the road ahead.  Visit Colin’s website for more pictures from the day.

The Farmer and Rancher Delegation was made possible because of generous support from the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation and Farm Aid.