I've worked at Oregon State University Extension for 12 years in the Small Farms program and coordinated the Siskiyou Sustainable Cooperative's CSA program for 14 years. I'm passionate about scale-appropriate, sustainable agriculture and nurturing a strong local food system Additionally, my husband and I own and operate Wolf Gulch Farm, a certified organic vegetable seed farm in the Siskiyou Mountains.

Maude says,

"Food has the capacity to bring people together and forge partnerships that would otherwise be impossible. I believe that food is medicine, as well as a powerful organizing tool to build bridges, solve problems, and tell stories about. The work I've done with the RVFSN has been inspiring, fun and community-building."

Contact Maude

Siskiyou Sustainable Coop

I’m an advocate for living a balanced life based on eating a whole foods diet, regular strenuous exercise and meaningful work. My husband, Steven, and I raised our two children around these values. These values led me to begin working at our community food co-op in 1999. In 2013, I was hired as the general manager at the Medford Food Co-op. It’s rewarding to be a part of this growing co-op and to work with other organizations that share our vision of a thriving local food economy.

Anne says:

"The Medford Food Co-op exists to sustain a vibrant, healthy, and thriving community. We aim to be a sustainable and growing business that provides economic, environmental, and social benefits for the Rogue Valley. Through collaborative partnerships with other local businesses and organizations like the Rogue Valley Food System Network, we strive to connect the community to the people and the land that produce our food. We envision a community that understands, embraces, and supports the health and economic benefits of choosing local organic food; provides all residents access to healthy food; and embraces the cooperative business model."

Contact Anne

www.medfordfood.coop

Greg became the Southern Oregon Advocate for 1000 Friends and started working to preserve farmland and increase the livability of our communities in 2002. Since then he has been a tireless voice for ensuring that our precious farmland remains available for farming. Based on his work in the Rogue Valley and elsewhere in the state, in 2015 1000 Friends created their own Food Systems Program and made Greg its Director. Greg is active in the leadership of the Oregon Community Food Systems Network.

Greg says:

"As the American Farmland Trust says, "No Farms, No Food." I like to eat, and I like to know where my food comes from. That is only possible if the farmers that provide my food can make a living doing so. I do this work with the goal of making sure that everyone that has a hand in getting healthy, nutritious food to the tables of Rogue Valley residents is treated well."

Contact Greg

1000 Friends of Oregon

Chef Kristen loves bringing people together and believes food is one of the most universal languages there is. We have the opportunity to create culture and the kind of world we want to live in through food, which touches economics, equality, human rights, environmental practice and politics, to name a few! Her passion lies in service and bringing health and opportunity through her prepared meals business, local foods storefront, and catering service by connecting local farmers, ranchers and food producers with as many local buyers as possible. She also loves sharing her joy and passion with each client, bringing a nurturing touch to each tasty meal she provides.

Kristen says:

"I believe food is a web that can strengthen or weaken a community, depending on the practices and value attached to the impact on environment, local economy, health of workers and health of the community. If we build a system of small farms that feed the soil, care for the people that work for them and help to feed and contribute to the local economy, the ripple effect of positive impact is endless! It not only physically nourishes the land and people in the community, but creates jobs and food security, keeps our dollars local, improves the health of those who partake, enriches lives by connecting people and so much more."

Contact Kristen

Jefferson Farm Kitchen / Chef Kristen Catering

Rebecca is passionate about spending time outdoors, getting her hands dirty, exploring, and eating good food. She feels grateful to share these loves with her family and friends as well as getting to bring what she loves into her work. She moved to the Rogue Valley to get her masters in Environmental Education after working all over the country as a park ranger and educator. She loves being part of this community and is excited to continue to see what can happen when people come together.

Rebecca says:

"We are all part of the food system. Food brings us together and knowledge about how we fit into the food system can bring empowerment. I believe giving people opportunities to connect to the local food system weaves us into the community and knowing and caring for our neighbors and the place we live. Building relationships in our community, listening to each other, and collaborating can give us the inspiration to work for improvement. Giving kids an opportunity to connect with their food, to harvest and make a meal at a farm, work in their school garden can, do so much. I feel so lucky to have a role where I get to watch kids find the joy and wonder of watching a plant grow and getting to eat it. I wish for everyone to get an opportunity to connect with their food in a way that is meaningful and uplifting."

Contact Rebecca

Rogue Valley Farm to School

I thrive having a purpose that is greater than me. My expertise is "seeing the forest for the trees", knowing where we are going, laying out the strategy to get there, leading others to bring out their best selves, to contribute and find their purpose, enjoy the journey and reap the rewards when we get there.

Jo Ann says:

"Increasing demand for locally produced food will increase farmers and ranchers income and encourage not only existing ag folks to stay in the business but to encourage new producers. These buyers eager for local foods products have buying power that will influence how that food is produced which is a meaningful way to encourage healthy and sustainable local farming and ranching practices."

Rusted Gate Farm

Josh Bilbao serves as the Agricultural Resource Conservationist for JSWCD. He comes to us from Montana where he most recently worked for Montana State University Extension as an Agriculture/Horticulture Extension Agent. Josh has both a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Management and a Master’s degree in Range Management from Montana State University. Josh has a wide variety of agriculture expertise ranging from cow/calf operations, grazing/pasture management, irrigation efficiency, small grains and organic vegetable production. He has spent a significant portion of his natural resource career working with landowners on pest management strategies and taking a more holistic approach for the overall health of the environment. In his spare time Josh loves spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, gardening and exploring the outdoors.

Hi, I’m Doug, The Family Nurturing Center Farm, Food Program Manager. We’ve been working since 2011 to increase access to healthy locally grown food, workforce development opportunities for people to learn about regenerative agriculture and local food systems, and group learning experiences to practice farm to table skills. I love being a part of the Rogue Food System Network, as there is so much overlap in our goals, and the spirit of collaboration and support that we all have as we work together to improve the health of our community.

Avry (They/Them) has focused their career on food and agriculture since 2012 while working on various market farms, a perennial vegetable and herb nursery, and a diversified food forest and orchard. They have completed certifications in Advanced Horticulture at the Center for Agroecology in Santa Cruz, California, Permaculture Design, 200-hour Yoga certification, Advanced Herbal Studies, and much self-study and work in sustainable food production systems.

Avry is thrilled to have landed in Southern Oregon. They are the RFC point person for the Rogue Valley Regenerative Farming Fellowship and part of the Farmer Trainings Team. Avry is dedicated to mentorship and community building in the food system. Avry pursues their passions for fermenting, hiking, and seed saving in their free time.

Rogue Farm Corps

Josephine has been with the Josephine County Food Bank since June 2020. Originally from Asheville, NC, she’s embraced Southern Oregon as her home for the past eight years. Josephine holds a Bachelor’s in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University and firmly believes that access to food and the act of sharing a meal are fundamental human rights.

Outside of work, you’ll find her exploring the PNW with her pup by hiking, kayaking, camping, and gardening.

Josephine County Food Bank

Daily Blessings Farm is home to the JCFC food hub that supports approximately 40 producers located throughout five Southern Oregon counties and two Northern California counties. Carrie discovered her passion for agriculture while developing school gardens as a public educator in Davis, CA. Over 26% of her daily student population arrived to school hungry, and school lunches lacked nutritious, fresh food options. As a result, she became an advocate for agriculture education and food waste reduction programs, connecting state standard curriculum to school garden environments. She returned to Southern Oregon in 2017, where she was raised, to launch an initiative that serves the community with fresh, healthy, locally grown food. The pandemic molded this initiative into a regional food hub movement when local producers began to share resources and collaboratively serve the community. Together, they are strengthening the local food system network in a severely underserved rural area that is lacking resources. Carrie’s insight linking public education to a local source for healthy food provides a unique leader to promote healthy lives.  Carrie has worked for OSU Extension Service in Jackson and Josephine counties, has 34 years of sales, marketing, and administration background, and now grows organic strawberries and poultry for eggs on the land purchased by her family in 1972

Contact Carrie:  jcfarmcollectiveinfo@gmail.com or 530-304-3754

“I believe that nutritious food is truly medicine, and it doesn’t get any healthier than sourcing it from a local grower. I have witnessed repeated experiences while working with families from all over the world, who discover how they can be empowered to heal their illness and thrive with great health when they learn how to grow their food, select healthy options, develop skills to preserve and prepare healthy food, and then enjoy the flavors and benefits of fresh food. Agriculture and the need for food brings people together! It brings us to the same table. “

Scott Perry has been a dedicated advocate for food security in the Rogue Valley for over a decade. He has served as a cook with the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen for the past 10 years and has spent 14 years with the Medford Food Project as a board member, neighborhood coordinator, and donor. His passion for addressing hunger grew from his experiences as a school principal, where he witnessed firsthand how food insecurity affected children’s ability to learn and thrive. Scott joined the Rogue Valley Food Systems Network to gain a deeper understanding of how local food security efforts intersect and to support more coordinated, effective service across the region.

Amber is the Executive Director of Rogue Food Unites, which started as a project to feed fire-affected people in Oregon after the fires of 2020, and which has grown to a multi-county organization working to eradicate food insecurity for thousands people every year. Amber is passionate about heart centered work, and through her work, she has been able to feel more connected to her community. She spends her time tending to her home and her community.

Bio Coming Soon!

News article

*Photo: Lynne Terry, Oregon Capital Chronicle

Betsy is a relatively new resident of the Rogue Valley having lived in Hawaii most of her adult life, working to develop non-profit organizations focused on islands' food and energy self-reliance and ecosystem health. Once she became more knowledgeable about the challenges to food system development here, she hoped to be able to translate some of her lessons learned into effective action towards RVFSN goals for increased local food production and system infrastructure development.

I am a community organizer at heart and believe we already have all the solutions to the big issues of our time, it is just a matter of building the bridges. I have spent the last 10 years developing a passion for creating sustainable food culture through education and transformational events. Within the Food System, I've played the role of farmer, chef, entrepenuer, and executive director. I am grateful to now be working with the Rogue Valley community as the Coordinator for RVFSN.

Alison says,

"I believe that food is our common denominator, a universal language, and a powerful agent of change. The role that Food Systems work is playing across the country right now is an important one, we are taking complex problems and cultivating real solutions that make a difference in local communities. From hunger and food access issues to clean water and building healthy soils, Rogue Valley Food System Network is a community of individuals, groups and organizations who are working together to identify how these complex issues impact this region with the goal of creating lasting solutions."

Contact Alison

www.rvfoodsystem.org

Coming Soon!

Sheila says:

Coming soon!

Contact Sheila

Biodynamic Demeter Alliance

Rhianna, grew up on a 100 acre farm in Central Texas where she developed her love of farming. She has a Masters of Science in Education & Botany from SOU (Ashland). Rhianna is the Executive Director of Cultivate Oregon, a nonprofit with the purpose to empower responsible food and farming. She is on the board of the Southern Oregon Seed Growers Association & is on the leadership team of the Oregon Community Food System Network. Rhianna works on her own organic, one-acre mini farm called Verdant Phoenix , where she lives with her husband, two young children, & beautiful, silty loam soil!

Rhianna says,

"When people understand where their food comes from, they can begin to understand its real value, and they start to see connections between how the food is grown and the health of communities. As G. Russolillo said, 'we buy food everyday, but it is an act that can change the world.'"

Contact Rhianna

www.verdantphoenix.com