Death can put many things into perspective. It can bring realizations to the forefront and be a reminder of what matters most. Farmers and ranchers tend to have a closeness to death that most people don’t. Livestock deaths and fatal accidents on the farm or ranch can weigh heavy on your heart.
Almost five years ago, my dad bought a small vineyard. This summer, the man who planted all the grapes passed away naturally after living a long life. His name was Joe Olexa and he bought the land overgrown with pesky Himalayan blackberries in 1980. He got to work removing acres and acres of the gnarly brambles because he had a vision for what the south-facing slope could be and a passion for gardening and wine. He had a desire to establish a place where high quality grapes grow alongside wildlife habitats coexisting with a space where people can gather and share stories, food, and wine. With a full time job off the farm, he pursued growing grapes, planting acre by acre until the hillside was full of rows.
While I was not very close with Joe, I love what he established on this small piece of land my family gets to grow grapes on and care for now. His passion left a legacy bigger than himself, rooted in a place people will enjoy for generations to come. With his passing I have been thinking of the ways farmers today are sustaining the land for future generations. With a vision, navigating volatile markets, working long hours, managing finances, weathering unpredictable weather, and more – farmers today are still working hard to ensure the land is productive and better off than when they started caring for it to enable the next generation to do the same.
It feels like there is a lot working against the next generation of farmers like high land prices and inputs costs, loss of farmland, low prices for so many crops and loss of processing facilities, high interest rates, and more. Despite all of this, there’s one thing I do know: you don’t start – or stay – farming unless you’re an optimist. I’d argue farmers and ranchers are the ultimate optimists, planting and planning for the future knowing those plans will have to change and adapt to new conditions both literally and figuratively.
Even without all the answers or an easy path, the people in Oregon’s agricultural industry build for the future and something bigger than themselves. Utilizing technologies and solutions that didn’t exist even a decade or two ago, every spot on the farm to fork continuum is working to be as economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable as possible. Young minds and the next generation coming into agriculture bring new ideas and improve upon the previous generation’s creativity and wisdom.
Joe used to tell my dad that he was growing the vineyard into version 2.0 and I can see that same transition from one generation to another happening across our industry. It’s exciting, hopeful, and such an honor to work on behalf of hundreds of members pursuing a vision of success for the future.
Mallory Phelan
Executive Director
Oregon Aglink