Our Stories

Andy VanderPlaat is dedicated to enriching his community. He serves on the Board of the Pendleton Cattle Barons; an event created to honor the region’s cattlemen and celebrate the roots of ranching. He is also retired from working with Northwest Farm Credit Services, where he served the ranching community for over 40 years. Most importantly, Andy is the current OCA District Three Vice President and represents five counties of cattlemen: Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam, Sherman, and Wasco.

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Scott Shear is OCA’s District Two Vice President. District Two is made of Baker, Union, and Wallowa counties in the far Northeast of the state, a terrain Shear referred to as “wild country.” Shear took on leadership with the Wallowa county Stockgrowers circa 2010-2012 and stayed involved in the local and state associations until he was once again asked to volunteer more of his time as a District VP, a role he was nominated for at the 2019 OCA Convention…

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Chris Christensen is OCA’s District One Vice President. He is the facilitating voice between the state association and the county associations of Grant, Harney and Malheur counties. Chris and his wife, Bonnie, believe in leadership and transparency in the beef industry, which is why Chris decided to take a position of leadership within the industry over eight years ago…

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So how does a young boy from a logging community in Douglas county rise to notable agricultural leadership? Simply put, Nathan believes in the power of service. His father encouraged him from a young age to build a career with strategy and integrity, and in doing so, Nathan has been able to rise through the ranks in one of the most honorable fields – agriculture.

“Like so many young adults today, I wasn’t raised on a ranch or a farm, so I faced capital barriers to forging a life in agriculture,” says Jackson. After graduating from South Umpqua High School, Jackson pursued ag classes at Umpqua and Klamath Community Colleges while working in the casino cages at the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville. In 2000, the Cow Creeks purchased K-Bar Ranches, outside of Myrtle Creek. It was at that time; Jackson took his first professional role in agriculture as a ranch hand…

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On Sept. 19 cattle producers, allies and advocates gathered at the Malott ranch for the Cowboy ImPACt dinner, generously hosted by Central Oregon Ranch Supply on the eve of their annual tradeshow.

This event is the Oregon Cattlemen’s only annual fundraiser to support the lawmakers who fight for the rights of Oregon farmers and ranchers in the Capitol. All proceeds from the event go to the OCA’s Political Action Committee. For the second year, Mark Malott opened his barn doors and invited OCA members to gather for a delicious steak dinner and lively conversation about issues that impact the rancher’s way of life in this state

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Do we stop learning? Or better yet, do we ever want to stop learning? Of course not. Every day when we open our eyes in the morning, we’re presented with the chance to learn, to digest something new – from our work, community, or the world operating around us. At the same time, each one of us carries a sliver of knowledge that someone else does not know and just maybe, we will have the opportunity, on any given day, to shift, enrich or transform someone’s worldview…

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What is agri-tourism? Simply put, it’s the practice of attracting travelers or visitors to an area used primarily for agriculture purposes. Attendees find themselves immersed in the beauty and nostalgia of the countryside while absorbing small gems of information about the farms and ranches that put food on the dinner table. I was fortunate enough to be a part of such a tour – and what an outstanding example it was! On April 26, the North Central Livestock Association (NCLA), comprised of Wasco and Sherman counties, held their annual Bull Tour with four site visits in the beautiful, rolling, green hills near Condon and Lone Rock…

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On February 7, freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a Green New Deal resolution highlighting hopes and dreams for accomplishing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions within a 10-year time frame. A picturesque conception of creating millions of high-wage jobs, investing in infrastructure and industry, and promoting justice for “vulnerable communities,” all while meeting 100 percent power demand through zero-emission energy sources – sounds pretty good on paper. The Green New Deal fails to state how the government will realistically enact, enforce or accomplish those goals…

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