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2 CapitalPress.com March 11, 2016 People & Places Making cheese, preserving farmland Sue Conley, Peggy Smith help region’s dairies thrive Capital Press Managers Mike O’Brien .............................Publisher Joe Beach ..................................... Editor Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor Barbara Nipp ......... Production Manager Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager For the Capital Press Entire contents copyright © 2016 EO Media Group dba Capital Press An independent newspaper published every Friday. Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is published weekly by EO Media Group, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing ofices. Courtesy of Cowgirl Creamery Peggy Smith, left, and Sue Conley, owners of Cowgirl Creamery in Northern California, say farmland preservation inspires them to contin- ue to develop their artisan cheese-making company. It also allows dairymen to earn additional revenue. Western Innovator Sue Conley and Peggy Smith Hometown: Petaluma, Calif. Occupation: Owners and founders, Cowgirl Creamery Quote: “Saving the land was the irst step in creating an artisan cheese industry in our milk shed.” terested in partnering on a cheese-making venture and she happily made the move from chef to business owner,” Conley said. said. Eighty percent of the milk for their high-end cheeses — Mt. Tam, Wagon Wheel and all of the fresh cheeses — comes from the Straus’ dairy and each of the other cheeses is made with milk from a local designated farm. The Red Hawk cheese is made with Holstein milk from Bivalve Farm in Point Reyes, and seasonal cheeses are made with Jersey milk from Chileno Valley Dairy near Petaluma. Conley and Smith agree that challenges confront Cali- fornia’s small cheese-makers, including food safety compli- ance, access to capital and op- portunities to improve skills. “Unlike Wisconsin and Vermont (the other two states with clusters of artisan cheese makers), we have limited high- er education courses in artisan cheese-making and small farm dairying,” Conley said. “We would like to see efforts in developing these programs at (University of Califronia-Da- vis) or Chico State because these are the campuses closest to our cluster of cheese-makers in Northern California.” Conley said they are for- tunate to live in California, where their customers appreci- ate locally made goods and are willing to pay a little more for local cheese. “We created a company with 100 employees that pro- duces great cheese and pro- vides sales, marketing and distribution support for artisan and farmstead cheese-mak- ers,” Conley said. They also have some ad- vice for young people wanting to embark in cheese-making. She said the world of cheese is vast and diverse and there are many ways to build a career in the industry. The best way to explore the ield is to work in a good cheese shop and meet all of the players that support this growing sector of the cheese industry. But there’s more to it than making cheese — preserving farmland, she said. “Farmland preservation is an area that inspired us to de- velop our business,” Conley said. “Ellen Straus and Phyl- lis Faber founded the Marin Agricultural Land Trust in the 1980s to ight the development pressures on Marin County farmland.” Smith and Conley continue to assist in this effort both as individuals and as a company. “The founders encouraged us to make cheese because they knew that even if the land was saved for agriculture, un- less the ranchers were making more revenue on the farm, they would not be able to survive,” Conley said. “Cheese was an obvious product for our skilled dairy ranchers to make so that they could earn additional rev- enue on the farm.” Today, there are 29 cheese-makers in Sonoma and Marin counties and most of them are operating on their family dairy. New Oregon Sheep Growers Association president sets agenda By JAN JACKSON Calendar Saturday, March 12 Financial planning workshop. This is the continuation of a work- shop that began Friday. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Learn a planning process that will help you create the proit you desire and invest your hard-earned dollars in the most effective manner. Lazy R Ranch, Cheney, Wash. Cost: To Reach Us Toll free ............................. 800-882-6789 Main line ........................... 503-364-4431 Fax ................................... 503-370-4383 Advertising Fax ................ 503-364-2692 News Staff N. California Tim Hearden .................... 530-605-3072 E Idaho John O’Connell ................. 208-421-4347 Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898 Boise Sean Ellis .......................... 208-914-8264 Central Washington Dan Wheat ........................ 509-699-9099 E Washington Matthew Weaver .............. 509-688-9923 Oregon Eric Mortenson ................ 503-412-8846 Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789 Graphic artist Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789 To Place Classiied Ads Ad fax .............................. 503-364-2692 or ...................................... 503-370-4383 Telephone (toll free) .......... 866-435-2965 Online ......www.capitalpress.com/classiieds Subscriptions Mail rates paid in advance Easy Pay U.S. $3.75/month (direct with- drawal from bank or credit card account) 2 years U.S. .................................$89.99 www.sheeporegon.com Tom Nichols can be reached at nicholslivestock@gmail.com 1 year Canada .................................$275 1 year other countries ......... call for quote 1 year Internet only .......................$49.99 Jan Jackson/For the Capital Press Tom Nichols is president of the Oregon Sheep Growers Association. and hold them here in the (Willamette) Valley, where most of the producers that at- tend live and work.” He also said developing eficient digital communi- Sponsored by: To submit an event go to the Community Events calendar on the home page of our website at www. capitalpress.com and click on “Sub- mit an Event.” Calendar items can also be mailed to Capital Press, 1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. 1 year U.S. ...................................$49.99 Online For the Capital Press Armed with a lifetime of on-the-ground sheep produc- tion experience, a degree in animal science and years of research at Kansas State and Oregon State universities, Tom Nichols was the perfect choice for president of the Oregon Sheep Growers Asso- ciation. Installed at the OSGA an- nual convention in Sunriver, Ore., Nichols is focusing on OSGA’s mission — repre- senting the interests of OSGA sheep producers, industry-re- lated businesses and sheep industry products. “Everything is taking a hit now days, but if Oregon sheep growers can stay united I think we can remain strong,” Nichols said. “My immedi- ate goals are to strengthen OSGA’s annual convention, develop a digital communi- cation system with members and the public and to promote our Make It With Wool pro- gram to a larger audience. “I believe in conventions, I think they are important and I always learn a lot by getting together and rubbing elbows with the other people,” he said. “However, to steal fel- low producer Mac Stewart’s phrase, one of the irst things we need is to ‘right-size’ them Established 1928 Board of directors Mike Forrester ..........................President Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Sid Freeman .................. Outside director Mike Omeg .................... Outside director Corporate oficer John Perry Chief operating oficer By JULIA HOLLISTER PETALUMA, Calif. — Sue Conley and Peggy Smith, founders of the successful Cowgirl Creamery on the Northern California coast, didn’t grow up on farms, but the lure of food and fascination with that environment grabbed hold early. “Peggy’s family lived in the Northern Virginia suburbs and I grew up in Washington, D.C.,” Conley said. “Both of us attended the University of Tennessee, where we worked in restaurants on campus in be- tween classes.” They enjoyed the work and the camaraderie and moved to San Francisco in 1976, work- ing in restaurants. Smith was hired as a line cook at Alice Waters’ iconic Chez Panisse in Berkeley in 1979 and worked there for 17 years in leadership roles, Con- ley said. “I attended City College Hotel and Restaurant School in San Francisco and in 1983 opened Bette’s Oceanview Diner in Berkeley with two friends,” she said. Six years later Conley moved to Point Reyes Sta- tion and met the Straus fam- ily, which was converting its dairy to certiied organic and planned on bottling milk at a neighboring farm. “They needed help in mar- keting and selling the milk, so I sold my shares in Bette’s Diner and started working with Albert Straus,” she said. This led to the idea of mak- ing cheese with Straus Family Creamery milk. “I called my old friend, Peggy, to see if she was in- Capital Press $247. www.rootsofresilience.org Spring into Gardening, McMin- nville Community Center, McMin- nville, Ore., 503-434-7517. This year’s theme is Home Landscaping: Small Changes, Big Impact. Pre- sented by Oregon State University Extension and the Yamhill County Master Gardeners Association. Monday, March 14 Farm Succession Workshop, 6-9 p.m. Learn about the options avail- able to you as you prepare to tran- sition your working lands to future generations. Speakers will discuss the legal, inancial and business factors that a farm family should cations will help get animal health and other information to members. Born and raised in Ash- land, Ore., Nichols is a ifth-generation Oregonian. His father raised cattle, sheep and timber, and his mother taught school. He attended Linn Benton Community Col- lege for two years. He then joined a brother in Kansas and ended up getting a degree in animal science from Kansas State University, where he lived and worked at the beef and sheep research centers. Back in Oregon, Nich- ols worked as a forage tech- nician, ran sheep on valley grass ields for Tony Wahl and managed the Sheep Research Center for OSU. Today, Nichols lives in Lebanon with his wife, Kar- en, and 14-year-old daughter, Anne. “Karen is a sheep grower in her own right and was as- sistant shepherd at the OSU Sheep Center when I met her,” Nichols said. “She raises horned Dorsets, some Polled Dorsets and Suffolks while Anne, who is very active in 4-H, raises and shows Rom- neys. In addition to pasturing sheep for other growers, I’m the fence builder, truck driver and anything else that needs to be done.” Reed Anderson, sheep grower, lamb processor and owner of Anderson Family Ranches in Brownsville, Ore., spoke highly of Nichols in his role as OSGA president. “Tom has been raising and producing sheep his whole life, has extensive experience working with OSU and is well known with other state and national industry associa- tions,” Anderson said. “He is the most knowledgeable and well-rounded person I know and I look forward to seeing what his leadership brings to OSGA.” The OSGA board of direc- tors for 2016-2017: president, Tom Nichols, Lebanon; irst vice president, Mac Stewart, Salem; treasurer, Brian Diet- rich, Silverton; past president, Paul Lewis, Bonanza. Area vice presidents: Mike Cowdrey, Scio; Tasha Wahl, Shedd; Correy McAtee, Prineville; Kip Krebs, Ione; Morgan McKenzie; Langlois; John Kokkeler, Junction City. Oregon Make it with Wool director: Chandra Worman, Bend. Oregon Sheep Commis- sion representative: John M. Fine, Roseburg. GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE 20 Northwest Locations consider when planning for the fu- ture. They will present real world examples of how to address these important issues while balancing the complexities of family dynamics. Sponsored by the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation Dis- trict. Holiday Inn Express, 477 NW Phoenix Drive, Troutdale, Ore. http:// emswcd.org/workshops-and-events/ upcoming-workshops/all-events/ farm-succession/ Wednesday, March 16 2016 Ag Forum, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Join Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little, the 2016 Canyon County Farm Family of the Year and the state Department of Agriculture for a discussion of ag and the opportunities it offers. Ford Idaho Center, 16200 N. Idaho Cen- ter Blvd., Nampa, Idaho. Cost: $20. www.nampa.com/ag-forum. Friday, March 18 2016 Oregon FFA State Con- vention, Oregon State University, Corvallis. Runs through Monday. http://www.oregonffa.com Northwest Horse Fair & Expo 2016, Linn County Fair and Expo Center, Albany, Ore. The largest equine expo in the Northwest will feature dancing horses, clinics by world-class horse trainers and rid- ers, breed and stallion review dem- os, equine entertainment and a trade show. Runs through Sunday. http:// equinepromotions.net/ Saturday, March 19 Women in Agriculture Confer- ence, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Paciic time, 31 locations across the region. The 2016 Women in Agriculture Con- ference will offer women in Washing- ton, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska a unique opportunity to gath- er in 31 locations for a one-day event featuring knowledgeable speakers, inspiring stories, networking with other producers and practical advice for learning new skills. http://wome- ninag.wsu.edu/ 1 year 4-H, FFA students and teachers ....$30 9 months 4-H, FFA students & teachers .....$25 Visa and Mastercard accepted To get information published Mailing address: Capital Press P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 News: Contact the main ofice or news staff member closest to you, send the in- formation to newsroom@capitalpress.com or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press. Include a contact telephone number. Letters to the Editor: Send your comments on agriculture-related public issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital Press. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media www.capitalpress.com www.FarmSeller.com www.AgDirectoryWest.com www.OnlyAg.com www.facebook.com/capitalpress www.facebook.com/farmseller www.facebook.com/onlyAGdotcom twitter.com/capitalpress www.youtube.com/capitalpressvideo www.blogriculture.com Index California ................................ X Dairy .................................... 14 Idaho ...................................... 8 Livestock ............................. 14 Markets ............................... 16 Opinion .................................. 6 Oregon ................................ 10 Washington ..........................11 Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. If you see a misstatement, omission or factual error in a headline, story or photo caption, please call the Capital Press news department at 503-364-4431, or send email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. We want to publish corrections to set the record straight.
