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CapitalPress.com
May 18, 2018
People & Places
For first-generation farmers
Tierney Creech
helps form coalition
to support young
producers
Western
Innovator
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
Tierney Creech grew up in
a Seattle suburb and became a
farmer, surprisingly.
“I didn’t know it was an op-
tion,” she said.
Creech comes from Red-
mond, Wash., the home of
Microsoft and other high-tech
companies. She got a college
degree and went to work for a
YMCA. Her first move toward
becoming a farmer was leaving
her Y cubicle.
That was about a decade
ago. Now Creech, 35, grows
vegetables on roughly 2 acres
on plots in Maytown and Grand
Mound in Thurston County,
Wash. She and her farming
partner, Julie Puhich, supply
about 100 families who sign
up for weekly boxes of produce
during the growing season.
To connect with other fledg-
ling growers, she helped found
the Washington Young Farmers
Coalition in 2010. She’s also
on the board of the National
Young Farmers Coalition.
Most members, she said, are
like her. They have small par-
cels of land and are making a
go at an occupation they didn’t
grow up around.
“A lot of us are coming in
as first-generation farmers,”
Creech said. “We can’t look
back on generations of knowl-
edge in our families.”
Advocacy, support
The Young Farmers Co-
alition combines advocacy,
socializing and practical sup-
port. Membership in the state
coalition is fairly informal. The
group’s Facebook page has
more than 1,750 friends.
“The camaraderie is really
valuable,” Creech said. “It’s a
Tierney Creech
Age: 35
Occupation: Farmer, owns
Common Ground CSA in
Thurston County, Wash.
Positions: National Young
Farmers Coalition board;
founding member of
Washington Young Farmers
Coalition
Don Jenkins/Capital Press
Education: Western
Washington University,
major in psychology, minor in
environmental studies
Western Washington farmer Tierney Creech is on the board of the National Young Farmers Coalition.
hard thing to go from ‘I want to
farm’ to farming.”
Last year, the national orga-
nization dug into what makes
getting into farming hard by
surveying more than 3,500
past, current or aspiring farmers
under 40 years old.
The survey found that the
top challenges faced by young
farmers were finding land and
workers, paying for health in-
surance and paying off student
debt. An accompanying report
recommends more government
support for low-interest loans
and a variety of farmer assis-
tance programs, especially for
minorities. The report also ad-
vocates student loan forgive-
ness for farmers.
On the state level, Creech
testified in support this year of
a bill to provide farmers with
free mental health counseling.
Her testimony included a sto-
ry about a young farmer who
committed suicide. Represen-
tatives from other farm groups
had similar stories. The bill
passed.
Creech said the state and
national chapters of the Young
Farmers Coalition started at
about the same time.
She said her involvement
began by attending another or-
ganization’s gathering of young
farmers.
“It was the first time I had
ever met other young people
farming,” Creech said.
Creech graduated from
Western Washington Universi-
ty with a degree in psychology
and a minor in environmental
studies. Her interest in the out-
doors and summer camps led to
the YMCA job. She, however,
wanted a foreign adventure.
She found it by signing up with
Willing Workers on Organic
Farms, a cultural exchange pro-
gram. She spent a year working
on organic farms in New Zea-
land, she recalled.
“I continued to learn that I
loved farming,” Creech said.
CSA honor system
She came back to Wash-
ington and worked on several
farms before going into busi-
ness with Puhich, the long-
time operator of the Common
Ground CSA, the initials of
community supported agricul-
ture. After a couple of years,
Creech took over ownership at
the beginning of 2017.
Customers sign up to re-
ceive small or large boxes of
vegetables for 25 weeks. A
small share costs $450 to $700.
A large share costs $700 to
$1,000. Customers choose the
exact price. It’s a sliding scale
meant to tie what customers
pay to their income using the
honor system.
“It’s a great model. It’s re-
ally simple,” Creech said.
The model has been dura-
ble. Puhich started Common
Ground more than 25 years
ago. The farm has no website.
It relies on word-of-mouth ad-
vertising.
Creech said her customers
like fresh vegetables — and
who’s growing their food.
“It’s a way for people to feel
part of a community,” she
said.
Creech said she tries to
deliver about a dozen differ-
ent kinds of vegetables each
week. “It’s cool to watch the
seasons change and watch the
boxes change,” she said.
Customers assume some
risk for poor crops. “If I have
a bad year for carrots, they
know they’re not going to
have many carrots,” she said.
This does not relieve Com-
mon Ground of responding to
market demands. “If I gave
them only kale for four weeks,
they probably wouldn’t stick
around,” Creech said. “We
have customers saying, ‘We
want more beans.’ At the same
time, we have customers say-
ing, ‘We want less beans.’”
Creech said she hires one
full-time seasonal worker.
Even with just one worker,
Washington’s $11.50 per hour
minimum wage — the highest
among all states — is a major
expense.
She said her plans are to
keep the enterprise going and
to keep farming.
“It’s definitely the most
satisfying work I’ve ever
found,” she said.
Kircher appointed to Oregon Dairy Farmers Association board
SALEM, Ore. — Robert
Kircher, a partner to two or-
ganic dairy farms, has been
appointed to the Oregon Dairy
Farmers Association Board of
Directors representing produc-
ers in the Willamette Valley.
Kircher will complete the
remaining two years of a term
vacated by Pete DeHaan, ac-
cording to an ODFA press re-
lease.
Kircher has a unique back-
ground for a dairy producer. He
was born in Kodiak, Alaska,
and moved to Oregon when he
was two years old. His fami-
ly invested in a brew pub, and
when Robert was 11, he met
Dan Bansen, the owner of For-
Calendar
To submit an event go to the
Community Events calendar on the
home page of our website at www.
capitalpress.com and click on “Submit
an Event.” Calendar items can also be
mailed to Capital Press, 1400 Broadway
St. NE, Salem, OR 97301 or emailed
to newsroom@capitalpress.com. Write
“Calendar” in the subject line.
Saturday, May 19
Goat Academy 2018. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Latah County Fairgrounds, 1021 Harold
St., Moscow, Idaho. An all-day confer-
ence on all things goat. The event is limit-
ed to 200 participants, and preregistration
is required. The full schedule and a reg-
istration link can be found under events
at www.palousegoatguild.com. Cost: $50
general/$25 4H, FFA.
Monday, May 21
Bee workshop. 6:30 p.m. OSU
Extension, 505 N. Columbia River
Highway, St. Helens, Ore. Varroa
mites: What they are, what they do
and what the future holds. Cost:
Free Website: http://extension.ore-
gonstate.edu/columbia
Saturday, May 26
Goat healthcare/nutrition/packgoat
seminar. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Workshop,
7211 40th Court NE, Olympia, Wash.
Seminar includes handouts and hands-
on time with goats. If you are new to
goats or just need a refresher for goat
care this is a great event. Instructor has
30-plus years of successful goat care
experience. Cost is $25 for public; $7.50
for 4-H/FFA members/family/volunteers.
For more information contact Donna at
360-742-8310 or dsemasko@comcast.
net. Website: edelweissacresobers.com
Online
www.oregondairyfarmers.org
ODFA
Robert Kircher, newly appointed board member of the Oregon
Dairy Farmers Association.
est Glen Jerseys. Robert’s father
was looking for a dairy to take
the brewers grain leftover from
Saturday-Sunday
May 26-27
Alpaca Shearing Day & Fleece
Sale. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Alpacas of Oregon,
21345 SW Aebischer Road, Sherwood,
Ore. Join EasyGo Farm at Alpacas of
Oregon and take a break from the Me-
morial Day Winery Tours to watch the
alpacas get their annual haircuts. Get up
close, hand feed them, and handle their
luxurious fleece. Shearing Day is Satur-
day. On Sunday, learn to felt an alpaca
gift. Phone Suzanne at 503-348-6954 to
reserve a spot. $25-$75 covers materi-
als and instruction. Cost: Free. Website:
www.easygofarm.net/AOOMemDay
Saturday-Monday
May 26-28
Memorial Day Weekend Festival.
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Redhawk Vineyard &
Winery, 2995 Michigan City Lane NW,
Salem, Ore. Join us for wine and bar-
rel tasting, food, our incredible view
and music. $12 tasting fee. Website:
www.redhawkwine.com
Wednesday, May 30
Field to Market Workshop. 1-4
p.m. OSU Extension Service, 505 N.
Columbia River Highway, St. Helens,
Ore. Learn from experts about Oregon
Department of Agriculture regulations,
recipe selection, labeling guidelines and
other issues involved in producing val-
ue-added products. Cost: $25/person,
$40/couple Website: http://extension.
oregonstate.edu/columbia/
Friday-Saturday
June 1-2
WSU Beef 200 Course. Okan-
ogan County Fairgrounds, Annex
Building, 175 Rodeo Trail Road,
Okanogan, Wash. Topics for Friday
night session, which will be 5:30-
the beer making process and
Bansen was interested. He invit-
ed Robert and his two younger
8:30 p.m., include management of
lupine on range and beef pairings
with wine and beer, with a focus on
direct marketing of your beef. Topics
for Saturday, which will be 8 a.m.-
5:30 p.m., include live animal evalu-
ation and grading, ruminology 101/
beef nutrition, factors affecting beef
quality and palatability, carcass and
retail cutting demonstrations, grid
pricing, team evaluating and auc-
tion, and fetal programming. Spon-
sored by WSU Extension and the
Methow Conservancy. Access the
information brochure and hard copy
registration at: http://extension.wsu.
edu/okanogan/ Cost: $60/person
(additional $25 after May 21); Fri-
day or Saturday session only: $40/
person (additional $25 after May
21). Website: https://okanogan-
beef200.brownpapertickets.com
Saturday, June 2
81st Annual Marion County Lamb
& Wool Show. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Turner
Elementary School, 7800 School St.,
Turner, Ore. The show is a day of fun
with 4-H & FFA events, wool animals
and market lambs. The show also
includes craft vendors, an ice cream
vendor, a local spinning club and
plants for sale. Again this year we
will start the day with the children’s
classes: Most Beautiful Lamb, Young
Herdsman and Young Market Lamb
classes for children under the age of
10. Website: http://marioncountylam-
bandwoolshow.yolasite.com/
Wednesday, June 6
Our Valley, Our Future Breakfast.
7:15-8:45 a.m. Emmanuel Baptist
Church, 1515 College Way, Mount
Vernon, Wash. Join us for our fourth
annual celebration of past, present
and future Skagit Valley agricultural
brothers to spend the day with
him and learn about the farm.
That one-day visit turned into a
job after school, working week-
ends and during summer break.
Kircher graduated from Or-
egon State University with a
degree in agriculture and a fo-
cus on dairy science. He spent
a term on a conventional dairy
in Hilmar, Calif. Following his
graduation, he returned to the
farm full-time. He worked his
way up to farm manager and
became a partner in the busi-
ness with his brother, Stewart
leaders over a hearty breakfast. This
year our keynote speaker will be Cis-
coe Morris of King 5 TV. Awards will
also be presented to honor the Skagi-
tonians that shape our industry. This
event is a great way to connect with
regional businesses and farmers, cel-
ebrate successes, and start the day
feeling informed and inspired. Cost:
Free; donations requested Website:
http://www.skagitonians.org/events/
valley-future-breakfast/
Tuesday-Friday
June 12-15
Agriculture Transportation Coali-
tion Annual Meeting. Greater Tacoma
Convention Center, 1500 Commerce
St., Tacoma, Wash. The meeting will
be the largest annual gathering of ag
shippers sourcing and delivering to for-
eign markets. The agenda includes an
off-the-record best practices session for
members, a port tour and sessions on
other topics. Website: www.agtrans.org/
events
Wednesday, June 13
Sherman County Field Day. 8:40
a.m.-noon. Sherman County Station,
66365 Lone Rock Road, Moro, Ore.
Topics include wheat breeding and
variety testing, weed control, disease
control and agronomy. Website: http://
cbarc.aes.oregonstate.edu
Forestry Shortcourse. 9 a.m.-noon.
Sandpoint Orchard, 10881 N. Boyer
Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. This is the
first session of a six-session course on
forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife hab-
itat, and other forestry topics. Cost: $38
Email: cschnepf@uidaho.edu
Saturday-Sunday
June 16-17
84th Annual Glenwood “Ketchum
Kircher, and Dan Bansen. They
currently milk 1,500 organic
Jerseys on two farms.
Kircher and his wife Cal-
lyn have two children. Kircher
graduated from ODFA’s Dairy
Leadership Program and cur-
rently serves on Organic Val-
ley’s Dairy Executive Commit-
tee.
The Oregon Dairy Farmers
Association is governed by
eight producers from across
the state and one industry rep-
resentative. ODFA was found-
ed in 1892 to work on behalf
of Oregon dairy farmers.
ODFA represents Oregon’s
218 multi-generational Grade
A dairy farming families.
Kalf” Rodeo. 12:30-10 p.m. The Glen-
wood, Wash., Rodeo Association is a
nonprofit, all-volunteer organization that
sponsors this rodeo. Cost: $10 for adults,
$3 for ages 4 to 12.
Wednesday, June 20
Forestry Shortcourse. 9 a.m.-noon.
Sandpoint Orchard, 10881 N. Boyer
Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. This is the sec-
ond session of a six-session course on
forest ecology, silviculture, wildlife hab-
itat, and other forestry topics. Cost: $38
Email: cschnepf@uidaho.edu
Saturday-Sunday
June 23-24
Aquaponics in Oregon Confer-
ence. Smith Hall, Western Oregon
University, 345 Monmouth Ave.,
Monmouth, Ore. Hear from some
of the top commercial growers,
innovators and educators in this
emerging green industry and dis-
cover the challenges and oppor-
tunities aquaponics present. Cost:
$135/person. Website: https://bit.
ly/2KdDXSM
Wednesday, June 27
Forestry Shortcourse. 9 a.m.-noon.
Sandpoint Orchard, 10881 N. Boyer
Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. This is the third
session of a six-session course on forest
ecology, silviculture, wildlife habitat, and
other forestry topics. Cost: $38 Email:
cschnepf@uidaho.edu
Wednesday, July 11
Forestry Shortcourse. 9 a.m.-noon.
Sandpoint Orchard, 10881 N. Boyer
Road, Sandpoint, Idaho. This is the fourth
session of a six-session course on forest
ecology, silviculture, wildlife habitat, and
other forestry topics. Cost: $38 Email:
cschnepf@uidaho.edu
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Index
Dairy ...................................... 8
Innovations .......................10-11
Markets ............................... 13
Opinion .................................. 6
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