By Johan Doornenbal, Organic Valley Generation Organic Farmer & Photographer
Generation Organic, a group of young farmers ages 18 to 35, recently wrapped up a “Who’s Your Farmer?” Tour, where young farmers visited supermarkets and universities in the Pacific Northwest so to help consumers put a face to their food supply.
Our tour t-shirts say it all! Where does your food come from?
The “Gen-O” farmers, from California, Oregon, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin, were often born into a life of farming (many are fifth-generation dairy farmers!), and today are helping to create some of the most sustainable dairy products on the market.
An excited Organic Valley fan promotes us on his sustainable vehicle at our first stop in Bozeman, MT.
We love surprising shoppers with Organic Valley products in their cart by picking up the tab for their groceries and introducing ourselves!
Some key stops on the tour included Montana State University, Portland Farmers Market, The Evergreen State College, University of Portland, Oregon Culinary Institute, Oregon State University, University of California-Chico, University of California-Davis, the 2011 Bioneers Conference, and Stanford University.
Our visitors were fond of playing the “Wheel of Farming” trivia game - not to mention winning prizes like frisbees and moo cans!
At the Portland Farmer’s market we served delicious cookies from Two Tarts Bakery to complement our tasty Northwest Pastures milk.
Gen-O Jake Wedeberg, a fifth generation organic farmer from Gays Mills, WI, always makes us laugh while documenting our journey.
Two small fans.
Oregon State University welcomed us with their home-brewed flyer.
While the age of the average conventional farmer is 57, organic agriculture is drawing from a much younger crowd.
Gen-Os Ceara Westaby and Elainna Coelho enjoy a little time in the shade.
The Tour taught people where their milk comes from and encouraged them to petition for all GMO foods to be labeled.
According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, America has lost approximately 4.5 million farms since 1935, and most of the 2.1 million farms that remain are operated by farmers with an average age of 57. In contrast, the average age of Organic Valley farmers is 44.
“Tour Mama” Allison Walent and the Gen-Os helped harvest at the Oregon State University organic garden.
Pete Mahaffy talks about grazing practices and pasture on his farm with two Gen-Os and our trusty bus driver Kurt Eckes.
Organic Valley Stringles and Single Serve Milk packages were a popular treat for visitors.
Gen-O Laura Boere represents young farmers on the Tour and on the carton!
Johan Doornenbal works at Thomas Valley Farm in Scio, Oregon, which is home to 160 milking cows and lot of pasture, 276 acres to be exact. One of his many jobs is to bale the grass so that the cows can eat during the winter, which is a much more prestigious endeavor than his childhood job of picking rocks out of the fields and earning a penny a rock. Johan loves seeing the wild turkeys, deer, and elk that enter into the cow pastures.
Great job!! And may I add , what a great opportunity ! Just wanted to drop some props where props are due:)
Thank you for this article, education is half the battle in the fight for proper food in America. An estimated 60 to 70 percent of all of the food items sold in the United States, including packaged goods, now have genetically modified ingredients. Very little is known about the long-term effects GMO food products in the human diet, and many concerns have been raised about the dramatic increase in food allergies and other related health issues. Support your local organic farmer, Their the one’s looking out for your health.
It’s too bad they could not extend this tour to more areas of the country. If people, the average ordinary citizen, had the opportunity to learn exactly what was in the food they eat everyday, there would be a massive outcry. As it is now, yes the ranks are growing and yes, patience is still a must-have situation for us that are already concerned with the battle we are fighting. Organizations and events like this though are what makes our ranks grow stronger. Good job to these people and thanks for being part of a movement to ultimately make America safer, thus stronger.
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