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Welcome to Lane Families for Farms and Forests!

Lane Families for Farms and Forests (LFFF) is non-profit organization committed to harnessing support for Lane County’s rich heritage of agriculture and forestry, two cornerstones of our local community. We strive to elevate the voices of farmers and forest mangers and provide a resource for county residents interested in learning more about how working lands actually work.

We live in Lane County. We grow in and for Lane County. We are committed to natural resources in Lane County. No one tells our stories better than we do.

For us .com means community.

Who We Are

We are a group of community members concerned with conserving agriculture and forestry in Lane County, Oregon.

Through Lane Families for Farms and Forests, we are working toward preserving the thriving agriculture and forestry industries in Lane County for generations to come.

Reach out to us at lanefarmsforests@gmail.com with any questions.

Spotlight: The Yarbrough Family, husband and wife foresters

Spotlight: Marie Bowers, 5th generation farmer

Spotlight: Lindsay Reaves , Tree Farmer

Spotlight: Ed Fine, Crop Consultant

Spotlight: Noelle Arena, Forest Engineer

LFFF Leadership

President: Ed Fine – Ed was born in Oregon and raised in Eugene where he now lives. Ed works as a crop consultant focusing on farms in Lane County, but he ventures throughout Linn and Benton County as well.

Vice President: Gordon Culbertson – A life-long resident of Lane County, Gordon has worked nearly 40 years managing timber, forestry and forest products operations. Active in a number of community activities; Gordon and his wife Gail live in Walterville, Oregon. Together they own Whitewater Forests LLC, managing two tree farms certified under the American Tree Farm System.

Secretary: Melinda Montgomery

Treasurer: Diann Washburn

Kate McMichael – LFFF Co-ordinator and small woodland owner up the McKenzie in East Lane County.

Board Members

Annaliese Johnston is a third-generation farmer rooted from a family farm established in 1939 in Tillamook, Oregon. Raised working on dairy and grass seed farms while later working in the logging industry, she is committed to advocating the voices of farmers and loggers. With an emphasis on valuing a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to enhancing farming and logging Ms. Johnston is eager to spread industry awareness.

Shane Ruddell is a first-generation farmer in Junction City. He produces filberts and seed crops. Shane gained a passion for agriculture while working on local farms in high school. After graduating from Junction City High School became a certified mechanic and eventually worked for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Shane started Ruddell Farms LLC in 2017 and has become a star producer in Lane County. Today Shane serves on the Lane County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency Advisory Committee.

Bryan Harper was born in Nairobi, Kenya on a small farm that produced livestock, tea and corn. Bryan ran track at the University of Oregon and was the 2009 NWACC 400 meter Champion. After graduation, Harper returned to his family’s farm in Junction City, Oregon. Where they raise hazelnuts, row crops, grain, specialty seed, grass seed and timber.

Get Involved

Involvement in Lane Families for Farms & Forests can range from financial support to membership, attending an event to becoming part of our leadership team. We welcome you at whatever level of commitment works with your life and work. Mostly, we hope that you will join us in elevating–and celebrating–the stories and experiences of the women and men who work on our farms and in our forests.

Feel free to reach out to us at lanefarmsforests@gmail.com with any questions.

Thank you for your interest in donating to LFFF. Please click the link below to access our PayPal donation page.

Donate to LFFF

Thank you for your donation!

Becoming an LFFF member is easy!

Simply download and complete the form below–or just click on the “Buy Now” button that matches your membership level.

Our membership coordinator will contact you to confirm your membership and discuss your involvement interest.

Membership Forms and dues can be mailed to:
Lane Families for Farms and Forests, PO Box 8214, Coburg OR 97408

LFFF Membership Form View | Download

Payment method can be personal check, company check, or online payment (click below)
The LFFF membership year runs from January 1 – December 31.

Individual Membership: $20

Families, Small Businesses or Organizations with 1-150 employees: $100

Benefactor Membership – For companies or organizations with 151- 300 employees: $500

Champion Membership – For companies or organizations over 301 employees: $1,000

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you!

Hearing from our members–current or potential–makes our day!

Drop us an email with a question, concern or an idea for a tour, speaker or workshop. We’ll get back to you within a day or so.

Thanks for reaching out!