The Farmers' Forum 2025
When: Wednesday, March 5 from 9am-4pm
Where: Twisp Valley Grange (Get Directions)
Cost: FREE!
A budding annual tradition, this free one day conference will include learning opportunities for farms both big and small as well as informal time to network with fellow farmers and agriculturalists. Lunch and social hour are included. See below for the planned schedule and planned range of topics.
If you're a local farmer, REGISTER HERE.
We have a limited number of additional spots for community members and farmers outside of the Okanogan region - if you're not a local farmer but you're interested in attending, reach out to Bridger to learn more.
2025 Farmers’ Forum Program
*Note: This program is still subject to (small) changes.
9:00 - 9:10 Coffee, arrival
9:10 - 9:20 Opening Remarks - Methow Conservancy
9:20 - 10:30 Keynote Address
Helen Atthowe, Woodleaf Farm - Minimizing Inputs and Maximizing Crop Nutrition with Ecological Farming
Helen Atthowe of Woodleaf Farm will share from her 40 years of on-farm experiments, insights, and experience learning how to farm in harmony with natural systems. Helen’s ecological farming approach uses systems-thinking to balance profitable yields with minimum soil disturbance, stacking ecological function by combining soil-building techniques for microbial abundance/diversity with habitat-building for enhanced biological suppression of pests.
10:30 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 11:45 Split Session #1
Option A: Chad Kruger, WSU - Large-acre Crop Selection in the Face of Uncertainty
This session will focus on how to make large acreage crop selections based on the most likely climate, water, and market futures in the Methow Valley. Planning for the future can be challenging in any context. Planning for the future in an agricultural context can be downright confounding given the uncertainty and complexity of climate change, water availability, dynamic markets, etc. It’s important to bring better data to the table in order to develop plausible management scenarios that are resilient against future uncertainties.
Option B: Helen Atthowe, Woodleaf Farm - A Deep Dive into Creating Insect Suppression Systems for Orchards and Vegetable Crops
Take a deep dive into insect suppression systems. Helen Atthowe will share results from her on-farm research about soil and habitat building as they relate specifically to insect suppression, including which plants and farm habitat designs encourage the most effective predators and parasites for optimum pest suppression.
11:45 - 12:45 Lunch - Catered by Willow Brook Farm
12:45 - 1:45 Split Session #2
Option A: Virtual Fencing – Practical Considerations from Wilson Cattle Company
Learn from Mike and Joy Wilson about their experience implementing virtual fencing on their ranch here in Okanogan county, and ask all the questions you have about this emerging technology. Mike has used Holistic Management for animal, land, and family well-being for years. When circumstances provided the opportunity to lease approximately 9,000 acres from the Colville Confederated Tribe. Mike's grandparents had previously worked a portion of the acreage, and it was part of an identified Conservation Northwest wildlife corridor. They wanted to manage the land responsibly after many fires had passed through the land, and cross fencing infrastructure for rotational grazing wasn't present on the land. Virtual fence seemed to be the answer. Wilson Cattle Company has been using Vence brand virtual fencing for 4 years.
Option B: Doug Collins, WSU - Paging Dr. Soil (Soil Building Q and A)
This discussion-based session is a chance to ask an expert your burning questions about soil health. Doug will share takeaways from his recent research projects trialing reduced tillage organic agriculture and soil fertility management. There will be ample time for questions about soil management strategies, soil sampling, amendments, composting, and cover cropping. Bring your questions and ideas to share.
1:45 - 2:00 Break
2:00 - 3:00 Split Session #3
Option A: Heather Dalzell and Michael Simon, OPMA - A Case Study in Cooperative Marketing
The Okanogan Producers Marketing Association (OPMA) was established in 2006. The co-op now consists of six small farms operating in tandem, sharing resources, equipment, knowledge, expertise, and collaborating on marketing and sales efforts. What is the OPMA model? How did it come to be? What are key benefits, challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned along the way? Learn all about it from Heather, OPMA Sales & Marketing Manager, and Michael, owner and operator at Apple Cart Fruit.
Option B: Kathryn Quanbeck, Stemple Creek Ranch - Collaborative Meat Marketing and Sales
How do livestock producers work together to process, market, distribute and sell local meat products? During this session we will discuss examples of shared marketing and sales business structures from branded meat companies in the West. What might work here in the Methow Valley? What are the benefits to local producers, and what kind of commitment might be required? We'll have plenty of time for conversation and idea sharing!
3:00 - 3:15 Break
3:15 - 4:15 Funding and Resources
A chance to learn about the variety of funding and practical resources that might apply to your farm in the Methow Valley. You’ll hear from farmers who have accessed grants and other resources and we’ll facilitate a conversation about what’s missing. To prepare, you can think about the following questions:
- What resources do you wish you had to support your farm?
- What resources have been invaluable to your farm?
- What topics would you like to learn about at future Farmers’ Forums?
4:15 Wrap Up and Transition to Social Hour
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Speaker Bios:
Helen Atthowe, Woodleaf Farm
Helen is author of “The Ecological Farm: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer System for Organic Agriculture.” She has spent 40 years working to connect farming, food systems, land stewardship, and conservation. Helen has an M.S. in Horticulture from Rutgers University and has worked in education and research at Rutgers, the University of Arkansas, and Oregon State University. She was a Horticulture Extension Agent in Montana for 17 years, where she designed, taught, and wrote the manual for an Organic Master Garden course. Helen has been a board member for the Organic Farming Research Foundation and advisor for Wild Farm Alliance.
She currently farms, and does soil and habitat building research, on her new 5-acre farm in Western Montana. Previous to her current farming venture, Helen and her late husband farmed a 211 acre organic farm in Eastern Oregon where they did on-farm research for orchard and vegetable production, and created educational video presentations on the Agrarian Dreams YouTube Channel. She also owned/operated a 30 acre certified organic vegetable/fruit farm in Montana and co-owned with her late husband a 26 acre certified organic orchard in California.
Chad Kruger, WSU
Chad Kruger is faculty in WSU’s College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences where he directs WSU’s the Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources (CSANR). He also serves as the assistant director for agriculture, extension, and outreach for the WSU Institute for Northwest Energy Futures.
Chad has collaborated on projects that include climate change impacts on grain and specialty crop production systems, impacts on agricultural water supply, and life-cycle assessment and carbon footprints of multiple agricultural systems. He is currently leading a project on using climate analogs for climate adaptation planning and a project evaluating the installation of agrivoltaic solar panels over apples to reduce abiotic stress.
Chad has family roots from both Eastern (grain and livestock) and Western (berries) Washington farms. He is co-owner of a multi-generational ranch in rural Eastern Washington and is partner in a small-scale livestock enterprise where he is trying to put theory into practice.
Mike & Joy Wilson
Wilson Cattle Company owned by Mike & Joy Wilson is headquartered in Brewster, WA. Mike grew up in the Heart of Chewiliken Valley and has been a cattleman his whole life. Joy is from Oklahoma and they have been married 49 years.
Doug Collins, WSU
Doug Collins is an Extension Professor and Soil Scientist with WSU’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources. Doug has a Ph.D. in soil science from Washington State University and an M.S. in Plant Pathology from Montana State University. He focuses on managing and monitoring soil fertility on diverse organic vegetable farms, composting systems, and evaluating soil quality in different vegetable cropping systems – including organic reduced tillage. Doug is also interested in soil variability across landscapes and biological indicators of soil quality. He has also consulted on composting, organic waste management, and soil health in the Dominican Republic and Colombia and currently serves on the Board of Washington Organics Recycling Council and the WSDA Organic Program.
Heather Dalzell, OPMA
With a diverse background spanning organic farming, marketing, and communications, Heather offers a unique blend of expertise across multiple sectors. While earning a degree in Geography & Natural Resource Management from Western Washington University, she gained valuable experience in retail, restaurant, and bakery management in Bellingham, WA, before transitioning into a communication and marketing job at the university.
A lifelong foodie and passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, Heather returned to her roots in Okanogan County, where she first began her career in organic farming over a decade ago. During this time, she developed a deep understanding of both the land and the market. Heather initially worked at Apple Cart Fruit, before transitioning to Sales and Marketing Manager at the Okanogan Producers Marketing Association (OPMA). For over six years, she has been the face of OPMA, driving sales growth, refining organizational systems, and strengthening its presence in the market.
Dedicated to community, quality, and sustainable practices, Heather continues to leverage her diverse skill set to foster growth within the agricultural industry, all while staying true to her passion for food and supporting local producers.
Michael Simon, OPMA/Apple Cart Fruit
Before operating his own farm, Michael spent a year as a migrant farmworker, picking fruit in British Columbia, Washington, Arizona, Florida, and Massachusetts. Life changes brought him back to Okanogan County, where he began picking fruit, starting a family, and working full-time in a local orchard. When the opportunity arose to lease a 7-acre orchard on the Okanogan River, Michael purchased the land and operated it as a conventional Red and Golden Delicious orchard.
In 1982, Michael expanded by purchasing an additional 4.5 acres through a Farm Service foreclosure. While managing the conventional orchard system, Michael’s overexposure to toxic agricultural inputs sparked an interest in organic farming. This led to his transition to organic apple cultivation in 1999, as the organic system for raising high-quality fruit began to take shape.
Inspired by a community food feasibility meeting, Michael joined six other farms to form the Okanogan Producers Marketing Association (OPMA). His journey into direct market farming led to the diversification of tree fruit production. Today, Apple Cart Fruit grows over 50 varieties of tree fruit on the original 11 acres and has expanded into the production of dried apple chips and other products.
Kathryn Quanbeck, Stemple Creek Ranch
Kathryn has 15+ years of meat industry experience, working in sales and operations for branded meat companies and supporting the development of meat processing businesses. She started her career as a Livestock Economist for USDA and has a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from UC - Davis. Kathryn has worked with farmers, ranchers and processors in developing branded meat programs, expanding wholesale sales (grocery stores, foodservice and institutions), increasing carcass utilization, developing value-added products, and creating supply chains (aggregation, processing, distribution and sales). She currently works remotely for Stemple Creek Ranch and lives here in the Methow Valley with her family.