MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Get Involved Partnerships

WE’RE SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP SO HAPPY TO BE ON THIS JOURNEY

“NeighborImpact and HDFFA have collaborated since 2015. Thanks to the Grow & Give program, we can provide an additional 15,000+ pounds of fresh, locally grown produce to our community every year, in direct response to client desires for a greater variety of fruits and vegetables. We’re so grateful for this partnership. ”

Carly Auten, Food Program Director, NeighborImpact

Everyone deserves good food. We rely on community support to make this happen. From getting your hands dirty on local farms to supporting events, join us in celebrating and advocating for local food and agriculture in Central Oregon!

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

• General Support: Tasks range from Directory distribution, office or technical support, and take-home projects.

• Fresh Food Drive: Assist HDFFA market staff at two Bend Farmers Markets with Grow & Give. Come help weigh food donations, engage with patrons, and assist with interactive activities.

• On-Farm Harvest Team: Harvest fresh fruits and vegetables and load into the truck for transportation to the food bank.

COMMITTEE & BOARD MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES

Join HDFFA’s:

• Board: Join a community of individuals who have a passion for our mission. We value lived experiences, different types of expertise, and will do our best to provide you with tools to be successful.

LOOKING FORWARD TO HDFFA’S PROGRAMS

“We’ve been partners with HDFFA for four years now, since the beginning of our farm. This partnership has helped us shape our farm and our local food community. HDFFA has helped us acquire grant money for infrastructure, connected our excess food with those in need, helped us find CSA members, and promoted our farm and the local food scene to the community. We’re so happy to be on this journey with them! ”

Ashley Peterson, Sungrounded Farm

“Warm Springs WIC is a proud partner of the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance (HDFFA)! Working in coordination with our WIC program, HDFFA provides local, fresh fruits and vegetables to The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs community. We greatly enjoyed HDFFA’s Fresh Harvest Kit program in 2022 and are looking forward to the launch of the HDFFA Veggie Rx program for summer 2023! ”

— Kathleen Boxx, RD, LD, WIC Coordinator and Registered Dietician, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

• Advisory Committees: Our Food Security Advisory and Agricultural Advisory Committees help inform our work and build leadership capacity for the future of local farming, ranching, and food access.

Agricultural Support

HDFFA improves the viability of farms and ranches through relationship building, marketing, technical, and capacity support. We collaborate with regional organizations and agencies to offer workshops, networking events, grants and funding opportunities. Our Get a Taste marketing campaign and High Desert Food Trail build awareness of High Desert products for Central Oregonians.

Growing Together Mentorship

Launched in 2022, this project connects experienced and beginning farmers and ranchers to each other to provide one-on-one coaching around agricultural production, sales, and farm viability. It offers opportunities to share knowledge and skills as older producers retire and the next generation emerges.

USDA Beginning Farmer Rancher Development Program funds much of this work.

“To have that experienced voice sit down next to you and be like… ‘Yeah — this sucks! But none of this is evidence that you are a bad farmer and you should quit. So what are you going to do to take care of yourself first, so that you can show up for your business and chart the path forward?”

—

Katia Steckly, 2022–23 Mentor

Read more from Katia: www.hdffa.org/interview-with-katia-mentorship/

SUPPORT DID YOU KNOW?

Our Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) informs and guides most of our Agricultural Support programming!

Agricultural Advisory Committee

Founded in 2019, the AAC gathers feedback from our Partner farmers and ranchers. Today, our Partners and designated Board and staff members set two to four priorities each year. AAC member insight is invaluable to the development of programming that meets the current needs of local producers.

Grants And Funding Opportunities

We assist Central Oregon farmers and ranchers learn how to access funding through public, private and HDFFA grant and relief programs. In 2023, we offered a second round of On-Farm Efficiency Grants with support from a generous private donor, a total of $26,000 to nine producers.

Examples of previous funding opportunities:

• Farm and Ranch Resiliency Awards

• Season Extension/Efficiency Grants

• Disaster relief with Oregon Community Food Systems Network and the State of Oregon

Thanks to our current members:

Ashley Peterson, Sungrounded Farm (Terrebonne)

Courtney Schuur, North 44 Farm (Bend)

James Radnich, Cultivate Farms (Bend)

John Herman, Lazy Z Ranch (Sisters)

Katia Steckly, Double F Ranch (Antelope)

Justin Rodgers, Big Summit Beef (Prineville)

Sarahlee Lawrence, Rainshadow Organics (Terrebonne)

Tracy Wilson, OSU Extension, Board Liaison

HDFFA paired 7 mentees with mentors in 2022!

For more information, contact Andrea Smith, Agricultural Support Manager: andrea@hdffa.org

Bike Routes

We teamed with Bend Electric Bikes to create short, accessible bike routes along the High Desert Food Trail. Rent an e-bike and take a self-guided culinary tour or create your own route!