Zach Christensen, McMinnville

Christensen Farms of McMinnville planted its first orchard of hazelnuts — aka filberts and the Oregon state nut — in 1982. The nuts have been a focus for the family business for most of 30-year-old Zach Christensen’s life.

“One of my first memories was sitting on the old Jeep when I was 5, pointing the steering wheel straight ahead as it pulled a trailer through the hazelnut orchard,” he says. “My Dad was shoveling sawdust onto the base of the trees. I couldn’t reach the pedals, so he’d jump up and turn it around at the end of the rows. Hazelnuts have been part of the farm as long as I can remember.”

President of the Yamhill County Farm Bureau, Christensen is a fifth-generation farmer and the fourth generation based on the McMinnville site. Established in 1902 and having official status as an Oregon Century Farm, the operation started with sheep, wheat, and vegetables. As commodity markets and consumer tastes changed, so did the farm’s production — and hazelnuts have proven to be a wise move. The farm produces about 750,000 pounds of hazelnuts a year.  

As a 30-year-old, fifth-generation farmer, Christensen is part of a dwindling demographic. The average age of the American farmer is 55, and ag producers make up less than 2% of the U.S. population. But fewer young people seem interested in taking over the farm or ranch from the generation that’s nearing retirement.

This is one reason why Christensen believes that active participation in industry groups is essential. Christensen has served as president of the Yamhill County Farm Bureau for the past two years, and is also a leader in a handful of other ag industry organizations. His involvement keeps him abreast of the always-changing, often-complicated policies, rules, and regulations that directly affect his business, including laws in labor, taxes, pesticides, water, and transportation, among others.

Christensen has testified at numerous legislative hearings at the State Capitol on behalf of his county Farm Bureau on issues ranging from land use to field burning. He is on a first-name basis with many of his state and county policymakers, and has met with Oregon’s federal lawmakers during an OFB trip to Washington D.C.

“It’s true that the world is run by the people who show up. If you aren’t involved and you don’t like the outcome of a new law, how do you have a leg to stand on to complain about it?”

Thankfully, people like Christensen and organizations like Farm Bureau are working hard to keep the agriculture industry viable, sustainable, and profitable in Oregon.

To Christensen, the extra effort is worth it, whether its time spent at a Farm Bureau meeting, testimony given at the Capitol, or extra hours in the field during hazelnut harvest.

“Every generation gets further away from their connection to the farm. And that means that a lot of my peers don’t have an understanding of agriculture and why we do what we do,” he says. “My work is about keeping my family’s heritage alive.”

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These are authentic stories from real farmers.  Any editorial content does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon or our members.