Oregon Tilth Recognizes Jon Bansen's Excellence in Farming
Jon Bansen, a third-generation dairy farmer from Monmouth, Oregon, received Oregon Tilth's Producer of the Year award during Oregon Tilth Fall Conference, entitled, "Feeding the Future." The Organic Valley farmer-owner was commended for his outstanding organic livestock operation as well as his willingness to share that knowledge and experience with his peers.
"Jon Bansen's commitment to the stewardship of his farm, his cows and the organic movement is inspiring," remarked George Siemon, CEO, Organic Valley Family of Farms. "Jon and his family value the support of the people who choose to buy their products and have been very active in reaching out to Organic Valley consumers as co-partners. Jon serves as a powerful model of transformation for all farmers in the process of becoming organic."
Bansen's 450-acre Double J Jersey farm is home to 200 Jersey cows who are milked twice daily. The animals are grazed on three-acre paddocks of grass and clover, with electric borders that change every 12 hours. His Jerseys are well-looked after, coming in from the cold during the long winter months and shielded from late spring storms with what Bansen calls the "Dance", dancing them in and out of the barns depending on the vagaries of Oregon weather.
To earn Oregon Tilth's award, Bansen satisfied criteria that included: a high level of biodiversity on his farm; minimal use of off-farm inputs; a high level of care for his employees; a complete production plan with a successful inspection process; and a high level of organic community involvement and support.
In addition to milking his 200 cows twice daily, Bansen's level of community outreach is admirable. He serves as the West Coast Regional Leader of Organic Valley's Farmer Ambassador Program and is one of the Cooperative's Dairy Executive Committee Representatives for Oregon. Bansen also carves out time to host farm tours and pasture walks for consumers, students, farmers and extension agents. He then shares his farming experiences via speaking engagements that take him around the country.
Not one to rest on his laurels, (or clover), Bansen is daily performing research, seeking to perfect the rotational grazing system. By monitoring cow feedback—milk production and health—he makes slight tweaks to his carefully thought out process. Each day nature hands him a new set of variables and Bansen enthusiastically embraces the challenge.
About Oregon Tilth
Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit research and education membership organization dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. Oregon Tilth was formed in 1974, as an agricultural organization with a unique urban-rural outlook. Primarily an organization of organic farmers, gardeners and consumers, Oregon Tilth offers educational events throughout the state of Oregon, and provides organic certification services to organic growers, processors, and handlers internationally. www.tilth.org
Organic Valley: Independent and Farmer Owned
Organic Valley Family of Farms is America's largest cooperative of organic farmers and is one of the nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents more than 800 farmers in 24 states and realized a record $245 million in 2005 sales. Focused on its founding mission of keeping small and mid-sized farmers farming, Organic Valley produces 200 organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce, juice and meats which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. For more information, call 1-888-444-MILK or visit www.organicvalley.coop.
