On Monday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 12 commissioners and judges from across the state gathered in Tillamook County for the AOC County College Class of 2017 Forum.
The forum showcased the collaborative work of the Tillamook Working Lands and Waters Cooperative.
The agenda was packed with information sharing, on the ground examples of collaboration at work, and networking among attendees. Commissioners and judges spent time connecting with partners covering forestry, farming, and fishing industries and listening to their stories of success.
All attendees were treated to a behind the scenes sneak peak of the new Tillamook County Creamery Association Visitors Center – set to open to the public on June 20, 2018, presentations from the Nestucca, Neskowin and Sand Lake Watershed Council and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, a tour of the Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery, a conversation with the owner of Jacobsen Salt Company, and a tour of managed forest land by Stimson Lumber Company, Trask River Fish Hatchery, Averill Farms – a robotic dairy farm.
AOC Executive Director Mike McArthur expressed his delight with the tour and the value of having commissioners and judges see direct examples of industry collaboration working well on the ground.
Looking back on the day, AOC President Craig Pope said he learned a great deal about the various aspects of forestry, farming, and fishing practices that support Tillamook County. Specifically, he was struck by data shared by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to monitor watershed quality in the area. AOC Second Vice President Jim Doherty said, “I am so happy to reconnect with my classmates from County College and I am struck by how much each commissioner and judge truly loves their county and the community they call home.”
Below are a selection of photos from the forum.
Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery on Netarts Bay grows and sells oyster, mussel, and clam larvae to shellfish farmers throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Ben Jacobsen of Jacobsen Salt Co. walks forum guests through how salt is harvested from Netarts Bay and processed for homes and commercial kitchens throughout the U.S. Founded in 2011, Jacobsen Salt Co. was the first company to harvest salt in the Pacific Northwest since Lewis & Clark!
Next stop on the Farm, Fish, & Forest tour, a working forest managed by Stimson Lumber Company!
The Farm, Fish & Forest tour stopped by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Trask River Hatchery where we watched as hatchery staff clipped the fins of 7,000 late fall chinook.
A visit to Averill Farms! We got to tour their fantastic robotic dairy and say ‘hello’ to all the ladies!