Here are student summaries of fall 2024 MCJD dialogical surveys with Willamette Valley farmers and ranchers. Click on any title for details, then return to see all titles.
Values in the Willamette Valley
Event: Willamette Valley AgricultureInterviewer: Lucas
Whom did you interview?
Exploring agriculture in the Willamette Valley, I got the chance to speak with Matt. Matt has worked on a farm since he was eleven, it’s where his career has always been, and it’s something he’s passionate about. I interviewed Matt, orchestrating an in-person EcoTypes quiz and conversation as we learned about crop agriculture with some of his colleagues.
How did your EcoTypes and SDG priorities compare?Our EcoTypes were complementary-mine Earth Action and his Land Stewardship-but in our discussion we found a lot to agree on. We spoke about challenges of individual growth and sustainability, how farming contributes to environmentalism, and many other things. True to his profession, the only SDG that was easy to choose for Matt was Zero Hunger. Farming is not a way to get rich quick, it requires time and effort. Matt said himself that he does it because he loves it, and because he wants to provide for people. While my SDGs were different, his passion made it easy to understand and respect his choices.
What larger MCJD lessons did you learn?I learned that a different career, different home, different experiences may change what someone values, but it doesn’t change how they care. My conversation with Matt brought up some differences, we have different backgrounds, but none of his beliefs felt strange to me, or invalid. In fact, they felt strong, because though they were different than my own, they were true to him and they displayed the things he cares about. Matt wants to feed as many people as he can, and no matter your values, that is a truly relatable care.