I am Michele Ruby, and this is my story...

My upbringing in rural Oregon prepared me for adventure travel. My older brother is the only person that truly knows what age I started driving and the mechanism we used to make my leg long enough to reach the pedal; my dad taught me that as long as I have a piece of twine and a pocket knife I can get out of most situations; and my mom was convinced that I would grow out of my “Tom Boy” stage at some point, and when I did, I should be able to prepare a fresh Marion berry pie, or a complete meal with whatever ingredients were available from the pantry, freezer, fridge and/or garden. I’ve been blessed to step foot on five continents, watched suns risen and set through 23 countries and graced 45 of the states in our magnificent nation. If I had to choose my favorite spot in the world, it would be the view from Hungry Hill as the cows are herded from the pasture with the Coast Range in the distant west and the Cascades to the east, or maybe the gratifying site of a field of hay freshly cut from atop a dusty tractor, or the spectacle of a newborn calf standing on wobbly legs for the first time on freshly shaken straw.

While I currently call Multnomah Village my home, I’m a proud blend of Oregon’s rural and urban landscape. I am definitely the only person in my southwest Portland neighborhood that houses a cow in my back yard (it’s fiberglass). I’m a 36-year-old, fourth-generation U.S. dairy farmer on my mom’s side of the family (Luscher Farm in West Linn is my mom’s family farm) and third generation dairy farmer on my dad’s side, and the owner of Ruby Do, Inc., a communications consulting firm that primarily helps bridge the increasing gap between my agricultural clients and the general public. I serve as executive director of Ag Fest, an annual two-day interactive and educational event the last weekend of April that gives urbanites the opportunity to meet the people behind the products of this great state we live in (and touch a few animals along the way). I sit on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom and the National Dairy Shrine. I believe that agriculture is the foundation of any great nation and consider it a privilege to be part of a family that helps sustain people by providing the food for our local community, nation and world.

My family has two dairy farms (one in the heart of the Willamette Valley and one in Tillamook County) and our land serves many purposes, from providing pasture for our animals, growing corn and hay for both dairies, and preserving some as old-growth timber that we cherish as wildlife habitat, a tribute to Oregon’s natural resources, and some much needed shade in the middle of a hot summer day. We still name each animal, and take great pride in our herd of purebred registered Holsteins (those are the black and white ones) that we continue to breed. We take even greater pride in producing a product that is naturally packed with calcium and eight other vitamins and minerals essential to your family’s health and well-being. If you’ve ever enjoyed a latte at a Northwest Starbucks or savored a piece of naturally aged Tillamook Cheese, then my family thanks you, because our beloved bovines helps supply each of them with the rich, wholesome milk needed to make their products so wonderful.

I’ve watched my mom and dad put everything they have into their animals and land, while the forces of nature have quickly damaged both in a single storm. In turn, they’ve worked hard to rebuild each time because of the love they have for their cows and for farming. It is an awesome responsibility to care for the animals, people and natural resources in our small space in the world. My dad has always said if we take care of those three things, then they in turn will take care of us. I look forward to maintaining the integrity of the rural landscapes of Oregon, while providing food that is safe, healthy and affordable for the citizens of our state, and boosting the Oregon economy with jobs and commerce along the way.

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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.