Christie relocated to the Willamette Valley from Seattle’s Central District in the mid-90s. There, she witnessed firsthand how direct relationships between communities and localized food systems shape healthier, more connected environments — and she was fascinated. Making those connections has become a lifelong puzzle she never gets tired of trying to solve.

After spending about six years working across multiple departments at Mountain Rose Herbs, Christie found her home in Human Resources. That experience deepened her understanding of how essential it is to cultivate and maintain relationships with both the land and the people doing the work. She believes that when we dismantle barriers — whether geographic, communication-based, or structural — our communities can thrive and waste is naturally reduced.

Outside of her professional work, Christie is passionate about the performing arts and music in all its forms.

Graham grew up in the Willamette Valley in a rural farm community, surrounded by food grown and produced close to home. For more than 30 years, he has worked in roles that produce, prepare, and distribute food. Beginning with farm work and growing food, Graham has spent his life moving through nearly every corner of the food world — as a cook, chef, farm hand, teacher, and in many other food-centered roles.

Today, Graham focuses on rescuing food from waste and getting it to the people who need it most in his position as the Evening Kitchen Supervisor at FOOD For Lane County. You can find him in the kitchen working alongside volunteers to save surplus food, leading cooking demos in the community, or advocating for food security from the local to global level.

Sonya moved to the Willamette Valley in 2018 after studying environmental horticulture and quickly immersed herself in the local agricultural community. Over the past several years, she has worked on a variety of small farms throughout the valley, deepening her connection to regional food systems and the resilient people who sustain them.

She currently works behind the scenes at the Lane County Farmers Market, coordinating USDA-funded grant programs that support farmers and vendors through customer education, value-added production, and expanded market access. Her role also includes grant writing, expense tracking, and program administration—skills that she brings to her service on the board of directors at WFFC.

Outside of her food systems work, Sonya is also a professional tattoo artist at a local studio in downtown Eugene, where she explores creativity and community through a different medium. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, yoga, and mushroom foraging in the lush outdoor spaces that Oregon offers.

Kellcie works at FOOD For Lane County, where she helps connect community members with essential resources such as food access and nutrition education. Passionate about cultivating healthy, thriving communities, she stays active in local events and loves to volunteer her time where it matters most.

When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her cheering at a sporting event, exploring nearby trails, or strolling through farmers markets with her husband and daughter.

With more than 15 years of experience as a small business owner and food systems entrepreneur, Faye brings a deep understanding of farmer viability, business development, and grassroots marketing for food and farm producers. She is also a culinary educator and certified Master Food Preserver through the Clackamas County Extension Office and University of California, Davis.

Faye’s work bridges traditional Indigenous foodways with modern community food access strategies. Guided by early lessons learned gardening and preserving food with her Native Appalachian family, she believes food is medicine, food is connection, and strong local food systems are essential to collective well-being.