February 6, 2026
2026 is
International Year of the Woman Farmer and in celebration of that, ODA is thrilled to shine a spotlight on Oregon women whose hard work powers our communities and beyond.
Meet
Erin Hansell-Heideman of Blown Away Ranch in both Morrow and Gilliam counties. As the eldest of five children -- and the only girl -- Erin’s leadership journey began on her family farm, where expectations were always equal, regardless of gender. She built her confidence through involvement in FFA, years of teaching agriculture, and years spent as a 4-H agent. She now encourages women in agriculture to learn every aspect of their operations, ask questions, seek partnerships, and never underestimate the power of preparation and hard work.
Over the years, Erin has served with distinction: as a member of the Farm Bureau, the Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition, the Oregon Cattleman’s Association, and most recently as President of the Oregon Wheat Grower’s League -- only the second woman to hold this role in the organization's 100-year history.
Farming alongside her husband, Deacon, Erin carries the words of her grandfather, Dr. Wm. H. Hansell: "Farmers do not own the land, but are stewards of it." This philosophy guides her approach to agriculture and life -- always striving to leave the land better for the next generation.
Stay tuned, because ODA will be featuring more women farmers throughout 2026. If you know of (or are) a fantastic Oregon-based woman farmer and would like to share a story with us to feature... please use the form just below this to put in a nomination!
Previous Features in 2026
January 30, 2026
Meet
Brenda Frketich. Her path to farming took an unexpected turn after college in Southern California, when she came back to the Willamette Valley and joined her dad for a trial run managing the family farm. Since then, Brenda has thrived. She and her husband, Matt, now run the family business together, and she’s active in groups like the Oregon Farm Bureau. Her enthusiasm for sharing agriculture’s story earned her the 2016 Ag Communicator of the Year award from Oregon AgLink, thanks to her lively social media and her blog, Nuttygrass, where she helps people learn about and appreciate farm life.
Outside of farming, Brenda works as a firefighter and paramedic, serves on her local school board, and is raising three kids.
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