‘It’s just really beautiful to be back’: Sisters HS graduate’s growing passion brings her back to work at her first farm

(Update: Adding video and comments from Shae Gascon and Audrey Tehan)

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Shae Gascon’s family moved to Sisters when she was in the third grade. She remembers gardening with her grandparents, and how much she loved planting and harvesting fresh veggies.

Her interest in farming continued, but it wasn’t until her junior year that she spent some time at Seed to Table farm.

“I was in IEE (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition) and chose farming as my extra activity," Gascon recalled Thursday. "We were working on building doors for their hoop houses. We also did some weeding. I realized how much variety there was on the farm, even learning how to build things. I thought that was super-cool.”

Gascon graduated from Sisters High School in 2018 and says she never expected to come back.

"I had never really considered working in the Sisters community again. But when I spoke to Audrey (Tehan, Seed to Table farm's founder) about working here, I realized it would be really amazing to be able to serve my community that I grew up in with what I've been passionate about farming," she said.

Gascon says she is excited for elementary school students to learn about her work.

“There weren’t S2T farm field trips back then. If there were, I would have been so into it," Gascon said. " I think it’s so amazing that the elementary school kids get to do that. I know I would have been captivated by it all.”

Looking back at her time as an S2T high school intern, Gascon remembers seeing Tehan and the impression Tehan had on her.

“Audrey is charismatic. When I was a teenager, she was such a great teacher to have. I really looked up to her. I thought it was amazing to see a woman running a farm. I wanted to hear everything she had to say. She was so knowledgeable and was happy to answer all my crazy questions. She was captivating and kind. Even when she was so busy Audrey still showed up.”

Tehan founded S2T 10 years ago after growing up on her family farm.

"From my family's property, which is located about a half mile from Sisters Elementary School, I walked to elementary school and middle school every day from right from here. And so that's really amazing to get to see the students take the same pathway that I did when I was their age," she said.

The agriculture industry in Central Oregon is abundant, as one in eight jobs are involved in the industry. Scott Duggan, Livestock Field Faculty for OSU, said, "It may not seem like that much, but when you add up all the little small places, there's quite a bit of food produced in Central Oregon from our local farmers."

 Speaking of the organization's progress, Tehan said, "Out of this year, we'll grow about 85,000 pounds of produce and about 25,000 to 30,000 pounds of that will all be donated across our community partnership distribution sites."

Working in an environment like an S2T farm became a goal for Gascon. She made it a reality when she was hired to work on the farm.

“Now I’m a general farm laborer, and I’m a part of the farm team,” Gascon said.

Her new position involves doing a variety of things. “I’m working under an amazing team of women, with different roles. I’m harvesting and weeding and doing whatever needs to get done. I hope to get on the watering rotation crew.”

Seed to Table launched Gascom on an agriculture trajectory that has come full circle after other agriculture endeavors.

After graduating from high school, Gascon pursued farming and agriculture. She worked for Fry Family Farms for a few seasons in Medford. Most recently, she spent two seasons working at Sungrounded Farm in Terrebonne,

Currently working as a farmer with S2T, Gascon is using everything she’s learned over the years. Along with taking care of the land, growing veggies and harvesting them, she’s realized taking care of her body has to be a high priority.

“I remember I didn’t know fully how to take care of my body in a job like this. Being hot, not eating or drinking enough water all took a toll. I really felt the struggle of that in my first year of farming. I didn’t realize how much you have to take care of your body as a farmer. You’re doing so much with it in your work. At first, I thought, 'I’ll get a great tan' -- but now I know you’ve got to wear long sleeves,” she said, laughing.

Gascon says one of her favorite veggies to grow and eat are Armenian cucumbers. “I love them with salt, and I always put them in salads. They’re so pretty and come in so many shapes. They are stripped and go in a spiral. I remember in my first year, I was so amazed by them, and all the other new vegetables.”

S2T farm has changed considerably since Gascon first arrived for her IEE internship in 2017.

“The farm has grown since my first visit, when just the lower field was there. No upstairs or the incredibly improved vegetables.”

S2T farm staff refer to the newer upper fields as "the upstairs." Adding the additional land cultivation has provided more produce to sell at the Sisters Farmers Market, offer to CSA members and donate to 12 different Central Oregon food banks.

“It’s so much faster and efficient. There are new people since I worked here too. The structure has changed, and the culture is really beautiful right now,” Gascon said.

When thinking about plans for her future, Gascon hopes S2T will continue to be part of her life. She hopes to grow and learn during the months the farm is in cultivation. Her job ends in late October. She’s already talking to Tehan about coming back next year.

“I see a lot of growth opportunity with S2T that I haven’t seen at other farms I’ve worked for. I can ask to take on new things like working farmer’s markets. Next year, I want to learn more about irrigation which is so important in farming. I’ve always wanted to start my own farm. But also, I really love working with kids. So I hope to do something with both, I’m figuring out what that is. Educating children about the food system and how to grow food is so important. S2T is perfect for that, because it’s a huge part of what they do.”

Seed to Table is a 501(c)3 nonprofit entity, tax ID number 82-3795618, with a mission to increase health and wellness of the Central Oregon community through providing equitable access to locally grown, farm fresh produce and offering opportunities in farm-based education.

For more information, contact Audrey Tehan at audrey@seedtotablesisters.org. To learn more about Seed to Table farm, visit their website at:  https://www.seedtotableoregon.org/