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Nellie McAdams
Executive Director at Oregon Agricultural Trust
Nellie McAdams is the Executive Director of Oregon Agricultural Trust (OAT), an agricultural land trust dedicated to safeguarding Oregon's farm and ranch lands and supporting rural communities.15 As a fifth-generation Oregonian, McAdams has deep roots in the state's agricultural sector, having grown up part-time on her family's hazelnut farm in Gaston, which she plans to take over in the future.3
Professional Background
McAdams has extensive experience in farm succession and farmland conservation issues. Her career includes:
- Executive Director at Oregon Agricultural Trust1
- Consulting for nonprofits and governmental entities on farm succession and farmland conservation1
- Farm Preservation Program Director1
- Work with Rogue Farm Corps1
Leadership and Advocacy
In her role as Executive Director, McAdams is actively involved in:
- Overseeing OAT's operations and programs
- Advocating for policies that support farmland preservation and rural communities
- Testifying before government bodies on agricultural and land use issues6
McAdams also serves as the Board President for 1000 Friends of Oregon, further demonstrating her commitment to land use planning and conservation in the state.3
Recent Activities
As of 2024, McAdams has been involved in:
- Hiring efforts for OAT, including a search for a Southern Oregon Land Program Manager4
- Providing commentary on legislative issues affecting farms, forests, and watersheds2
- Representing OAT in discussions about workforce housing and land use policies26
Nellie McAdams's LinkedIn profile (username: nellie-mcadams-190a1221) reflects her professional journey and dedication to preserving Oregon's agricultural heritage and supporting its rural communities.
Highlights
The Governor's only bill this legislative session (SB 1537) has a lot of provisions that will help the state build and service needed housing. But it includes one poison pill that's not only unnecessary, it's counterproductive to producing housing.
It would allow all Oregon cities to bring in 75-150 acres of residential land (to say nothing of land for utilities, roads, and commercial areas to service them) in the name of housing. But
- homes built at the edges of cities are usually large, expensive to buy, and expensive to service. The bill has weak provisions to include workforce housing in these projects, but 95% of our housing need is low- and middle-income housing. This type of housing belongs inside cities near jobs and infrastructure. And we have the land to build it there.
- We already have over 10,000 acres of residential zoned land inside UGBs - Metro has a surplus of 30,000 buildable units,
- it's not hard for cities to expand their urban growth boundaries (UGBs) if they show a need - 95% of UGB expansions are approved - 80% within 1 year,
- allowing cities to add more land when it's not needed will dilute our already limited infrastructure dollars,
- and this sprawl permanently destroys farmland and habitat.
This is a terrible provision inserted by homebuilders and they are the only ones who would benefit from it. Please help prevent needless sprawl.
Write your state legislators NOW (before Monday, 2/5) and/or sign 1000 Friends of Oregon's action alert to ask them to amend out this harmful provision in SB 1537. Thank you!
See the Op Ed from Samuel Diaz and I at 1000 Friends of Oregon about why there is no reason for the Governor to sacrifice farmland for semiconductor factories.
"The main issue isn’t the supply of raw industrial land; we have plenty of it. Our primary issues center upon the capital required to ready these lands for industrial development and the lack of a statewide industrial lands database. Bringing land inside an [Urban Growth Boundary] doesn’t address either of these primary issues."
#farmland
