We’re your neighbors.

We care about our land, our water and our community.

Like you, we want our urban and rural communities to thrive. We want agriculture and forestry to be productive and we want our businesses and industry to prosper. Our mission is to help you navigate the process of land use zoning.

  • Sarah Deumling

    BOARD CHAIR

    Sarah grew up on a family farm in Clackamas County, attended college, taught school for several years, raised four children (and some sheep and vegetables) and took over the management of the Zena Forest upon her husband's death in 1996. She's devoted many years of advocacy to protecting the farm and forestland and open areas of Polk County and of Oregon,

      "What an abundant and beautiful place to call home," she says.

  • Suzanne Reingans

    BOARD VICE CHAIR

    Suzanne grew up on a small Polk County farm, where she learned to train, fit and show registered Polled Herefords. During those years she watched her parents caring for the farm's soil, stream and oak land. 

    Later, in college, she studied journalism and animal science  and now dabbles in Suffolk farming on a tiny farm, The Sheeperie. 

  • Ken Hale

    BOARD SECRETARY

    Ken Hale's dedication to natural resource issues has spanned a lifetime. Jobs in farm and soil conservation have taken him to New Zealand, then back to the US where he's worked for the USDA; right now he is an elected director of the Luckiamute Domestic Water Co-op and restoring grassland habitat on 11 acres at his home. 

    "I want Oregon to be a place where agriculture, forestry, wildlife and humans can thrive together." 

  • Pat Wheeler

    BOARD TREASURER

    Pat is a founding member of FOPC and a retired faculty member of Oregon State University. She lives in Polk County and manages a forest in Benton County. Oregonians, she believes, benefit greatly from our land use system, so she strives to maintain and bolster protection of farms and forests.

  • Karen Lippsmeyer

    BOARD MEMBER

    Karen Lippsmeyer knew at an early age that farming and gardening would be an important part of her life. Karen lives on a farm in Polk County, is a Master Gardener and has a B.S. in Animal Science. She is an advocate for Oregon’s land use system and believes protecting farms, forests and natural resources is crucial to livability and national security.

  • Paz Reingans

    BOARD MEMBER

    Paz moved to Rickreall, Oregon in 1979. He attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA and for 26 years was the creative director for PAZ Design Group in Salem. His clients included those in manufacturing, agriculture, retail and healthcare. He and his wife Suzanne live in Dallas on small acreage with a flock of sheep, chickens and ducks.