Meet Ariana Gehrig, OBC’s New Program Manager!
Ariana joined OBC in February and has hit the ground running to work on improving OBC’s programs for growers and ensuring a positive experience. Get to know her a little bit better with this interview and OBC members will be hearing from her soon!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your previous work in agriculture.
I have over 20 years of experience in agriculture, which began on my family’s small diversified organic farm in Placer County, growing everything from kiwis and citrus to strawberries and flowers. My background is hands-on, covering everything from farmers markets and local deliveries to row crop production and seed research. I enjoy growing food and connecting with the seasonal plant cycle that sustains us.
Oakville Bluegrass Cooperative has a mission to make sustainable agricultural practices more profitable than conventional ones. What excites and challenges you about this mission?
I am excited to lead program operations to ensure we deliver real value for Co-op members, directly supporting the mission of making regenerative practices profitable while improving soil health. The challenge lies in strategically executing grant programs and driving continuous improvement to ensure long-term market viability for growers that utilize sustainable practice.
Your work at Lundberg Family Farms included a soil nutrient management research project measuring nitrogen release from cover crops — what did that experience teach you about the relationship between cover cropping and long-term soil health?
That project involved determining the amount of plant available nitrogen released into the soil from a fava bean cover crop incorporated as ‘green manure’. It reinforced the benefits that cover crops provide by naturally contributing vital nutrients to the system while building long-term soil health.
What makes an excellent agricultural program?
An excellent program succeeds by sharing information that is genuinely useful or inspiring, and by facilitating strong collaboration among farmers, growers, and ranchers.
What do you hope to accomplish this year at OBC?
My primary goal is to manage and improve OBC's grant and program operations to ensure they maximize value for our co-op members. This involves the successful execution and reporting of critical grant programs, such as the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers grant.
Tell us a little bit about what you like to do for fun and to unwind.
I love exploring the great outdoors and going on adventures with my dog. As a Chico resident, I especially enjoy spending summer weekends hiking, swimming, camping, and finding beautiful out of the way spots.