The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is inviting applications for 58 commissioner positions across 22 of the state’s agricultural and commercial fisheries commodity commissions. The application deadline is April 6, 2026.
Commissioners are appointed by the Director of ODA and typically serve three-year terms as public officials. Their duties include making decisions on funding for promotion, education, and research projects related to their respective commodities. According to the department, “The Director is seeking applicants who reflect the diversity among Oregon’s farmers, ranchers, processors, and commercial fisheries.”
Public members must be U.S. citizens residing in Oregon with an active interest in improving economic conditions for a commodity but cannot be directly involved in producing or handling that commodity. Producers and handlers must also be U.S. citizens and Oregon residents who have paid or collected assessments on the relevant commodity for at least the past three years. A producer is defined as a grower or harvester; a handler is typically the first purchaser from the producer and may be a processor, distributor, or marketer.
Vacancies are present on commissions representing products such as albacore tuna, beef, blueberries, clover, dairy products, Dungeness crab, fine fescue grass seed, hazelnuts, hemp, hops, mint, potatoes, processed vegetables, raspberries and blackberries, ryegrass seed growers, salmon, sheep, strawberries, sweet cherries (including brine processors), tall fescue grass seed producers and handlers alike as well as trawl-caught seafoods and wheat.
For more information about how to apply or details about each commission’s work areas across regions such as Willamette/Southern Oregon (Clackamas through Curry counties), Tillamook/North Coast (Clatsop through Lincoln counties), Malheur/Harney counties for potatoes or specific ports like Charleston and Newport for Dungeness crab representation—candidates can visit the ODA website.
ODA supports family-owned farms producing various commodities for both local consumption and international export markets. This support contributes to community resilience and strengthens local economies (official website). The department works statewide to protect agriculture by offering compliance assistance and market support programs aimed at sustainability (official website).
Lisa Charpilloz Hanson leads ODA with experience in agricultural policy administration (official website). The agency provides services including pest prevention programs for insects and weeds as well as pesticide regulation to help producers remain productive (official website).
ODA’s mission extends beyond production: it offers food safety initiatives along with animal health measures while providing certifications necessary for trade compliance (official website). Policy guidance comes from its State Board of Agriculture which emphasizes inclusivity among other core values (official website).
Interested individuals are encouraged to review eligibility requirements carefully before applying.
