Resilient Roots: Southern Oregon Family Farms

Southern Oregon’s sunny slopes, fertile forests and vibrant valleys have nurtured a rich Cannabis culture, one rooted in generations of small, family-run farms. Distanced from the bustling cities to the north, these farms have long operated within a web of local ties and nostalgic neighborly collaboration. Since legalization, however, this ecosystem has faced a slow erosion, as market pressures and competition bring shifts that strain the cooperative spirit.

But one coalition of growers is working to reclaim that sense of community. Southern Oregon Family Farms (SOFF) is a collective of Cannabis cultivators and advocates committed to protecting the legacy of small family farms and planting a prosperous future. “It’s not just about the plant; it’s about the people who have nurtured this land for generations,” said Aaron Getty, CEO of Special Branded Inc. and vice president of SOFF. Sitting among the board’s 15 farm members at one of their many meetings, there’s a sense that these keepers of the sun-grown tradition are standing at a tipping point. The pressures of legalization run deep, from soil to soul, but SOFF’s growers are digging in, committed to ensuring that the heart of Southern Oregon’s Cannabis culture isn’t lost to the winds of change.

Prohibition pushed many growers underground — or indoors, rather — and away from sun-grown tactics. This shift paved the way for commercial growth in controlled environments, tempting with the possibility of higher yields and more frequent harvests. When farmers finally felt free to step into the light again, legalization’s patterns already had firm footing, prioritizing production pace and predictability. Indoor flower was already a “top shelf” commodity, as producers, retailers and consumers alike adopted price-, potency- and bag-appeal-based buying habits. But this basis left out many of the nuances that various cultivation methods can provide patients and plummeted the value of sun-grown Cannabis.

Huron Smith IV of Sol Cultivations puts circumstances into perspective. “To go from selling pounds at $1,800 to $180… There were a lot of difficult times and a lot of missteps from the State of Oregon that made it difficult for the niche farmers to thrive…Now (with SOFF) we don’t have to play all those roles and be the best version of us we can be…It’s nice to be fighting for a group that’s fighting for you.”

This group is grounded in resilience and founded in that very light. Kristine Miller (now board president) of Southern Oregon Moonshine, Devin of Circle D Farms, Aaron of MD Remedies, and Justin of Calyx CPA stepped up to found SOFF officially in 2022. The cooperative was built around three main components: community sharing, financial support and consumer education. “We didn’t have much to offer each other at first, except the comfort of knowing we weren’t alone,” Miller shares.

In under a few years, these dedicated doers have taken strong steps forward, seeing all of their goals set in motion with much more in sight. Community sharing of resources like compost, distribution and seasonal labor have eased the burden of small family teams. Financial support in the form of a collective wholesale facility is putting power back into producers’ pockets. Consumer education has blossomed into exciting events like Earth Day cleanups, community golf tournaments, speaker series and an upcoming documentary. The collective has even rallied to represent and inform legislators in important decisions, like Aspergillus testing.

Looking to the future, Southern Oregon Family Farms is nurturing the heart of sun-grown Cannabis, supporting local farmers with advocacy, forward-thinking solutions and practical education. With plans to expand wholesale options, grow to 30 members, share their in-house product grading system and foster an understanding of “top-shelf sun-grown,” SOFF is planting the seeds for success. As Green Bandit Owners Brian and Sarah Niestrath share, “It’s not just about making it to the next harvest; it’s about bringing joy back to Cannabis.”