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Salem, Oregon – The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) selected Lisa Hanson, Deputy Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) for its 2018 James A. Graham Award for Outstanding Service to Agriculture. A committee of NASDA members, staff and stakeholders selected Hanson for this prestigious award.
Former ODA Directors, Katy Coba and Phil Ward joined current director Alexis Taylor, in submitting a letter of nomination in support of Hanson. Letters from ODA Assistant Director Lauren Henderson and Bryan Ostlund of the Oregon Blueberry Commission were also submitted. Lisa is described as a skilled and compassionate leader able to navigate her team and producers through highly controversial natural resources issues. Hanson is also well known for her successful trade policy development and trade missions overseas that have resulted in opening markets to various Oregon commodities including most recently, blueberries into Korea and soon the Philippines.
“This national award is a really big deal in the world of agriculture,” said Director Taylor. “It is an absolute honor to work with Lisa and I am proud the rest of the nation is recognizing her outstanding dedication and service to Oregon agriculture. ODA and Oregon’s agricultural producers are lucky to have such a talented advocate working with us. She is a solution-minded leader and our industry rightfully trusts her because of her long history of perseverance, honesty and respectfulness.”
Hanson joined ODA as the agency’s commodity commission program manager in 1996. She worked her way up the ranks and earned the position of assistant director in 2001 then deputy director in 2005. She is a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in agriculture and resource economics. At home, Hanson helps raise pure bred Hampshire and Southdown sheep with help from her two daughters and husband of nearly 25 years.
NASDA will honor Hanson at its annual meeting during the President’s Banquet on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 in Hartford, Connecticut.
Please follow ODA on Twitter@ORagriculture and Facebook@ORAgriculture for messages of congratulations from all over the country.
Contact: Andrea Cantu-Schomus (503) 881-9049, acantuschomus@oda.state.or.us
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