Heather grew up outside of Spokane, Washington on a small farm watching the KC-135’s fly over her home daily. She served 6 years in the Washington Air National Guard as an Avionics Technician stationed at Fairchild, AFB. She worked alongside her father who was a Crew Chief.

She spent 22 years working in the aerospace industry but when COVID hit, it brought a lot of things into focus for her. She began thinking more about where our food comes from and how real food insecurity is for many people. It made her realize how important local food systems are and that she wanted to be part of the solution.

Heather started by growing a garden, and it didn’t take long for her to realize how rewarding it was. Watching food grow from seed to harvest and sharing it with her community gave her a deep sense of purpose. What began as a small garden quickly grew into something much bigger – Wild Sage Farms. At Wild Sage Farms, they grow vegetables, root crops, garlic, summer and winter squash, and a variety of pumpkins.

“What I enjoy most about my farm is the sense of purpose and connection it gives me every day,” said Heather. “I love seeing a tiny seed grow into a healthy, thriving plant, knowing that it will eventually feed someone’s family.”

Heather has been honored to receive the Fellowship Fund Grant in both 2023 and 2024, both times funded by Tractor Supply Company. In 2023, she was awarded fencing that allowed her to expand her growing area by more than 21,000 square feet, resulting in a 25% increase in revenue.

In 2024, she received 30 cattle panels to support her 500 tomato plants. This trellising system significantly reduced the labor required to manage the crop and harvest. It also helped to produce stronger, more robust plants that were more resistant to disease.

“If I can create a thriving farm, then so can you. There will be plenty of days filled with doubt and self-reflection, but the reward of seeing customers enjoy the food I’ve grown makes it all worthwhile,” said Heather.