Tamara served for 20 years as an officer in the United States Coast Guard, beginning her career through the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI) program. After completing boot camp in 2003 and Officer Candidate School in 2005, she deployed twice to Antarctica aboard the CGC POLAR STAR and CGC POLAR SEA, qualifying as a Deck Watch Officer and Ice Pilot. She was then selected for Naval Flight School and earned her Wings of Gold in 2009 as Coast Guard Aviator #4204.
She served as an MH-65 Search and Rescue and Rotary-Wing Air Intercept pilot at Air Station North Bend, Oregon and Air Station Atlantic City, New Jersey, including deployments supporting presidential air security operations. In 2016, she was selected for the Coast Guard’s Financial Management Post-Graduate Program, earning both an MBA and Master of Accounting from the University of Oregon. She then served as Comptroller at Base Kodiak, managing a $35 million annual budget and earning her Certified Government Financial Manager designation.
Her last assignment before retiring was as the Response Department Head and Air Station Operations Officer at Sector North Bend, overseeing search and rescue and law enforcement missions along the Oregon coast, aircraft operations, and personnel.
"The Farmer Veteran Coalition has been instrumental in helping our farm get off the ground. As a first-year farming operation, access to resources and support has been critical to our success. We were honored to be selected as a 2026 Fellowship Fund awardee, which enabled us to purchase an ice machine and two stainless steel processing tables for our on-farm poultry processing operation. These items have improved our efficiency, food safety, and ability to provide high-quality products to our customers."
Beyond the financial support, the Farmer Veteran Coalition has connected Tamara with a community of veteran farmers who understand both the challenges of agriculture and the transition from military service to farming. Through FVC, she has built relationships with other farms, gained valuable mentorship, and found encouragement from others who have walked a similar path. Even when those connections happen through social media, they provide an important network of knowledge, support, and friendship.
"The Farmer Veteran Coalition has helped us feel less isolated in our farming journey and has provided both the practical resources and community support needed to build a successful and sustainable agricultural business."
Sentinel Family Farm is a small-scale, diversified farm located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, focused on producing high-quality, nutrient-dense food using sustainable and regenerative practices. The farm specializes in pasture-raised eggs and poultry, with additional offerings that include seasonal produce, fruit, and value-added homemade products.
Operations are designed to prioritize animal welfare, soil health, and environmental stewardship. Chickens are raised on pasture using rotational grazing practices that naturally improve soil fertility while producing clean, high-quality protein. The farm also maintains gardens and small orchards to support seasonal harvests and expand product offerings.
Sentinel Family Farm operates on a direct-to-consumer model, building strong relationships with customers through transparency, education, and consistent product quality. A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and repeat customer base are central to the business model.
The long-term vision of the farm is to expand into additional livestock, including beef and dairy, while continuing to improve pasture health and build a resilient, sustainable local food system.
After retiring from military service, Tamara found herself searching for a slower, more intentional way of life. When she met her husband, Trace, he introduced her to his passion for hunting. Experiencing truly wild, ethically harvested meat, where their hands were the only ones that touched it along the way completely changed the way she thought about food.
"In 2024, Trace built me the garden of my Pinterest dreams. What began as a hobby quickly grew into a passion for growing food, preserving harvests, and raising chickens. The more I learned about our food system, the more committed I became to producing clean, nutritious food and reducing our dependence on disconnected supply chains."
What started as a personal journey to feed her family evolved into a mission to help provide that same connection to others. Her goal in establishing Sentinel Family Farm was to provide people with a direct relationship to the farmer so that they can know the hands that raised the food and can feel good about putting it on their family’s dinner table. Tamara is honored to share a little piece of the story behind where one's food comes from, because it didn’t start in the grocery store.
"Farming is a continuation of my service, grounded in responsibility, consistency, and contributing to something larger than myself. My military career instilled a commitment to showing up every day, regardless of conditions, and that same mindset carries into agriculture. Caring for animals, managing land, and producing food requires discipline, adaptability, and accountability — values that directly mirror my time in service."
As a former Coast Guard Search and Rescue pilot, she learned to problem-solve under pressure and adapt quickly when conditions change. Farming demands those same skills, as weather, animal health, and seasonal cycles require constant adjustment. She approaches her farm with a mission-focused mindset: assess conditions, care for the systems under her responsibility, and execute with integrity.
"Being an American farmer is deeply personal. After a lifetime of moving, agriculture has given me the opportunity to put down roots, build community, and create something lasting. It allows me to contribute to local food security while fostering transparency and trust with those I serve. Farming is not just a business — it is a way to continue serving my community by providing high-quality, responsibly produced food and make connections with other like-minded people."
