1000 Friends of Oregon Honors 35 Young People for Nature, Food and Land-Use Work

The conservation group 1000 Friends of Oregon -- founded 35 years ago to enforce the state's pioneering land-use planning law -- is celebrating its anniversary by honoring "35 Innovators Under 35." The young Oregonians who are making a difference in their communities were chosen from among 132 nominations, and will be honored March 20 at the annual Tom McCall Legacy Dinner and Awards Gala. The winners are:

Dominic Aiello, Beaverton -- Founder of Project Wilderness, an organization dedicated to improving and expanding public land for the benefit of people, wildlife and the environment.

Kelley Beamer, Portland -- Conservation Organizer with Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

Gina Bell, Forest Grove -- Helped establish and now manages the Forest Grove Farmers Market.

Sam Blackman, Portland -- CEO of Elemental Technologies, a video processing company, and chair of the Multnomah County Chapter of Oregon League of Conservation Voters.

Abby Bradbury, Langlois -- Started Abby's Greens, her own direct-marketing farm business in Bandon, while home on summer vacation during college.

Zoe Bradbury, Langlois -- A farmer and freelance writer, works with non-profits on sustainable agriculture projects.

Jen Brown, Corvallis -- Director of the Farm to School program at the Corvallis Environmental Center.

Ben Cannon, Portland -- A teacher, community activist and state representative from District 46 who chairs the House Environment and Water Committee.

Cory Carman, Wallowa -- A fourth-generation rancher who has become a leader in the local grass-fed livestock movement.

Zach Christensen, McMinnville -- A 5th-generation Yamhill County hazelnut farmer and president of the Yamhill County Farm Bureau.

Devin Dimeo-Ediger, Hillsboro -- A leader in the grassroots movement to save Helvetia farmland from suburban sprawl.

Dan Eisenbeis, Portland -- A former planner and legislative affairs director for 1000 Friends who now works on water, environment and natural resources and energy issues for the League of Oregon Cities.

Brent Fenty, Bend -- Has worked to revitalize the Oregon Natural Desert Association and was instrumental in getting the Badlands and Spring Basin included in the omnibus wilderness bill.

Rob Frank, Crane -- More than half the student body at Crane Union High School in Eastern Oregon is enrolled in his agriculture classes. Subjects include business, finance, mechanics and communications.

Kathy Freeborn Hadley, Rickreall -- Involved in biofuels research through Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Agriculture and teaches an Intro to Agribusiness and a Crop and Soil Science Seminar at OSU.

Gena Goodman-Campbell, Bend -- Works with the Oregon Natural Desert Association and spearheaded the Badlands Wilderness Campaign.

Jonathan Graca, Hood River -- Was involved in the successful Measure 49 land-use campaign, the Mt. Hood Wilderness bill and fighting against casino development in the Columbia River Gorge.

Rhyan Grech, Hillsboro -- Works at SOLV and trains volunteers on how to lead community tree planting events to improve the health of our urban streams.

Paul Hudak, Portland -- Directs students at Terra Nova High School who operate a community farm.

Erik Kancler, Bend -- Executive director of Central Oregon Landwatch, also a freelance journalist, photographer and part-time ranch hand.

Katy Kolker, Portland -- Founder of the Portland Fruit Tree Project, which in 2009 harvested over 12,000 pounds of fruit. Half was distributed to food banks.

Jules Kopel Bailey, Portland -- State representative for House District 42 and co-sponsor of the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technology Act.

Nolan Lienhart, Portland -- An urban designer with Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, where he specializes in mixed-use and transit-oriented development.

Marissa Madrigal, Portland -- Chief of staff for Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, and creator of County Crops, an effort to raise crops on surplus county land.

Jonathan Manton, Bend -- Worked to oppose two destination resorts and lobbied for passage of the bill to protect the Metolius River.

Ryan Morgan, Molalla -- Worked with at-risk youth; an avid outdoorsman who died while kayaking in August 2009.

David Mostue, Medford -- Started Dunbar Farms, a community supported agriculture project in Medford.

Jen Myers, Corvallis -- Works with the Corvallis Environmental Center; spent two years with the Peace Corps in Gabon.

Andrea Norris, Corvallis -- Director of the student Environmental Task Force at Oregon State University.

Emily Platt, Portland -- Helped develop a restoration plan for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Terri Preeg Riggsby, Portland -- Chair of the Tryon Creek Watershed Council.

Nate Rafn, Salem -- A columnist for Salem Monthly, writing stories on small farms, grocers, and cooking. Executive Producer of Living Culture, a monthly television series that showcases Northwest cuisine and agriculture.

Brandon Trelstad, Corvallis -- Sustainability Coordinator at Oregon State University, helping to make OSU the 4th largest university purchaser of renewable energy in the country.

Ben Unger, Portland -- Executive Director of the Oregon Senate Democratic Leadership Fund and a former field director for the Yes on Measure 49 land-use campaign.

Grace Wildhaber, Dayton -- At 16, she's president of the local chapter of the Future Farmers of America and works closely with a local fruit processing facility to collect surplus fruit for needy families.