Margaret Magruder
Margaret Magruder
FARMERS WANT TO RETIRE TOO. (Or at least, partially retire.) But when your business is also your home, and you have animals, crops and inheritance tax to worry about, it takes savvy business planning to ensure that the legacy of your farm continues.
Margaret Magruder - who has raised 4 kids, tends 200 sheep, maintains 75 acres of land, received her masters in Russian Literature, and runs the local watershed council - hopes to someday partially retire herself. And fortunately, her children are interested in becoming 4th generation farmers. But to realize this dream, she had to increase the farm’s income. Therefore Margaret looked into alternative uses for her wool and is now co-owner of Oregon Shepherd, a wool insulation company that provides non-toxic, biodegradable insulation for green buildings. To meet demand, a production facility is being built that will provide 6 full-time rural jobs.
With half of Oregon’s farm land changing hands in the next 15 years, and the average age of farmers rising to 55, Margaret, like many of Oregon’s 35,000 farm families, will be passing her farm into the hands of the next generation. As Oregon Shepherd grows, Margaret is preparing for the day when her children can return to the farm and raise their families just as she did. Margaret’s work has succeeded with the help of Oregon Department of Agriculture.
To learn more about Oregon Shepherd, visit them online at OregonShepherd.net.
To learn about ODA programs, go to Oregon.gov/ODA.
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