North Olympic Land Trust selects 2018 Farmer of the Year

Scott Chichester, owner and farmer of Chi’s Farm in Sequim, is the North Olympic Land Trust’s 2018 Farmer of the Year.

Chichester will be honored during the 19th annual Friends of the Fields Harvest Dinner from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Sunland Golf & Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive, Sequim.

Seats are $150 per person. Seats have been going quickly; those who want reservations are urged to contact Navarra Carr at 360-417-1815, ext. 4 or Navarra@northolympic landtrust.org; no tickets will be sold at the door.

Chichester said he was propelled into a career in agriculture by an interest in science, a love of the outdoors and the intrigue of a growing organic movement.

“I get great joy out of the physical manifestation of the work that I do,” Chichester said. “I also get an extra layer of reward knowing that I’m growing healthy food for people.”

After graduating from Sequim High School in 1992, he attended Peninsula College before going to work at one of the largest organic farms in Western Washington — Nash’s Organic Produce.

In 2015, he started his own operation, Chi’s Farm at 142 Towne Road in Sequim.

He’s recently made some changes.

“This is a pivotal time for me,” he said.

After four years of balancing his time between his farm and teaching ag science and ag biology at Sequim High School, Chichester is turning his full attention to Chi’s Farm where he mostly grows an array of mixed salad greens and some vegetables, the land trust said on its website at northolympic landtrust.org.

He plans to expand Chi’s Farm, including but not limited to increasing the acreage, connecting with new markets and growing the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, as well as continuing to host community pizza parties on the farm.

“Whether making communal pizza at his farm or teaching ag classes at Sequim High School, Scott’s dedication to both building community and the viability of local agriculture is notable,” Tom Sanford, executive director of the land trust, said.

Each year, a handful of community members nominate the Farmer of the Year — an award honoring individuals and/or organizations that have positively and significantly impacted the local farm community.

Last year’s award went to WSU Clallam County Extension. Other winners include farmers such as Doug Hendrickson and Lee Norton, Nash Huber, Tom and Holly Clark, and Steve Johnson, as well as individuals such as Bob Caldwell.

Produce grown at Chi’s Farm is available at the produce stand at the farm. It also can be found at a variety of local restaurants and grocers or purchased directly via the farm’s CSA program.

For more about the farm, see www.chisfarm.com.

For more about North Olympic Land Trust — which has the mission of conserving lands that sustain the communities of Clallam County — see northolympiclandtrust.org.