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Although Bernie has been a recipient of many awards and honors, he
insists that he does not do what he does for recognition. “Ag has
given a lot to me, and I just want to give something back,” says
Faber. Both of the Faber’s sons work
closely with their parents and have decided to dedicate themselves
to their business. Fred and Rich run the operation of the dairy with
three other employees, all of whom have been with Cal-Gon for over
12 years. Their four grandchildren are also regular fixtures around
the farm serving as the official computer experts.
Bernie’s dedication to agriculture has
been applauded by many boards, ag leaders, and fellow farmers. His
work in advocating the importance of agriculture to the economic,
environmental, and social well-being of Oregon has given him an
opportunity to reach out to groups outside of Oregon. Bernie has
recently been working with commissions in Washington in hopes to
bring both states closer in an effort to combine resources and
knowledge and help preserve the future of agriculture.
He also feels passionate about working
closely with environmental groups such as the Oregon Environmental
Council. Cal-Gon Farms recently paired with Portland General
Electric in order to build a methane digester that turns methane gas
into electricity. The leftover mass is then turned into compost,
which Cal-Gon exports to a solid compost company. “In the end,
agriculture and environmental groups want the same thing, so there
is no need to go in different directions in order to get it,” says
Bernie. “We just need to work together.”
“Bernie Faber has provided an
incredible contribution to Oregon agriculture,” says Oregon
Department of Agriculture Director Katy Coba. “Even though he is a
dairyman, Bernie believes strongly that if all of agriculture speaks
with one voice, it will be much more effective in telling its story.
He has consistently been an advocate for agricultural unity and
prosperity. In addition, Bernie is extremely committed to educating
the youth of this state about agriculture and constantly looks for
ways to celebrate the achievements of our young people who are
involved in the industry.”
Bernie’s passion for agriculture has led to political action as
well. “There are some real challenges for ag because of the economy
and changes in the government,” says Bernie. “The most important
thing we can do as an ag community is to develop relationships with
new legislators and those who are not directly associated with
agricultural work. We need to inform them of our importance.”
Over thirty-five years after Cal-Gon Farms was established, the
small dairy farm continues to be a successful enterprise. “There are
not a lot of people who are able to do what they want to do in
life,” says Bernie. “I feel very lucky that I did.” |
