Teresa Mitchell Clausen

Teresa is a native Oregonian, although she hails from generations of farmers centered in the Midwest. Teresa has memories of visiting relatives as she was growing up and experiencing large CAFOs in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas. So when she met a land scout for a large company and discovered one was being built right next door to her home, it became not only personal, but all-encompassing since she was so familiar with the demographics and biodiversity of the Santiam Canyon.

Her father’s family embraced organic and holistic methods as a lifestyle—this was the start of Teresa’s passion for the ethical treatment of people, animals, and the environment.

Teresa grew up working in agriculture. Centering her work life in feeding people, she spent over 25 years in hospitality management. This created an awareness of food sources and suppliers worldwide. She transitioned as a civil servant for the State of Oregon Judicial Department, working in a variety of roles. Teresa is a genealogist, researcher, and family historian. Teresa also serves as an executive director for a nonprofit called Dal Riata—History through Cinema. A member of the Scholastic Literacy Partnership, they create documentaries, sagas, and shorts for television, encompassing the disciplines of social sciences. Teresa holds a Bachelor of Arts in social science with a concentration in history, and a minor in anthropology from Western Oregon University. She is a mother of three and a grandmother of three. Teresa currently resides in Aumsville, Oregon, with her husband, two goats (Ricky and Lucy), and a German Shepard named Thor.