Todd Nash

Wallowa County Commissioner

Wallowa County, OR

8/22/2021

Todd Nash, rancher and County Commissioner of Wallowa County, met with Semester in the West for a backyard barbecue with his mom and family. As locally-raised steaks sizzled on the grill, he discussed what it means to be a rancher in rural Oregon as well as the responsibilities and challenges of his position in local government. Pointing from his chair to the landscape surrounding him, Todd spoke about the ecological trends he has witnessed during his four years as Commissioner and a lifetime in the county: more frequent and destructive wildfires in the county’s vast forests, stream flows getting smaller and warmer, and intensifying conflict regarding wolf management in a ranching community. The most effective response to these environmental concerns is far from agreed upon.

Todd discussed political divisiveness, and he spoke to the difficulty of pleasing all parties involved in these issues: ranchers, hunters, environmentalists, and citizens at large. While it’s difficult to balance all opinions, Todd believes there is ultimately a way to satisfy everyone: it just takes empathy and creative solutions. He recognizes a barrier between political parties in the U.S. and wishes for folks to put in the time to get to know one another. Todd demonstrated a strong sense of pride, both in the people and land he represents. Before digging into a steak topped with fresh tomatoes from his mother’s garden, Todd concluded: “I get to represent the best people in the world, the best county in the world.”

By: Erika Goodman