Be a Part of Our Team
WHERE we came from
Agricultural Connections started in January of 2010 when founder Andrew Adams recognized that there was an un-met need in the community of Bend: people wanted fresh, local, organic food year-round. Once the farmers market, CSA and gardening seasons ended, it was hard to find. Andrew set out to find sources and create relationships with farmers in our greater region to satisfy this need. The program began with produce boxes, a few a la carte items and one weekly pickup location in west Bend. In fall of the same year, Andrew shifted his roots to eastern Canada and Elizabeth Weigand was hired to keep the business running.
About a half year later Elizabeth became the new owner of Ag Connections and has run it solely since with a few key, exceptional part- and full-time employees and contractors. Ag Connections' mission to be the catalyst of a food system that honors the farmer, the consumer and the land equally, has attracted several stellar teammates over the years including Laura Moss, Peter Elmore, and Manya Williams.
Since 2011, Ag Connections has grown as a tiny and mighty team that has steadily fostered a more extensive list of farm partners, a growing restaurant client list, an online platform dedicated to commercial client order management, various retail pickup locations throughout Central Oregon, a warehouse/office location, a contracted valley courier and delivery driver, two employees, and an 18ft refrigerated truck.
AC has grown to be a staple Bend company that represents the integrity and authenticity of local food. We are excited to keep growing with you!
WHO we are
Elizabeth (Liz) Weigand grew up on a farm north of Madras and was blessed to be introduced to nourishing food at a young age. She's always had a love for plants and gardening and nurtured her roots with a graduate degree and career work in landscape architecture, food systems and planning. She believes in a community vision where local farmers are recognized heroes for every meal we eat! Liz continues to be active in the local food community, working with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) on various food projects, speaking in classes at COCC, and consulting about the development of local food systems. She also served on the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance Board from June 2014 until December 2017. When she's not surrounded by veggies at the office, Liz is concocting yummy food at home, paragliding, backpacking, dancing, skiing, crafting, traveling, paddle boarding, and hanging out with her partner Bryan, friends and family.