KCAA Board

KCAA board members volunteer their time and effort to the cause of raising awareness about the role of local agriculture on the Kitsap Peninsula.

Nikki Johanson, President

Nikki Johanson is co-owner of Pheasant Fields Farms, a family-run farm in Silverdale that has been in her family for over 50 years.  A long-standing leader in the Kitsap agricultural community, Nikki was a founding member of the Poulsbo Farmers Market and launched one of the county’s first CSA programs.  Pheasant Fields Farm offers fresh produce, poultry, beef, flowers, and eggs, along with farm tours, educational programs and family entertainment on the farm.

Marilyn Holt, Vice-President

Marilyn Holtt is owner and co-farmer of Abundantly Green Certified Organic Produce at Holt Ranch. It is an extended family farm co-farmed with Brad Green. It has been in the family since 1892, and is on the border of North and Central Kitsap, near Brownsville and Central Valley. Abundantly Green provides one of the county’s fastest growing CSA programs, and sells produce at the Poulsbo Farmers Market and the Silverdale Farmers Market. Marilyn is also a management consultant, starting in 1980’s, and her practice includes mergers and acquisitions, finance, and owner/officer level coaching. She is the author of many articles on growing businesses, and was a founding member of the Northwest Entrepreneurs Network. Marilyn is an advocate of local, wholesome, farm fresh food.

Shannon Harkness, Secretary

Shannon Harkness and her husband, Travis, and three daughters operate Red Barn Farm located in Central Valley. A third generation farmer, Shannon was raised in the potato and wheat fields of southern Idaho. After marrying Travis, his Navy career brought them here to Kitsap County in 1999. Her farming desires were sparked after visiting local farms for several years and then purchasing their own acreage. She spent a year working at Pheasant Fields Farm and with a minimal amount of coaching, Shannon set sales records vending farm products at local farmer’s markets.

Red Barn Farm is home to a pair of llamas, laying hens, meat birds, two cats, and Parker the fearless farm dog. They raise a variety of vegetables and fruits that are naturally grown in their rich fertile soil. While striving to sustain themselves, they also hope to pass along a sense of stewardship to their young daughters. Shannon looks forward, with enthusiasm, to increase the line of products produced from her own farm, and educate consumers, especially young children, about the food they eat.

We welcome Shannon to the KCAA board along with her strong desire and energy to support sustainable agriculture in our community.

Bill Looney, Treasurer

Bill’s great-great grandfather John Clinton Looney came on the first wagon train to Oregon in 1843.  His son, Bill’s great-granddad Walter William got diseased out, stolen out, frozen out and whatever a few times until he finally made it in Eastern Oregon.

Bill got the 4-H and FFA bug early.  He grew cattle and hogs and truck crops to sell to the school lunch and through his folks’ mom & pop store. Bill went to college-Army-grad school in that order, married a city gal, started teaching FFA, worked as an ag business rep for a bank, and finally found his home with a community college teaching management to farm families in Washington’s Columbia Basin for 32 years.

Bill and his farmers and ranchers discovered simple concepts and tools that work no matter what the technology.  They found that success is simple, but never easy.  And those farm and ranch families taught Bill about the bottom line.  The Golden Rule works because People ARE the Bottom Line.

Bill lives with his wife in Silverdale near his daughter.  He and his wife write, do art and what they can for the Greatest Good.