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On Monday, March 23rd at 10 AM, Kitsap County Commissioners Oran Root, Christine Rolfes, and Katie Walters officially adopted the resolution appointing members to the newly established Kitsap County Agriculture Advisory Council. Appointed members include: District 1: Angela Cordiano, Mira Rosenkotz, Karissa Holcombe District 2: Scott Hall, Gary Winn, Dawn Oien District 3: Tonya Hirtzel, Christina Mayfield, Mickey Centeno Some of the Agricultural Advisory Council appointees

The KCAA is excited to offer 20 scholarships to community members who would like to attend a special screening of the documentary, Women's Work: The Untold Stories of America's Female Farmers , presented by Friends of the Farms. This powerful film highlights the voices and experiences of women in agriculture - stories that are often overlooked, yet deeply important to the future of farming. The screening will take place on Sunday, April 19, 2026 , at the Lynwood Theatre on Ba

On Thursday, March 12th, the Kitsap Community & Agricultural Alliance (KCAA) held its Annual Meeting at the Eagle’s Nest Community Building at the Bremerton Fairgrounds. There wasn’t an empty seat in the room! The evening began with a potluck and social hour. From hot chili and cornbread to cucumber salad and peach cobbler, the spread was a delight. As attendees enjoyed dinner and caught up with friends, they also had the opportunity to visit tables hosted by other agricultur

First, we want to begin with a heartfelt thank you . Thank you for believing in the work that we do and for choosing to give in support of our mission of uplifting farmers, strengthening community connections, and deepening the link between our local farms and the families they feed. We set a goal of $2,000 for this one-day fundraising event , and thanks to your generosity, donations exceeded $2,250! We are incredibly grateful. Your contributions will allow us to expand our

At KCAA, we are proud to support the work of local farms and organizations that are building a more resilient, sustainable food system in Kitsap County. One of our partners, Roots Farm , is offering a series of hands-on vermicomposting workshops  for our community. These practical, beginner-friendly workshops are designed to help participants turn everyday food scraps into nutrient-rich compost using simple, low-cost worm systems. By learning to compost with worms, community

What is the Kitsap Great Give? The Great Give is our community's day to come together for good. In one powerful day of giving (plus Early Giving!), neighbors, businesses, and friends unite to support the local nonprofits that make Kitsap a better place for everyone. Last year, our community raised $1.45 million from 3,233 donors through 7,467 gifts to support 354 local nonprofit organizations. KCAA was honored to be amongst those recipients in 2025. This year we are participa

On Thursday, February 26, the Kitsap County Department of Community Development (DCD) hosted an informational meeting to preview the newly approved Agricultural Advisory Council’s proposed bylaws, tentative meeting schedule, and draft 2026 work plan. The meeting was led by Heather Cleveland, Long Range Planner for Kitsap County DCD and Administrator for the Agricultural Advisory Council. Jess Sappington provided administrative support from WSU, and Diane Fish provided adminis

Our friends at Kitsap Fresh are hosting their Annual Meeting for member producers this Sunday, February 22, 2026 — and you’re invited! The meeting is open to current producers and anyone interested in learning more about Kitsap Fresh or exploring opportunities to work or volunteer with the organization. 🥗 Potluck begins at 11:30am 📋 Meeting starts at 12:00pm The meeting will be held at the Kitsap Fresh Warehouse - 5686 NE Minder Rd, Suite 201 Poulsbo, WA. A Zoom option wil

On February 2, KCAA and the Mason-Kitsap Farm Bureau announced a new joint youth scholarship. This first-of-its-kind scholarship will be awarded in the spring of 2026 and is designed to help offset some of the up-front costs associated with raising livestock for the Junior Livestock auction. Who is eligible? All students in grades K–12 who are residents of Kitsap County. Students may be first-time or returning participants and may be enrolled in either small or large animal p

The Kitsap County Department of Community Development (DCD) is now accepting applications for anyone interested in serving on the newly approved Agriculture Advisory Council. The Council will advise Commissioners and County staff on key agricultural matters, including education and policy, land use, and economic opportunities, while serving as a collaborative forum for stakeholders - shaping the long-term sustainability and resilience of the County’s agricultural community.

Dear Friends and Ag Partners, We’re excited to share some great news with you! On Monday, January 26th at 10am, the Kitsap County Board of County Commissioners will approve a resolution to formally create the long-awaited Agriculture Advisory Council! The meeting will take place in the County Chambers at 619 Division Street in Port Orchard. (See PDF file at the bottom of this article.) This 11-member Council will advise County Commissioners and staff on agricultural policy,

The Kitsap Community & Agricultural Alliance is excited to announce the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors! This marks a significant milestone for KCAA, as the Board now includes 10 active members - one of the largest in recent history - with a total of 11 seats available. This growth reflects the increasing energy and engagement surrounding agriculture in our community. New members were elected at the January board meeting and include Erika Anderson (T

On January 1, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners adopted Ordinance 643-2025, which updates the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, map, and Title 17 (Zoning). Known as the Year of the Rural , these changes show the County’s strong commitment to supporting agriculture, working lands, and rural communities. The ordinance confirms that agriculture remains a core rural land use, strengthens planning policies that support farming, and ensures existing agricultural operations remain leg

Dear Ag Partners ,  We want to thank everyone who signed our petition encouraging the Kitsap County Board of County Commissioners to seat an Agriculture Advisory Council immediately. Your support and engagement truly made a difference! The petition is now closed, and all signatures and comments have been formally submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for review.  We are grateful to have you standing with us in support of agriculture in Kitsap County and we

Dear Ag Partners, Happy Giving Tuesday! We’re reaching out to you with gratitude — and a simple ask. Today is a wonderful opportunity to support the nonprofits and charities that help make Kitsap such a vibrant and caring community. Whether it’s a food bank, a school, an environmental organization, or any group that speaks to your heart, your generosity truly matters. And while we’re always grateful for your support of KCAA, today is really about giving back to the wider co

Dear Ag Partners, The Kitsap Community & Agricultural Alliance is looking for community members who are excited about supporting agriculture to join our Board of Directors. We currently have openings for a Board Secretary and a few Members at Large . About us: The KCAA is Kitsap's longest-standing agricultural nonprofit, built by local farmers nearly 20 years ago. We are a board of volunteers who envision a vibrant community sustained by a thriving local food system - and th

On Monday, November 24, the Board of County Commissioners began deliberations on the Year of the Rural  deliverables, including the long-awaited formation of an Agriculture Advisory Council. Below is KCAA’s letter to the BOCC, submitted alongside a petition and 116 signatures collected over the past 48 hours. The petition remains open and continues to grow. Click here to add your name — and any comments you would like shared with the BOCC!

Dear Ag Partners, After months of public input, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners is preparing to begin deliberations on updates to the agriculture code as part of the Growth Management Act review. One of the most important components of these updates is the long-awaited creation of an  Agriculture Advisory Council (AAC) . This council would include members from across our agriculture and equine communities and would provide essential, informed guidance to County leade

Kitsap County DCD has released the Year of the Rural Deliverables Comment Form. The public comment period was 9/24/25 - 11/10/25. Click here to review the concerns and feedback submitted by fellow constituents regarding the Draft and Draft 2.0 code updates, as well as the proposed changes to the Rural and Resource Lands chapter of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan.

On Monday, November 10th, the KCAA Board showed up in numbers to comment on the proposed changes to the Year of the Rural 2.0 Deliverables Draft. The public hearing was held at the Kitsap County Commissioners’ Hearing Room in Port Orchard, and KCAA Board President, Bob Geballe, read KCAA's official statement to the Board of County Commissioners. Board Members Karissa Holcombe, Jeremy Anunson, and Scott Hall also made comments as individual stakeholders. You can read KCAA's pu