Shep Ogden was the founder and President of Cooks Garden seed company, he is a very experienced Market Gardener, a top speaker on gardening and organic subjects and the author of Straight Ahead Organic among other titles. He has the gardening ability, the people and management skills to carry a position of this importance. Shep has approved this nomination and also supplied references: USDA Ext Agent for DC, Sandy Farber Dir US Botanic Garden, Holly Schimizu Chief Hort Guy for Nat’l Park Service NW, Rob DeFeo Chef (organic) Nora Poullion

Sunshine and Steve Vortigern are tremendously dedicated to the revival of farming in America. Their commitment is clear to their customers at farmers’ market and through their farm subscription service. They are family farmers working hard to make sure healthy food is available to their community. The Vortigenrs would make excellent white house farmers by bringing knowledge of the best and most tastey organic foods to grow and the hard work needed to put it on the table.