PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon FFA has hired its first CEO. Stoel Rives partner Kirk Maag led the CEO search committee and will work closely with the new CEO as interim president of Oregon FFA’s joint board. Maag’s involvement with agriculture and FFA spans his lifetime.
Shawn Dooley, a native Oregonian with deep roots in agriculture and FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America), becomes CEO on March 18 and will manage the Oregon FFA Association, Oregon FFA Foundation, and Oregon FFA Alumni. He will report to a joint board comprised of representatives from the three organizations and a student representative. Maag, who serves as president-elect of the Oregon FFA Foundation, will serve as interim president of the joint board.
“It’s important for our firm to support organizations like FFA that are growing the future leaders of Oregon’s agriculture industry,” said Maag. “As lawyers, we are better able to serve our clients when we understand the industries in which they operate. Our affiliation with Oregon FFA is just one of the many ways we deepen our connection to and understanding of the agriculture industry.”
Oregon FFA brings Dooley on board shortly before its annual state convention, which begins on March 22 at the Deschutes Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon. One of the highlights of the convention is the annual dinner, where the organization’s supporters gather to enjoy a prime rib dinner and learn about the positive impact Oregon FFA is making on students. Stoel Rives has been the presenting sponsor of the dinner since its inception in 2012.
Maag was active in FFA while growing up on his family’s farm and feedlot in eastern Oregon. He competed in leadership-development events during high school and went on to serve as a state officer for Oregon FFA, which required him to take a gap year between high school and college. Following that year of service, he worked for four years as a national leadership conference facilitator for FFA while in college at Oregon State University.
“FFA plays an important role in preparing future generations to meet the challenges of feeding a growing population,” said Maag. “I benefited greatly from the leadership experiences and skills I learned in FFA, and I appreciate the opportunity to give back to an organization that played such an important role in my career trajectory and success.”
Maag discovered his passion for natural resources and environmental law and policy on the farm and then at Oregon State and at Georgetown University Law Center. Today, he offers a solutions-oriented approach to clients in the agribusiness, forest products, and other natural resource industries, advising clients on issues related to water rights, protected species, real property transactions, and regulations that affect the storage, transportation, disposal, and cleanup of wastes.