Our Team
The Save Family Farming team is deeply committed to communicating the truth and works tirelessly to bridge the gap between farmers and the broader community, ensuring that accurate and insightful information reaches the public. By highlighting the vital role of agriculture in our economy and daily lives, we strive to foster a greater appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our farming families. Our goal is to create a well-informed public that recognizes and supports the essential contributions of agriculture to Washington’s well-being and beyond.
Ben is deeply committed to collaboration and team-building in his role at Save Family Farming. His passion lies in supporting agriculture, communicating its importance to the broader public, and forging partnerships with like-minded organizations to further the mission.
With a rich background in the political arena, Ben has served on staff for federal and state legislators in Texas and Washington, as well as on numerous campaigns. For four years he led a homeless shelter in central Texas, focusing on alleviating homelessness, fighting food insecurity, and providing healthcare. After relocating to Washington in 2014, Ben contributed to the Washington State Farm Bureau, supporting the Governmental Affairs team.
Driven by a passion for activism, Ben is dedicated to causes that matter, whether advocating for housing stability, working toward food security, or highlighting the importance of agriculture. In his personal life, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage boys. He also indulges in reading and writing stories, essays, and poetry.
Contact Ben at: btindall@savefamilyfarming.org
Dillon has been immersed in the world of farming since birth, raised on a small family raspberry farm in Washington, with a rich heritage of farming in his family, including grandparents who operated small family dairies. His deep connection to agriculture, combined with a love for communication, has shaped his career and passion.
Professionally, Dillon began his journey as a radio news reporter and anchor in 2006, where he honed his skills in broadcast news media, eventually becoming a writer, anchor, talk show host, and radio station manager. In late 2017, he brought his expertise to Save Family Farming, where his passion for words and ideas aligns perfectly with his love for farming.
Dillon takes pride in creating and hosting the Real Food Real People Podcast, which features over 100 Washington farmers and others within the food system. Outside of his professional work, Dillon enjoys playing guitar, collecting vinyl records, tinkering with classic vehicles, and spending time on his tractor.
Contact Dillon at: dhoncoop@savefamilyfarming.org
Deanna thrives on the teamwork and challenges that her role demands, particularly the intricate task of navigating social media algorithms. She finds great satisfaction when her content is shared and discussed, knowing she plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion and making a meaningful impact.
With a professional background that spans administrative work, website management, social media management, design, and event planning—primarily within nonprofit organizations—Deanna takes pride in the behind-the-scenes contributions that have led to real change in lives and perspectives on important issues.
Outside of work, Deanna enjoys spending quality time with her husband and young adult daughters. She finds joy in gardening, cooking, baking, taking road trips, and participating in a book club.
Contact Deanna at: dkangas@savefamilyfarming.org
As our in-house dairy and water quality expert, Fred has a deep understanding of the roots of this unique effort. Born and raised on a dairy farm, he’s been involved in agriculture in Washington state his entire life. Earning an agriculture degree with an emphasis on business led to stints as a dairy nutritionist, and later as an environmental consultant for agriculture before landing as the Executive Director at Whatcom Family Farmers.
Fred deeply enjoys the unique challenge of both defending our farms from unfair attacks while also working to find ways to create common ground and educate our decision makers on the significance of our farms. Outside of this critical work, Fred also enjoys hiking, reading a good book, watching his Mariners fall just short (there’s always next year!), and spending quality time with his family.
Contact Fred at: fredl@savefamilyfarming.org