Mike Hessel

Mike is a native Oregonian and grew up in Eugene, Oregon.

He earned a Master of Agriculture degree at Oregon State University under Dr. James Baggett and has spent thirty years perfecting melon farming in the mild climate of Corvallis, Oregon.

He currently grows on fifteen acres, running test plots and working with as many as 100 varieties each year.

Mike and his wife Janet served on the Board of the Corvallis-Albany Farmers' Market for more than 20 years, and Mike currently serves on the board of the Agricultural Research Foundation at Oregon State University.

He has been honored for his community service to schools and donates his time and skills to community enterprises, helping to put in gardens, donating plants, speaking at events, and donating melons to good causes.

When Mike isn’t farming he is growing any plant that he finds interesting.