Giving Back is the Root of Our Business
 In 1908, my grandfather, Pete Naumes, bought the family’s first apple farm in Hood River Oregon. My father, Joe Naumes, started our Southern Oregon family farm in 1946, relying on hard work and his passion for farming to make it a reality. Building off of knowledge passed down from his father, we have successfully expanded to 21 farms in 3 states. Throughout his life as a farmer, he left behind his mark not only on the industry, but also on the people he knew.
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 1982: Joe Naumes receives a memento from the Oregon State University School of Agriculture, honoring him for his leadership and contribution to the industry.
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"Joe Naumes was a faithful steward of the land and a faithful steward of the pear industry. He possessed the vision of the united, profitable, healthful and socially responsible pear industry and the energy and dedication to bring that vision to reality. He had as well the spirit and grace to inspire others to labor toward that same goal. There is no facet, nor member of this industry that has not been enriched by these extraordinary qualities of Joe Naumes."
– Oregon, Washington and California Pear Bureau resolution. |
Now our family, including my wife, Laura, triplets, Joe, Cynthia and Sean, and sister Sue, continue the legacy my father built. Having lived in the Rogue Valley for more than six decades, our family is very active in our community. Our triplets, graduates of St. Mary’s School in Medford, Oregon, are now pursuing degrees at Santa Clara University (Santa Clara, California) and The University of Advancing Technology (Tempe, AZ) . Laura currently serves on the Board of Trustees at St. Mary’s School and the YMCA. I currently serve as Chairman of the St. Mary’s School Community Foundation and was formerly Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Although I am enjoying retirement, I am pleased to carry on our family’s legacy through the Naumes Family Foundation, which was established to give back to the community and focuses on education, arts and health and human services. In addition to my work through our family foundation, I am active in our community, sitting on the board for the Carpenter Foundation, the Medford Irrigation District, the Rogue Basin Water Users Council and am a member of the Walker Advisory Committee.
I am also a member of the Smudgepot Crew, which raises money for art organizations in the Rogue Valley through the sale of recreated smudgepots. Recycled orchard heaters are painted by local artists and then auctioned at a gala event to benefit the Craterian Performing Arts Theater, The Rogue Gallery and Art Center and the Art in Bloom Festival.
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