S1 E14 Nathan Howard - Farmer in the Dell

High Finance Podcast

Another picturesque farm in Oregon, this one tucked in between mountains and a river, hidden and peaceful, with 20 llamas to greet you. It’s where Nathan Howard, his brother and their crew grow their medicinal cannabis with the intent to go completely off the grid. If their success continues, they will branch into rec as well, not so much for the financial opportunity, but for the opportunity to invest back into the beautiful rural community they live in. But Nathan leads two lives: One as the farmer/partner, the other as a political advocate as he moved into the Portland Mayor’s office as part of the crew. There, he can educate and advise as the new Mayor helps shape policy for the legal industry. How did cannabis find you? Nathan’s oldest brother born with a NF, a rare disease causing abnormal cell growth, giving him a large number of tumors. CBD proved to help relieve both his pain and epilepsy. It also cut down the pharmaceuticals he needed. This was the impetus for the CBD farm in southern Oregon. The science is catching up. Farm is tucked away in a small town. Pack of llamas, part of the lease on the land. Right now, they are bringing the farm into compliance and things look like a war zone. Would you move into the rec side of cannabis? Would have to talk to partners, but probably. The more medicine they produce the more successful they will be. They would like to give about 7% back to their county to help support the county and rec would help accomplish that. Have been preparing books and information for interested investors. How has he been finding investors? Outside of friends and family, they started making a list. The list if people who are outside of their known community. The opportunity is new wealth in the rural counties. What makes your company attractive to investors? Lower operating costs than many other growers. Long term projections of being completely off the grid. Right now they are indoor and outdoor, they may move to all greenhouses. 74% of angel investments are made on gut decisions. What about your company made the investors believe in you? They saw the confidence that the team had the will to push on through the tough times and that confidence transferred to the investors. How did you end up in the small town? Family had always loved farming. Brother helped out in Portland neighbor farmers’ markets. About 7 years ago, he visited the small town and the cannabis gardens and he decided to make a life there. Visiting his brother made Nathan fall in love with the area. The farm is a long drive from Nathan’s Portland-based job, but it’s part of the reason there is peaceful beauty when people get there. Climate change has made for hotter summers and more forest fires. The heat and smoke has made everyone think that maybe they will need to move everything indoors. And they may need to be breeding plants that can stand the heat better. As part of a campaign team for Ted Wheeler, former State Secretary of the Treasury and apparent next Mayor of Portland, what will Portland’s policy be? He will be an advocate for the cannabis entrepreneurs.