Suzanne is a third generation Californian, and a chosen Oregonian.  Born in Santa Cruz, she spent her younger years in Idaho’s Sawthooth Mountains and near Yosemite, later moving to Eureka/Arcata and the Pacific Ocean.  Open vistas with mountains and forests call to her.

December 31, 1984, Suzanne and Lanita Witt and their daughter Brooke fell in love with (then found out it was for sale!) the 445 acres now known as Willow-Witt Ranch.  With a ‘portable career’ as a Physician Assistant, she worked in Medford and Ashland in family practice and women’s health, while gardening and raising goats, pigs, and chickens on the farm.  Suzanne and Lanita learned about forest health and resilience through the Master Forest Manager course at OSU Extension in the first years on the ranch. She left medicine in 2006 to devote full-time energy to the ranch, the forests, wetland restoration, and the business of organic farming and Farm Stays.  Bringing people to the farm, forest, and wetland to learn about the interconnectedness of the world and their food and water is her goal. She and Lanita imagined The Crest to expand the reach of this important educational tool; it has become a reality thanks to a wonderful board of directors and executive director.