Seattle Reign FC Legend: Dana Coggon – Executive Director of Pierce Conservation District

The Legends Campaign, a partnership between Seattle Reign FC and Starbucks, honors women for their extraordinary contributions to our community in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Prior to Seattle Reign FC’s match against the Orlando Pride, the club recognized Dana Coggon, Executive Director of Pierce Conservation District.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Coggon has always been drawn to the environment and agriculture. She grew up in a small, rural community, picking berries as she forged a relationship with the landscape and community around her.

"I worked in the fields as a kid,” shared Coggon. “If I wanted to do anything as a kid, that was what I had to do – go out and pick berries. And through picking berries, I had beautiful conversations with the community farmers, but also the field workers who were out there working hard so that we could get good, fresh produce in our grocery stores.”

With her love for agriculture and environmentalism firmly established, Coggon elected to go away to college, landing in Colorado. She originally intended to become a marine biologist, but her plans quickly shifted.

"I don't know if you know that Colorado is a landlocked state, so that didn’t work out in my favor,” joked Coggon. “I fell in love with agriculture and connecting people to what I think is one of the most basic things, which is what we put into our bodies.”

After earning her degree in sustainable agriculture, Coggon had the opportunity to move back to the Pacific Northwest working with the Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Control Program.

“When I was going through my undergraduate degree, I was one of two women in the field of agriculture at the college. When I started my masters program, we went from two women to four, so you know big gains. Double. I would say that I learned a lot during that time, when I was in rooms with predominantly white men.”

Her experiences in life, school and the professional world naturally led her to the world of advocacy. Centered around uniting the community, Coggon’s overarching mission is to connect people from all over the diaspora of spaces in Washington.

"Oftentimes when I'm advocating, I think about the kiddos coming up as little me, who couldn't be who they knew they were. It's only been, honestly, in the last 10 years that I think it's been safer for a lot of us in the agricultural industry to be open and out. I think about the kiddos, who had hope, and I don't want them to lose hope. They need to know that whatever they want to do, they can do it."

She continued, “What I would say to young women that are coming up in the community is find what you love. Find the people that love the things that you love and put all your love into that. And doors will open up.”

Now, as she has settled into her role as the first female Executive Director for Pierce Conservation District, Coggon strives to incorporate that high level of inclusivity and care into her work, each and every day.

“We are all about conserving the beauty and the ecology of our spaces and also advocating for regional farms. We're trying to break the industry down into community and really advocate for BIPOC community members to get back into agriculture. My hope is that I speak truth to some really hard stories around what we have done in the agricultural industry, and I hope that it can connect and inspire people to recreate a new relationship with our land, our food and our forests.”

Working both in the office and in the field, her job is largely centered around being out in the community. From planting trees and releasing salmon, to being at the legislature or a board meeting, no two days look alike for Coggon.

One key message central to Coggon’s work is highlighting the ability each person possesses to make an impact in both big and small ways.

“Planting one tree now can make a difference in the next 20 years for our communities. Planting one tomato plant can make it so that you share that one tomato with your neighbors, and it literally changes the impact and our communities. So again, in the vein of Earth Day and Earth Month, there is always one thing we can do.”

Coggon expressed her deep gratitude for receiving this honor and sees it as a reflection of the work of all of those in the community.

“For me, I stand on the shoulders of the many amazing women who have encouraged me. What this honor means to me is that as a community, we embrace and embody the beautiful diversity that is our natural resources. You can't have natural resources without diversity and for me, being an openly queer woman in this field. It means inspiration for the next generation to see what they can do and take it even further.”