Enter the distant realm of those who harvest plants with reverence and care…

In this session, voices from Mountain Rose Herbs, WishGarden Herbs, and FairWild will share the stories of Wild Land Stewards—past and present—and introduce FairWild certification as it takes root in North America.

Together, we’ll explore how transparent, ethical harvesting sustains both plant populations and the people who tend them, with living examples like Yerba Santa Leaf, Oregon Grape Root, and Yerba Mansa Root. Designed for those working with bulk herbs and finished products, this conversation blends tradition and modern practice, inviting participants to see each leaf, root, and flower as part of a larger, shared future.

Cameron Stearns

Cameron Stearns discovered her love for all things organic and sustainable in the 1990s working shifts at the Olympia Food Coop as part of her volunteer/membership responsibilities.  For her it has always been crucial to work somewhere that holds up the highest ideals and stays true to its values.  After getting her degree in International Relations from American University in Washington, DC and forging that into a career as a Certified Public Accountant she found her forever home at Mountain Rose Herbs, an independently-owned, core organic, native ecommerce herbal supplier.  Mountain Rose Herbs, an Oregon Benefit Company, is renowned for its sustainable practices including being the first Zero-Waste certified company in Oregon.  She has been with the company for a decade and serves as CEO/CFO.

Lauren Nichols-Sheffler

Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler is an herbalist with a certificate in medical herbalism from the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. Deeply rooted in bioregional herbalism, she is committed to fostering relationships with local plants and communities. Her work reflects a balance of hands-on practice, ecological awareness, and community education. Lauren teaches at CSCH, co-stewards the Denver Herb Club, and is an active member of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative. She also leads educational events at her United Plant Savers Botanical Sanctuary in Denver, Colorado, where she emphasizes ethical wildcrafting and plant conservation. As Senior Sourcing & Purchasing Manager at WishGarden Herbs, Lauren integrates her dedication to plant sustainability and ethical sourcing into the company’s supply chain—advocating for transparency, stewardship, and long-term ecological health.

Sarah Vito

Sarah Vito is FairWild’s North American Business Development Representative, working specifically with US-based brands and wild harvesters. A long-time sustainability advocate, Sarah began her career at Greenpeace USA in Washington, DC. Since moving to Oregon, Sarah has gained over 15 years of experience working in manufacturing, including dietary supplements, food, and personal care. Her work experience spans sourcing, production management, sales, and finance. Previously, she served on the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Board of Trustees. Currently, she is an active participant in the Sustainable Herbs Initiative and a co-lead for One Step Closer’s Peer Women’s Circles. Additionally, she holds certifications in Permaculture Design, Ecovillage Design, and herbalism. A native of Rhode Island, she and her family frequently return to her childhood home to enjoy New England’s woods and shoreline.

Steven Yeager

Originally from Philadelphia, Steven moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1994 and has been rooted in Eugene ever since. He has been an employee of Mountain Rose Herbs since 2007. Steven Yeager has been exploring Oregon’s wild places and studying the Pacific Northwest’s native flora since 1995, botanizing, wildcrafting, and preparing herbal preparations for himself and his family. Steven is also an herbal educator and former co-owner of the Columbines School of Botanical Studies. His years of working in the plant world has contributed enormously to Steven’s ability to direct quality control, laboratory operations, and regulatory compliance at Mountain Rose Herbs, where a thorough knowledge of plant identification, GMP and FSMA regulations, and herbalism is essential. He believes cultivating a relationship with plants and the natural world is vital for a healthy existence on this planet Steven serves as an elected trustee of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and is currently participating with many of AHPA’s committees and is chair of the AHPA Standards Committee He also serves on the Board for the AHPA Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals, United Plant Savers, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, and the Native Plant Society of Oregon. When not at work or volunteering with various non-profits Steven enjoys spending time with his family, cooking, hiking, camping, wildcrafting, and botanizing in the Cascade Mountains.