O’Neill: The chickens come home to roost

Casey O’Neill is a farmer and owner of Happy Day Farms in Laytonville, Calif. The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mendocino Voice. If you’d like to write your own column for The Mendocino Voice, send your idea to info@mendovoice.com.

As 2026 begins, I’m experiencing a mix of feelings. I’m excited for the year to come, and I feel deep gratitude for family and community, for the land, for the farm. I’m grateful to live where I do, and I’m grateful for the ways that we’re supported in our farming efforts. Grant programs have made an incredible difference in our ability to do what we do, leveling up our efforts to produce good food for people we love. And yet, I’m also feeling deep frustration with the way my country behaves in the world. I’m tired of us being the bully and killing people over oil.