“We not only get to have a farm, but we get to have a farm in the water.” -Kathleen Nisbet Moncy
According to Kathleen Nisbet Moncy, COO of Goose Point Oysters, “Farming oysters is the most rewarding job in the world.” Kathleen made her first trip to the oyster field with her dad, Dave Nisbet Goose Point Oysters owner, when she was just two years old. “We not only get to have a farm, but we get to have a farm in the water,” Kathleen said.
As Kathleen learned at a young age from her father, oysters are collected by hand at low tide and tossed into big harvest baskets. At high tide, crew members return with boats to collect the oysters, placing their harvest onto the bow of the ship similar to the way that a tractor or combine collects agricultural products grown on land.
An American Farm Family
Goose Point Oysters has come a long way since 1975 when Dave started on 10 acres of tideland in Willapa Bay, selling the crop out of the back of a truck. All along the way, family has always been an important piece of the Goose Point Oysters philosophy.
Dave said, “Working alongside my daughter is probably the biggest joy of my life.” Members of the Goose Point Oysters staff are also an important part of the team. “American agriculture is about American families. And what we do in our community for our employees is first in our mind,” Dave said, referring to the 100 families that this business supports.
The Right Fit
As a family-centric business, the Nisbets prioritized a smooth and successful transition from one generation to the next. In 2015, with the help of AgWest Farm Credit, Dave and Kathleen purchased an additional 1,500 acres of tideland. Kathleen said, “Farm Credit is a farming bank. They aren’t just a bank that gives you a loan and then walks away. They understand the issues at hand.”
Along with the 1,500 acres, Farm Credit helped them purchase the additional equipment needed, too, including a shell stock sorter and a new boat. Goose Point Oysters’ expansions allowed them to triple business and ensure a successful transition from Dave to Kathleen, keeping this oyster farm in the family.
