How the high seas influenced one cannabis entrepreneur’s methodology
Story by Greg James
Photos by Kristen Angelo
Kim Hansen isn’t your typical marijuana farmer. His entrée into the business came almost as an afterthought. As a lifelong fisherman, Hansen had spent decades in Alaska hauling in king crab and living the life many Americans associate with the television show “Deadliest Catch.”
Just the facts:
Company:
Olympic Growers
Location:
Creston, Washington
Altitude:
2,400 feet
Size:
30,000 square feet of canopy (Tier 3)
Style:
Greenhouse and sun-grown
2015 harvest:
Approximately 1,500 pounds
Strains:
40, including Juicy Fruit, Purple Diesel, Super Silver Haze
Employees:
10-20 (seasonal)
Hansen is no stranger to hard work, long hours and a “go-it-alone” attitude that developed from practicing — and perfecting — what many have called the most dangerous occupation in the world. If there’s ever been an occupation worthy of the phrase “School of Hard Knocks,” crab fishing in Alaska would certainly be it.
So, when a fellow fisherman casually suggested he look into the more mundane — and decidedly less physical — business of cannabis cultivation, Hansen was intrigued.
The Northwest is famous for its large Scandinavian fishing community, and Hansen is proud to be of Norwegian descent.
“I started fishing when I was 8 years old,” he said. “It was in my family’s blood, and something I just seemed destined to do.”
Hansen’s experience on the high seas played a big role in launching Olympic Growers and how he approached the emerging legal marijuana business.
“One of the things I learned as a commercial fisherman is that it’s an oft-committed mistake to try to do too much,” he said. “Guys who were new to the business would try to get in on all the big fisheries — crab, halibut, cod, salmon — with one boat. The problem is that each species requires specific skills and equipment. New guys would come into the industry and try to do it all, and quickly discover that they weren’t good at any one of them.
“I learned that it was better to focus on one good fishery than to try to do everything. In my case, it was king crab, and we became one of the top boats in that wild fishery.”
Hansen instinctively knew that the right approach to the growing cannabis industry was one that combined skepticism with a willingness to listen and learn. He quickly recognized the many similarities between the marijuana and commercial fishing industries.
“Over the years I met lots of poorly prepared dreamers and young guns, who were absolutely convinced they were going to strike it rich,” he said. “Fishing and cannabis both have more than their fair share of those personality types.”
Hansen originally purchased his 600-acre ranch near the small town of Creston, Washington with the intent of using it strictly for recreation.
“I acquired the property nearly 15 years ago because I love the outdoors, and Creston is well-known for its fishing, hunting and hiking,” he said. When the opportunity to apply for a marijuana growing license came along, Hansen thought it might make a great second business, and at the same time, work well with his long-term plans to live in rural Eastern Washington. At an elevation of 2,400 feet and bathed in 300-plus days of sunshine a year, the Upper Columbia Basin possesses a near-perfect climate for cannabis cultivation.
The laid-back, casual atmosphere of Olympic Growers is immediately noticeable. Many animals you’d expect to see at a traditional family farm are present: Chickens and rabbits roam the property, and Hansen’s friendly farm dogs play nearby.
“We’re a family-run operation, and as I’ve matured, my overall demeanor has changed,” he said. “Sure, I’m all about making money, but quality of life is far more important than the pursuit of cash.”
With several fishing friends and family members as partners, he’s created a working cannabis business that operates more like a traditional farm than a typical high-stress business requiring a quick return on capital.
“I like the idea that I have the freedom to experiment, and operate without the pressure that comes with bank loans or venture capital,” he said.
Hansen’s relative freedom means that trial and error is a big part of Olympic Growers’ DNA.
“This is our third year, and I’ve learned a lot as the business has evolved,” he said. “What seemed odd at first now makes sense. For example, the farm is mostly focused on growing the best marijuana available, and we’ve largely done away with things like processing and sales to retail. This has allowed us to focus on being an ag business rather than a sales and marketing company, which in turn leads to increased productivity.”
When the subject turned to strains, Hansen’s attitude leaned heavily toward pragmatism. In 2015, Olympic Growers produced many different varieties, but focused on early-flowering indica hybrids like Purple Diesel, Northern Lights and Juicy Fruit. By staggering the harvest, his crews stayed busy throughout October.
Earlier this year, Hansen purchased a 30-foot by 90-foot Oregon Valley greenhouse, which will allow the farm to start planting earlier.
“We’re pretty excited about our new greenhouse as it will allow us to get the cuttings going much earlier, which in turn will result in a bigger final crop and harvest,” he said.
Hansen’s enthusiasm was evident when he described his recent harvest. The 30,000-square-foot grow operation produced about 1,500 pounds of bud in 2015, and Hansen hopes to increase that by at least a half-ton in 2016. Also new for 2016 is a finished office with an attached drying room that doubles as a flower trimming facility.
“We bought a Triminator last year, and it worked well for us,” he said. “Machine-trimming our outdoor crop resulted in a fair amount of labor savings, and contributed to our overall efficiency.”
Hansen’s outlook for the future of the business is rosy, and he is excited to be in the forefront of a rapidly growing industry.
“Olympic was the name of my fishing boat, and it was a bit of a legend on the Bering Sea,” he said. “We worked hard, and did well as a result. I see this business as more of the same, except it’s a lot warmer on terra firma, and the hours are less grueling. I named the business Olympic Growers after my boat, and foresee healthy returns if we apply the same work ethic and philosophy to marijuana farming that we did to crab fishing.”