Gary Linkous is a dedicated USDA agricultural mediator with a singular mission: helping families navigate disputes and transitions without fracturing the relationships they’ve built over generations. With over 30 years of experience as an attorney and mediator, Gary brings both legal expertise and a deep personal commitment to preserving family harmony during challenging times.

Throughout his career, Gary has approached law practice as an opportunity to serve. He goes beyond simply explaining legal requirements—he guides clients toward wise legal and financial decisions that protect both their assets and their family relationships. This philosophy led him naturally to USDA mediation, where he recognized the unique needs of rural families facing farm succession, credit disputes, and other agricultural challenges.

Understanding that successful farm transitions require specialized knowledge, Gary obtained certification from the International Farm Transition Network. This credential, combined with his extensive experience in law and mediation, equips him to handle the complex emotional and financial dynamics inherent in agricultural disputes and succession planning.

Whether mediating credit issues, conservation compliance disputes, or multi-generational farm transfers, Gary’s approach remains consistent: help families create clear, organized plans that allow them to move forward peacefully. He understands that the farms and ranches at stake represent not just assets, but legacies—and he’s committed to ensuring those legacies continue for generations to come.

Carolyn R. Smale came to the Oregon USDA Mediation Program through Six Rivers Dispute Resolution Center as a Mediation Apprentice, sponsored in part through the Oregon Office of Community Dispute Resolution at the University of Oregon School of Law.  She completed her apprenticeship in June of 2023.  Carolyn continues with Six Rivers assisting with  bookkeeping and agricultural mediation.   

Carolyn as known as the Columbia Gorge’s local bankruptcy attorney.   She continues to practice bankruptcy law and help those facing financial difficulty.  The listening and facilitation skills she learned as a mediation apprentice have been invaluable in her bankruptcy practice, allowing her to fully hear her clients and their story.

Andrea Pacheco brings 16 years of mediation experience and a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her role as Executive Director. With specialized expertise in family mediation, conflict coaching, agricultural mediation, restorative justice, and tribal engagement, Andrea understands firsthand the complexities her mediators navigate daily.

Her background as a professional geologist—working in environmental remediation for federal, state, and private sites, as well as mineral exploration—gives her an uncommon ability to bridge technical and interpersonal challenges. This combination of skills has proven invaluable in understanding the multifaceted disputes that arise in agricultural and environmental contexts.

During her nine years with the organization, Andrea has expanded the program portfolio to address diverse community needs while maintaining a clear leadership philosophy: get out of the way and connect the right people. She believes the best outcomes emerge when mediators are matched thoughtfully to situations that align with their strengths, allowing the team to collectively meet increasing demands and respond to emerging needs across communities.

Andrea’s role focuses on program administration and strategic support, ensuring her excellent frontline mediators have the resources, connections, and autonomy they need to do their best work. While her primary focus is organizational leadership, she continues to seek opportunities to mediate when she has the time to do it well, staying connected to the work that drives her passion for conflict resolution.