For Love of the Land
For “accidental activist” Liz Crandall, Central Oregon is a place where a shared love for public lands shapes a unique community
Bend resident Liz Crandall had just landed her dream role. When DOGE hit, she pivoted into advocating for federal public lands employees like herself.
A chance visit to a Ranger Station in the Umpqua National Forest set Liz Crandall on a path to discovering her dream job as a forest Ranger.
“I went in and asked if I could volunteer, and they said ‘sure, fill out this form.’ I didn’t hear from them…so I kept going in every week.”
Her persistence paid off.
Hired as a seasonal employee in 2016, Liz worked for the US Forest Service for nine years in recreation, fire, and natural resources before landing her first permanent position as a Field Ranger in the Deschutes National Forest in 2023.
“If you’re able to score a job on the Deschutes and somehow be able to afford to live in Bend, it’s a big deal—so you hold on to that,” she explained.
But in 2025, Liz was suddenly fired alongside thousands of other US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service employees as part of the Trump Administration's purge of America’s public land stewards.
“I was devastated—this was my career. This was my community. These were my people.”
Amid the fallout, Liz was invited to D.C. by US Representative Janelle Bynum to share her story and advocate for federal employees who were fired illegally.
“I would honestly argue that the only thing every single person in Central Oregon can unite on is our love of public lands.” — Liz Crandall
“Then EarthJustice reached out and asked, ‘Are you willing to go to D.C. again?’”
Suddenly, this self-described “accidental activist” found herself speaking up for the public lands and community she loves in a new way. Since then, Liz has leaned into her new role and deepened her involvement in Central Oregon’s advocacy community.
“I’ve been showing up to more things—like attending LandWatch events and meeting new people in the community.”
She’s connecting the dots between local issues and our elected officials in useful ways: Liz ensured LandWatch was invited to a recent public lands roundtable with Oregon’s Federal Congressional delegation. She’s even connected us with an author seeking insights for a photojournalist character documenting wildlife crossings in her forthcoming novel.
Here’s one key takeaway Liz has found through her community organizing: “I would honestly argue that the only thing every single person in Central Oregon can unite on is our love of public lands.”
This shared love for our region’s wild landscapes inspires a diverse community invested in shaping a balanced and livable future for all.
“Central Oregon is unique in the sense that we have growing cities, but it still has a rural vibe where people are very outdoorsy in general. One of the main things I like about this area is the array of landscapes and the balance between urban growth and wild areas.”
The LandWatch community is made up of folks from all walks of life, and we’re grateful to have Liz in our corner.
Stay in touch with Liz by following her at @oregonhuntress, listening to her podcast Rangers of the Lost Park, or look for her at upcoming LandWatch events and say hello.
