Our Story

Deep Roots

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Hi!  My name is Ken Owsley, AKA "Spin"!  I have lived in Whatcom County for over 30 years, and within the Lynden School District for 25 years.

 

I was born in Walla Walla, Washington, to a farming family.  My family has been in Washington State since before it was even a state!  My Great Great Great  Grandfather Henry Owsley came to what is now Garfield County in 1860 and began farming there.  Our family farmed in Eastern Washington right up until my dad's generation.  

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My beautiful wife Jodie and I have been married for over 30 years.  She has deeper roots in the state and county than I do!  She grew up on the Lummi Indian Reservation and is the great great great granddaughter of Que-sa-wa, who married Christian Finkbonner around the time Henry Owsley arrived in Washington Territory.

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We have four children, all of whom have come through the Lynden School District, and one granddaughter.  

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Our roots in Whatcom County are deep, and growing deeper!  

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Professional Experience

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I spent 30 years working in corporate IT, most of that time spent at two local companies:  Heath Tecna and Alpha Technologies.  In 2024 the business took a turn for the worse and I was part of a series of layoffs that turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  After 7 months of looking, an opportunity to run a local non-profit ministry presented itself, and after much prayer and consideration, I took on the role of Director of Project Hope, a food bank and community assistance program right here in Lynden.  It's been an amazing opportunity to connect deeper within the Lynden community, to serve God by serving His people and has been a perfect compliment to serving on the School Board for the past three years.  

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Prior to my professional career I served four years in the United States Army as a crewman on an Abrams tank, most of my time spent in Germany during the Cold War.  After returning home I spent four years in the Washington Army National Guard.