Business
Economy
sending
mixed
signals
Some say Oregon economy is
entering boom-and-bust cycle
By SUZANNE ROIG
AgLife
B
Thursday, July 7, 2022
The Observer & Baker City Herald
A unique choice
Forgoing technology, mules called on
to make Wallowa County farm go
By ANN BLOOM • For the Wallowa County Chieftain
E
NTERPRISE — The rich, black sod peeled away like chocolate curls
as the mule teams pulled the sharp plows through the earth cutting
straight lines, guided by the sure hand of their owners. The Lazy Mule
The Bulletin
BEND — The economy is sending mixed
signals right now.
Infl ation reached a four-decade high in
May, 8.6%, but there’s solid job growth.
Interest rates are rising, but doesn’t
appear to have aff ected consumer spending
much, even though it was down slightly in
May, the most current month data are avail-
able. And while it has remained a bright
spot in the economy along with low unem-
ployment, economists say it could change
quickly and signal a recession.
Some see infl ation as a sign a recession is
looming toward the end of the year and into
2023. Others say we’re entering a boom-and-
bust cycle in Oregon, according to a forecast
post by Josh Lehner, Oregon Offi ce of Eco-
nomic Analysis economist.
Infl ation likely will drop to about 5% by
the end of the year and interest rates will
continue to rise as the Federal Reserve raises
rates more aggressively, Lehner wrote in his
forecast. Any recession will be mild or mod-
erate, Lehner said. For Oregon, that could
mean 100,000 jobs lost and an unemploy-
ment rate of 9%, according to the projection.
The economy will improve by early 2025,
according to Lehner’s projections.
“The future is hard to predict,” said Jef-
frey Reimer, Oregon State University pro-
fessor in the Department of Applied Eco-
nomics. “It is possible a recession could
come this year or in 2023, but it would
require a reversal of some current trends. A
recession would mean a massive slowdown
in consumer spending, declining consumer
demand and prices and a reversal of the
strong labor market.”
A recession generally occurs when people
keep their wallets shut and there is signif-
icant job loss for two consecutive quar-
ters. Economists are keeping a keen eye on
these indicators. The Federal Reserve has
been working to slow spending by raising
interest rates, which makes borrowing more
expensive.
“The Federal Reserve has signaled
strongly that it intends to quash infl ation
down to an acceptable level, generally about
2%,” Reimer said. “The Federal Reserve
is raising interest rates to make borrowing
more expensive and that reduces consumer
demand for goods and services, which
should lower their prices.”
But as long as there’s job growth and not
job cuts, there shouldn’t be a recession, said
Tim Duy, University of Oregon economics
professor and senior director of the Oregon
Economic Forum.
“The Fed’s goal is to have a soft landing,”
Duy said. “The Fed hopes to do a slow
down in growth by raising interest rates that
doesn’t have widespread job losses.”
That would mean a gentle increase in job
losses by moving the unemployment rate
up slowly, Duy said. Even with the record
infl ation, consumers are still spending, but
are just more selective on their spending, he
said.
“The infl ation is a factor. It’s the fallout
from the fast recovery we underwent from
the pandemic recession,” Lehner said.
“Everyone is back to work and wages are
going up and that’s all driving infl ation.”
Farm plowing bee, held on a recent weekend, despite the dark skies overhead and
occasional rain, went on as planned.
There were two teams on
hand to prepare the land for
planting the garlic that would be
sold in the fall by owners Jes-
sica Bass and Adam McGrath.
Salad greens also are planned,
which will be sold to restau-
rants and stores. The “seed
garlic” will be sold to nurseries
and wholesalers. They also plan
to have a farm stand off ering
produce.
The Lazy Mule Farm, named
after resident mule, “Charlie,”
who would rather receive pet-
ting and lay in the sun some-
times than work, is located at
the corner of Alder Slope and
Reavis Lane. The couple’s other
mules in addition to Charlie,
include Mae and Pete. There
is also Belle, a Belgian draft
horse.
“They (the mules) are our
employees,” said McGrath.
McGrath describes the rela-
tionship between the mules and
the use of them, as opposed to
mechanized farming, as being
positive for the planet.
“It’s an attractive applica-
tion,” he said, “horses have no
off button. They have strengths
and weaknesses,” like any rela-
tionship, plus, “it’s fun.”
He said the size of their
property is just right for the
two of them and allows them
to make ends meet while still
being able to pursue other inter-
ests and activities. McGrath
said the operation allows them
to, “select the things we like
with the size we have and merge
the things we’re both passionate
about.”
The mules can work into
their early 30s and the draft
horses to their early 20s.
“Farming with
mules is not tidy.
I wouldn’t farm
if I couldn’t farm
with mules.”
— Adam McGrath, co-owner of
The Lazy Mule Farm
McGrath says it’s important to
keep them active, “chugging
along, plowing and turning the
sod — it’s the single hardest
draft task.”
McGrath and Bass currently
lease the land they are farming.
They will plow fi ve plots that
are three-quarters of an acre,
but will only grow one plot of
garlic at a time. They will rotate
the plot that contains garlic each
year so the soil is not overused
and would thus encourage pests
and disease. The other four
plots will be planted in a cover
crop, mostly alfalfa.
“This is the best crop
(alfalfa) to follow garlic because
it fi xes nitrogen as well as accu-
mulates other important nutri-
ents in the soil,” Bass said. “The
second reason we chose alfalfa
as a cover crop is because it
can feed our stock. Alfalfa pro-
vides a source of protein for the
mules and gives them a healthy
boost as they age and continue
to work.”
McGrath explained that
by doing a wholesale opera-
tion, and confi ning the size to
what they have, it allows them
to make a living and still leave
time to pursue other activities.
They can also branch out
to what McGrath calls “ter-
tiary” venues; places which
buy salad mixes may also buy
fl owers, which the couple will
grow. They also plan to use the
team to deliver produce to cus-
tomers in Enterprise and off er
wagon rides as an extra source
of income.
McGrath said one of their
biggest challenges has been
that they did not come from
a farming background. Also,
fi nding farm ground to pur-
chase continues to be a chal-
lenge. He said some people may
have a romanticized perception
about farming.
See, Mules/Page B6
Ann Bloom/Contributed Photo
Pete, the mule, and Belle, the draft horse, are driven by Jessica Bass and Adam McGrath.
Mother-daughter duo opening salon
Cheri Caldwell, Cassidy
Crites-Hisgen returning
to La Grande to open
Studio Tru Salon
By TRISH YERGES
For The Observer
LA GRANDE — Studio Tru
Salon will open for business on
July 11 in Pat’s Alley, off ering a
full line of hair care services for
men, women and children.
The salon, situated at 1414
Adams Ave., is co-owned by fi lm
hair designer Cheri Caldwell and
her daughter, Cassidy Crites-
Hisgen, both from the Willamette
Valley, returning to La Grande
after an eight-year absence. Cald-
well will be opening the busi-
ness alone initially, but Crites-
Hisgen will join her in August
after completing their salon lease
in Eugene.
“I grew up in the Willamette
Valley and then I lived in La
Grande from 1997 to 2014, during
which time I opened Studio Tru
Salon in 2011,” Caldwell said.
“I’ve been gone for eight years,
and I moved back in June.”
Caldwell has completely ren-
ovated the salon space in Pat’s
Alley, formerly occupied by the
late barber, Frank Tucori, of the
Alley Barber Shop. Caldwell said
that she has repainted, put in new
fl ooring, lighting, installed two
new hair stations, redecorated and
brought in new furniture.
Caldwell’s career in hair
designing started 32 years ago,
when she graduated from the
Academy of Hair Design in
Salem.
Since then she has done a
lot with her career within the
industry, she said. She has been
an educator for a product line,
worked in fi lm hair designing and
in a hair fashion fi lm festival for a
hair designer.
“I’ve prided myself at being
good at everything,” she said.
“I’ve always wanted to stay rele-
vant with every age group.”
The services she off ers at
Studio Tru Salon will include cuts
and styling for men, women and
children, coloring, root touch ups,
partial and full highlights, wom-
en’s balayage, bleach and tones,
deep conditioning, Brazilian
blow-outs, smoothing and facial
waxing for men and women. After
Crites-Hisgen joins the salon in
August, she may be off ering lash
extensions as well. They will not
be off ering pedicures, manicures
or full body waxing services.
Crites-Hisgen received her
education in hair designing from
the International Beauty School
in Eugene, where she graduated
in 2019.
“She worked at Moss Hair
Studio in Eugene,” Caldwell
said, “and she apprenticed under
me and a very well-known hair
designer that I worked with as
well.”
After several months working
there, the mother-daughter team
opened Studio Tru Salon in 2019
Contributed Photo
Salon co-owners Cassidy Crites-Hisgen,
left, and Cheri Caldwell are opening
Studio Tru Salon on July 11 in Pat’s Alley,
La Grande.
and have been working together
ever since.
“We’re in a prime spot, and
walk-ins are welcome as long as
we have the time,” Caldwell said.