10 CapitalPress.com
January 22, 2016
Excellence award honors ag’s finest
Council considers innovation, positive impacts
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
The AgriBusiness Coun-
cil of Greater Spokane In-
corporated will again honor
leaders in the region’s agri-
culture.
The council will award
its annual Excellence in Ag-
riculture Award during the
Spokane Ag Expo.
“It makes us all reflect on
the industry and the people
involved,” said Jay Allert,
council chairman. “When
you consider nominees for
the award, it makes you think
about: Where have we been,
where are we going and
who’s having a role in that?
It’s very healthy to consider
that.”
Recognition of the indi-
viduals and organizations can
“We’ve got more
nominees this year
than ever before.”
Jay Allert, chairman of Agri-
Business Council of Greater
Spokane Incorporated
help the industry build on
those efforts, he said.
“Good ideas bring good
ideas,” Allert said.
Allert is enthused by the
growing momentum of the
award, now in its third year.
“For the AgriBusiness
Council to be a part of that,
it’s just exciting,” he said.
The council seeks nom-
inations each year for the
award.
The selection committee
considers four criteria: inno-
vation, economic and envi-
ronmental stewardship, pos-
itive impact on agriculture
and industry awareness and
outreach.
“We’ve got more nomi-
nees this year than ever be-
fore,” Allert said.
What do people who are
nominated mean for the fu-
ture of agriculture?
“They mean the future of
ag, as far as I’m concerned,”
Allert said. “It ensures we’re
continuing to advance the
industry, to keep it healthy,
to improve it. That’s exactly
what this award is about.”
Previous recipients in-
clude the McGregor Co., state
Sen. Mark Schoesler, the
Odessa, Wash., High School
Future Business Leaders of
America group and the Lib-
erty FFA ag issues team from
Spangle, Wash.
Courtesy of Spokane Ag Expo
Each year the Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum honor individuals and groups who
advance the cause of agriculture. From left are Gail Gering, the sister of recipient Sen. Mark Schoesler
who accepted the award for him, and the Liberty FFA ag issues team.