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12 CapitalPress.com January 27, 2017 Event plants seeds for future ag careers The Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum wants to inspire the next gen- eration of agricultural career seekers. The annual “Connecting Students with AgriBusiness 2017” career fair will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, at the Expo. According to Expo orga- career fair since it began at the Expo in 2015. “It is important to look to the future in our industry and the career fair helps students — the actual future of the industry — to consider the many options available in agriculture,” Cobb told the Capital Press. Cobb recommends high school students prepare for the career fair by bringing three questions specific to their field of choice. Volunteer remembers early days of Spokane Ag Expo The agricultural show ‘seemed like it would be a go from the beginning’ By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press SPOKANE — Ernie Beck- er was involved in the early days of the Spokane Ag Expo, which celebrates its 40th anni- versary this year. “As I remember, the first two Expos, we hired out- side management,” he said. “(When) we decided we had learned enough, we decided we could put on the show our- selves.” Becker was a member of the Agricultural Bureau and Irrigation Ditch Burners chamber of commerce — now called the Greater Spo- kane Incorpo- rated AgriBusi- ness Council Ernie — when they Becker decided to start the Expo. “We had a lot of interest in it,” he said. “It seemed like it would be a go from the begin- ning, and I think it’s proved out to be so.” The Expo gives farmers a chance to see things they wouldn’t otherwise see, he said. Exhibitors and equipment dealers appreciate the show because it provides an enthusi- astic audience. The retired certified public accountant can still be seen Agricultural Row & Field Flamers Efficient and affordable propane fuel Environmentally friendly; no herbicides or pesticides. Excellent for Organic applications COME SEE US AT THE: (at the top of the stairs) MULTI-TRAIL ENTERPRISES RAMFLAME www.RamFlame.com • www.atvsnowblowers.com Ponderay, ID 83852 • 208-255-1998 Proudly Made in the USA SAE17-4/#14 Capital Press nizers, the event is designed to inform high school students about business careers in agri- culture. Business people that partic- ipate at the career fair include accountants, lawyers, market- ers, bankers, real estate brokers, high-technology experts, sales representatives and managers. Tim Cobb, broker with Hatley/Cobb Farmland Man- agement and Real Estate in Spokane, has participated in the SPAE17-2/#14 By MATTHEW WEAVER volunteering at the Expo each year. “It’s the type of show that you have to have some interest in farming to enjoy,” he said. Becker’s father was a farmer in Colton, Wash., raising “a little bit of every- thing,” including grain and livestock — cattle, dairy cows and chickens. “Anything we could make a dollar on,” he said. Becker was managing partner at McFarland and Alton for about 40 years before he retired in 1993. During that time he did a “fair amount” of work with farmers, he said. Becker, 88, still volun- teers at the Expo, although he missed the 2016 Expo due to a “bad cold.” How has the Expo changed since the early days? Becker said one big change was moving into the Convention Center, allowing the event to take place at a single location. The technology has also changed, he said, and the in- dustry along with it. “I think it’s going to fol- low the technology,” he said of the Expo’s future. Involvement in the Expo runs in the Becker family. His son Matt has been in- volved with the Expo for more than 20 years, with his father’s encouragement. He is also a past chairman of the Pacific Northwest Farm Fo- rum committee, and is now with Northwest Farm Credit Services. “His influence has been very deep and involved,” Matt Becker said of his fa- ther. Matt Becker enjoys see- ing his father volunteering at the Expo. “I feel great when I see him and proud that he’s still involved,” he said.
