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June 2, 2017 CapitalPress.com 9 Dairyman makes sure industry’s voice is heard in Salem By GAIL OBERST For the Capital Press TILLAMOOK, Ore. — Across the pasture from the Tillamook Cheese factory is Chad Allen’s Victor Dairy, a 500-head operation co-owned by his father, George Victor Allen. “Dad always had a love for dairying,” said Chad. In 1977, George and his father, Ben, established the Allen Dairy in Tillamook with 100 cows. Chad was younger than 2 when his family moved from San Luis Obispo to Oregon. George also partners with Chad’s younger brother, Ca- sey, in their C&C Dairy oper- ation, with 300 head, located across Highway 101 from Victor Dairy. The two brothers made the friendly split in 2008. An older brother works for CHS Farm Co-op in Tillamook, and a sister lives in Bakersfield. Chad, 42, said he always knew he was destined to be a dairyman, but his foray into politics is an indication that he able to influence those beyond his own pastures. Last year, as the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association president, Chad helped lead the charge on Senate Bill Gail Oberst/For the Capital Press Chad Allen is active in the industry and politics in addition to tend- ing his 400 cows at Victor Dairy in Tillamook, Ore. 1517, a pilot project in Til- lamook County that would bring wetland developers and impacted landowners — es- pecially dairies — together to collaborate on projects. It passed and is now taking shape as a coalition of people who represent wildlife, dairy, conservation and environ- mental interests. Allen also testified be- fore Oregon’s House Special Committee on Small Business Growth, suggesting ways to improve milk and environ- mental quality by assisting Oregon’s 240 dairies with new technology that might not be affordable to smaller dairies. “This committee could play a significant role in help- ing to identify existing fund- ing sources or appropriating new dollars in the upcoming legislative session to shore up this very small population of dairies who contributed more than $650 million to the state’s economy in 2014,” Chad said in testimony in 2016. More recently, Allen publicly criticized Ore- gon House Bill 785, which would require dairy farmers to make public any use of antibiotics. As they do for most dairy farmers, Oregon’s strict standards for confined an- imal feeding operations — known as CAFOs — keep him busy. Chad’s animals graze for most of the year, but are kept inside during the rainy season to keep waste runoff out of the Wilson Riv- er, which borders his proper- ty. But Chad has also worked to increase manure storage facilities and tax credits for other dairies in Tillamook, where the waste is digested and turned into methane. In addition to the ODFA and legislative issues, Chad has been active in the Tilla- mook Bay Flood District, the Tillamook County Planning Commission and the Oregon Farm Bureau. George is a past president of the Tillamook County Creamery Association board. Allen’s work to promote farming interests has earned him kudos from the Farm Bu- reau. “Chad Allen represents the best of his rural community on the Oregon Coast,” said Farm Bureau President Bar- ry Bushue. “Chad strives for collaboration when tackling complex regulatory issues, reaches out to state agencies, conservation groups and local farmers so all stakeholders can have a voice.” Chad Allen earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Oregon State University, but he jokes that, considering his public activi- ties, he might have been bet- ter served getting a political science or communications degree. After college, he married a Tillamook woman, Adri- enne, who was working at an office store where he bought his office supplies. Adrienne, too, came from a dairy fam- ily. “I made a lot of excuses to buy paper,” he said. “I had enough paper for a year, and then I asked her out.” The couple now has five children. The oldest girl is 11. Four boys followed; the youngest is 7 months. Victor Dairy’s milk can be found in Tillamook County Creamery Association prod- ucts. T N A U I O N M S Y T K EE L C O R “Bringing Buyers & Sellers Together” MONDAY SALE AT 12:30 Selling Small Animals, Horses, Pigs, Goats, Sheep, Poultry, then Slaughter cows WEDNESDAY: GENERAL SALE 1:00 PM Dairy Cattle 1st, Calves, Feeder Cattle, then Slaughter Cows Next Feeder Sale: June 10th @ 12:30 pm WE SELL POWDER RIVER GATES, PANELS & FEEDERS. ASK US! Your consignments are appreciated! For more information or hauling call: Barn 360-966-3271 Terry 360-815-4897 • Pete 360-815-0318 www.eversonauctionmarket.com Everson Auction Market 1, L.L.C. 7291 Everson Goshen Rd. • Everson, WA D17-2/#8 • Oil Field Pipe & Sucker Rod - In all sizes • • Fence Clips • Cable Clamps • Check Out Our Inventory Direct ship & cutting available 400 3rd Ave. North • Nampa, ID 83687 208-466-8913 (FAX) 800-851-8612 / 208-466-0036 D17-1/#17
