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CapitalPress.com
November 3, 2017
People & Places
Giving canola farmers a voice
Karen Sowers leads
efforts to launch
regional association
Capital Press
Western
Innovator
Karen Sowers
Age: 49
Title: Extension and out-
reach specialist in oilseeds,
Washington State University
Hometown: Manhattan,
Kan.
Current location: Richland,
Wash.
Karen Sowers of Richland, Wash., is spearheading the launch of the Pacific Northwest Canola Association.
“It’s a voice at the local, state,
national and regional level.”
The association will be
able to lobby for important
things such as herbicide regu-
lations or crop insurance, and
seek more research funding,
Sowers said.
Farm background
Sowers’ father was a plant
pathologist for the USDA Ag-
ricultural Research Service in
Manhattan, Kan. She worked
on a wheat and sorghum farm
her junior year in high school.
She knew from an early
age she wanted to work with
farmers.
“They’re down-to-earth
people,” she said. “It sounds
cliche, but they’re working
for the rest of us. Just good
people.”
Sowers moved to Wash-
ington 10 years ago. Bill Pan,
her major professor at WSU,
called her about the opportu-
nity to join the Washington
Oilseed Cropping Systems
project.
Learning curve
Sowers remembered see-
ing some yellow fields in
1990, but had very little ex-
perience with canola or other
oilseeds.
“The learning curve was
steep, and does not ever end,
but that’s also a very neat
thing about working with
farmers,” she said. “There’s
not a time I go and visit with
a farmer where I don’t learn
something from them. I’m
hoping it goes both ways.”
“People trust her,” said
Ralston, Wash., farmer Cur-
tis Hennings. “She’s sharp,
friendly and extremely help-
ful.”
Hennings was involved in
a previous canola association,
but says the newest effort will
be more active and include an
executive director. An associ-
ation tends to have more clout
when meeting with legislators
and lawmakers, Hennings
said.
Anna Scharf, a U.S. Cano-
la Association board member
and president of the Willa-
mette Valley Oilseed Produc-
ers Association, said Sowers
has been “instrumental” in
revitalizing the association.
Willamette Valley growers
rely on Sowers’ work, she
said.
“She’s always looking for
opportunities for how we can
make canola bigger, better,
stronger, faster and econom-
ically, where’s the value for
the farmers in the growth of
the crop,” Scharf said.
Capital Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Breanna
Holbert, an agricultural education
major at California State Universi-
ty-Chico, was elected national presi-
dent of FFA during the weekend.
Holbert is the first female African
American elected president of the
national FFA, which represents more
than 650,000 students across the U.S.
and its territories.
Erica Baier, an agricultural educa-
tion major at Iowa State University,
was elected national secretary.
Piper Merritt, an agricultural eco-
nomics major at Oklahoma State
University, was elected central re-
gion vice president.
Bryce Cluff, an agricultural tech-
nology and management education
major at the University of Arizona,
will serve as western region vice
president.
Ian Bennett, majoring in agri-
science and environmental systems,
plant breeding and genetics at the
University of Georgia, was elected
southern region vice president.
Gracie Furnish, a career and tech-
nical education major at the Univer-
sity of Kentucky, will serve as east-
ern region vice president.
Each year at the National FFA
Convention & Expo, six students
are elected by delegates to repre-
sent the organization as national
officers. Delegates elect a presi-
dent, secretary and vice presidents
representing the central, southern,
eastern and western regions of the
country.
National officers commit to a
year of service to the National FFA
Organization. Each officer travels
Monday-Tuesday
Nov. 6-7
Washington Dairy Conference
& Trade Show. Yakima Convention
Center, 10 N. Eighth St., Yakima,
Wash. Annual meeting activities, plus
time to catch up with fellow produc-
ers, sponsors and exhibitors. The
Dairy Women will host their scholar-
ship auction. Both the Dairy Federa-
tion and the Dairy Women will hold
annual membership meetings. The
Dairy Farmers of Washington will hold
Family: Married, one daugh-
ter, one son
Website: http://css.wsu.edu/
oilseeds/
Sowers believes depressed
wheat markets and research
and education efforts have
meant more canola acres.
She points to processing
plants in Warden, Wash.,
and Rickreall, Ore., and the
recent groundbreaking for a
new facility in Great Falls,
Mont., as positive signs.
The companies are set up
for more acres than currently
exist, she said.
“The infrastructure is here,
we’re not doing a chicken be-
fore the egg thing,” she said,
calling demand “insatiable.”
“I think canola is here to
stay,” she said.
FFA announces 2017
ag proficiency winners
INDIANAPOLIS — Winners of
the 2017 National Agricultural Profi-
ciency Awards were announced Oct.
27 during the sixth general session at
the 90th National FFA Convention &
Expo. Awards were given in 47 cate-
gories. Following are the winners from
Western states:
FFA
The new national FFA officers take the stage at the 90th National FFA Convention
& Expo in Indianapolis.
National
President
Breanna
Holbert
National
Secretary
Erica
Baier
West Vice
President
Bryce
Cluff
more than 100,000 miles to interact
with business and industry leaders,
thousands of FFA members and
teachers, corporate sponsors, gov-
ernment and education officials,
state FFA leaders and the public.
The team will lead personal
growth and leadership training con-
ferences for FFA members through-
out the country and help set policies
that will guide the future of FFA
and promote agricultural literacy.
Sponsored by:
To submit an event go to the
Community Events calendar on the
home page of our website at www.
capitalpress.com and click on “Sub-
mit an Event.” Calendar items can
also be mailed to Capital Press, 1400
Broadway St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
or emailed to newsroom@capital-
press.com.
Education: Bachelor’s
degree in agronomy, soil
and water conservation at
Kansas State University;
master’s degree in soil
science, Washington State
University
Matthew Weaver/Capital Press
Californian named new FFA national president
Calendar
Established 1928
Board of directors
Mike Forrester
Steve Forrester
Kathryn Brown
Susan Rana
Mike Omeg
Corporate Officer
Heidi Wright
Chief Operating Officer
By MATTHEW WEAVER
RICHLAND, Wash. —
Every time Karen Sowers
drives to Pullman from the
Tri-Cities and sees the same
fields planted in wheat, she
wishes she could talk to the
farmers about the benefits of
raising canola.
An Washington State Uni-
versity Extension and out-
reach specialist in oilseeds,
Sowers wants to make cano-
la a staple for growers, not
something they just think
about when wheat prices are
down.
Using canola as a possible
rotation crop helps farmers
deal with residual herbicides,
weeds, improves water filtra-
tion and breaks up disease cy-
cles, she said.
Sowers is also leading the
charge to launch the Pacific
Northwest Canola Associa-
tion.
Nominations for produc-
er-members on the board
of directors closed Oct. 27.
A ballot with all nominees
will be mailed to farmers in
Idaho, Oregon, Washington
and Montana. Once produc-
er-members are elected, the
association will elect offi-
cers and communicate with
the rest of the industry about
membership, monetary sup-
port and possible board seats.
Sowers hopes to make the
association a reality soon.
“I’d love to see it happen
by the end of the year and then
continue to grow,” she said.
Capital Press
their board meeting. Website: http://
wastatedairy.com/
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Sustainable Community Stew-
ards Volunteer Training. 6-9:15
p.m. McCollum Park, 600 128th
St. SE, Everett, Wash. Cost: $30
Website: http://extension.wsu.edu/
snohomish/wp-content/uploads/
sites/7/2012/11/2017-SCS-Applica-
tion-form.doc
Tuesday, Nov. 7
Sage Grouse Public Meeting.
5-8 p.m. Harney County Commu-
nity Center, 484 N Broadway Ave.,
Burns, Ore. The Bureau of Land
Management will host a public
meeting to solicit comments and
provide information on greater sage
grouse land management issues.
The meeting will begin with an over-
East Vice
President
Gracie
Furnish
Central Vice
President
Piper
Merritt
South Vice
President
Ian
Bennett
The National FFA Organization
provides leadership, personal growth
and career success training through
agricultural education to 653,359 stu-
dent members who belong to one of
8,568 local FFA chapters throughout
the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Virgin Islands.
The organization is also support-
ed by 344,239 alumni members in
2,051 alumni chapters throughout
the U.S.
• Diversified Horticulture, Entrepreneurship/Placement: Jimmy
Joey Reyes of the Dayton FFA chapter in Oregon works on his
family’s 15.8-acre container and bare root nursery operation
and landscape maintenance company. As a child, he would
go with his father to help mow lawns and prune landscapes.
He began in the nursery as a general field worker, tasked
with weeding, irrigating and transplanting plants. He is now
the assistant manager. Jimmy plans to pursue a degree in
horticulture and agriculture business management. He is
supported by his parents, Victoria and Rufino, and his FFA
advisor, Mitch Coleman. This award is sponsored by the Toro
Co. and Wilbur-Ellis Co.
• Environmental Science and Natural Resources, Entre-
preneurship/Placement: Margaret Mackin of the Rigby FFA
Chapter in Idaho works for a family business, consulting with
landowners and developers, including ranchers and other
agricultural producers, to comply with government regulations,
particularly those of the Environmental Protection Agency.
She helps clients avoid wetland violations, defend against
allegations and more. Margaret hopes to study finance in
college and become a financial advisor. She is supported by
her parents, Susan and William, and her FFA advisors, Robert
Hale, Holly Fullmer and Lex Godfrey. This award is sponsored
by CHS.
• Grain Production, Placement: Joel Baltazar Mendoza of the
Hamilton City FFA Chapter in California has a supervised agri-
cultural experience that includes rice field preparation, planting
trials, collecting field data and harvesting the crop. Starting
his freshman year, he began working with his father as a rice
researcher. Starting with simpler tasks, Joel eventually learned
to spray, irrigate, clean and dry seed, ship and harvest. He
hopes to major in plant science at California State University
at Chico. He is supported by his parents, Lorena and Baltazar,
and his FFA advisors, Janice Lohse and Ryan Bentz. This
award is sponsored by BASF.
• Veterinary Science, Entrepreneurship/Placement: Katrina
Siems of the Morro Bay FFA Chapter in California works for
Los Osos Pet Hospital as a kennel technician. Growing up in a
household with several pets, she was drawn to the veterinar-
ian. She feeds boarding animals, walks the dogs, and cleans
up after closing. She eventually took on the responsibilities
of holding dogs for blood draws and giving insulin shots.
Katrina plans to attend the University of California-Davis to
study animal science with the goal of eventually becoming a
veterinarian. She is supported by her parents, Alice and Chris,
and her FFA advisor, Peggy Flynn. This award is sponsored by
the American Veterinary Medical Association, Blue Buffalo and
Tractor Supply Co.
GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE
www.oxarc.com
view followed by an open house.
Participants will be encouraged to
speak with BLM staff on various
topics related to the greater sage
grouse. In addition to comments
on the issues and planning criteria,
the BLM would like to receive com-
ments on whether the planning ef-
fort should occur through state-by-
state amendment processes and
decisions. Participants will have
the opportunity to provide written
comments during the meeting, on-
line at: http://bit/ly/GRSGplanning.
Comments can also be submitted
via email at: BLM_sagegrouseplan-
ning@blm.gov
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Sustainable Community Stew-
ards Volunteer Training. 6-9:15
p.m. McCollum Park, 600 128th
St. SE, Everett, Wash. Cost: $30
20 Northwest Locations
1-800-765-9055
Website: http://extension.wsu.edu/
snohomish/wp-content/uploads/
sites/7/2012/11/2017-SCS-Applica-
tion-form.doc
and CPR and drone demonstrations.
Website: http://www.washingtonag-
network.com/pnw-agie/
Wednesday-Thursday
Nov. 8-9
Central Oregon Ag Seminar.
10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Pronghorn
Resort, 65600 Pronghorn Club
Drive, Bend, Ore. Join friends and
colleagues in Central Oregon at the
annual ag seminar in the Bend area
presented by Schwabe, Williamson
& Wyatt; Harvest Capital; and Geffen
Mesher. Topics Include Organizing
Your Agri-Business; Organizing Your
Finances and Financial Statements;
Water Rights: Knowing What You
Have and Making the Most of Them;
Organizing Your Affairs: Estate Plan-
ning for Farms and Ranches; and
Organizing for Tax Effects: Entity
Selection and Dissolution. Website:
RSVP at http://bit.ly/2y92rtc
United Dairymen of Idaho-Dairy
West Annual Meeting. Boise Center,
850 W. Front St., Boise, Idaho. This
year’s theme is “Pioneers by Nature”
and includes an expo, Milk Quality
Awards banquet, presentations and
the Dairy Hall of Fame banquet.
Website: http://idahodairy.com/annu-
al-meeting/
Pacific Northwest Ag Industry
Expo (AGIE). 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednes-
day and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday.
TRAC Center, 6600 Burden Blvd.,
Pasco, Wash. The expo includes a
trade show, classes on pesticide use
Friday, Nov. 10
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................Editor & Publisher
Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director
Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor
Jessica Boone ........ Production Manager
Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager
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Index
California ................................ 8
Dairy .................................... 14
Idaho ...................................... 9
Markets ............................... 13
Opinion .................................. 6
Oregon .................................. 5
Washington ..........................11
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