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CapitalPress.com
January 12, 2018
People & Places
Putting wheat samples to the test
Bon Lee keeps tabs
on wheat quality
around Northwest
during harvest,
compares products
Western
Innovator
Capital Press
Established 1928
Board of directors
Mike Forrester
Steve Forrester
Kathryn Brown
Susan Rana
Mike Omeg
Corporate Officer
Heidi Wright
Chief Operating Officer
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................Editor & Publisher
By GEORGE PLAVEN
Elizabeth Yutzie Sell .... Advertising Director
Capital Press
Bon Lee
Carl Sampson ................Managing Editor
PORTLAND — As labo-
ratory supervisor at the non-
profit Wheat Marketing Cen-
ter in Portland, Bon Lee’s job
falls somewhere between data
technician and pastry chef.
Not only is Lee responsi-
ble for tracking wheat qual-
ity across the Northwest, but
many of the samples he col-
lects are put to the ultimate
culinary test in the center’s
product innovation kitchen,
making everything from noo-
dles to tortillas.
“Product evaluation is
probably the most important
part of what we do,” Lee said.
One recent project had Lee
and his staff bake nearly 60
Japanese sponge cakes using
soft white and soft red wheat
samples from Pullman, Wash.,
and Wooster, Ohio, which they
compared to a control flour
from a Japanese mill.
“Our findings help deter-
mine if a variety is good to
release commercially,” Lee
explained.
Up to 90 percent of the soft
white wheat grown in the Pa-
cific Northwest is exported,
which is where Lee and the
Wheat Marketing Center come
in with the latest data to keep
overseas customers informed.
Housed in the old Albers
Mill overlooking the Willa-
mette River, the marketing
center opened in 1989 with $6
million in federal money se-
cured by former Oregon Sen.
Occupation: Lab supervisor
at the Wheat Marketing
Center, Portland
Samantha McLaren .... Circulation Manager
Age: 60
Education: Bachelor’s de-
gree in food science, Oregon
State University, 1983
Hometown: Vancouver,
Wash.
Matthew Weaver/Capital Press
George Plaven/Capital Press
Lee shows some of the many commercial wheat products from
around the world supported by research the Wheat Marketing
Center does for U.S. Wheat Associates.
Mark Hatfield. The center gets
most of its funding today from
the wheat and grain commis-
sions in Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, North Dako-
ta, Colorado and Nebraska.
Lee, who was born in Japan
to Korean parents, joined the
center in 1998 after starting his
career in the processing side of
Entire contents copyright © 2018
EO Media Group
dba Capital Press
An independent newspaper
published every Friday.
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Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is
published weekly by EO Media Group,
1400 Broadway St. NE, Salem OR 97301.
Each machine cost be-
tween $50,000 and $70,000.
Most are sponsored by the
partner wheat commissions.
Blake Rowe, CEO of the
Oregon Wheat Commission,
said the data they get in return
is worth the investment.
“It’s probably the best
data, what (Lee) reports every
week,” Rowe said. “He puts
those out so we can keep a
running track of what harvest
looks like, and what quality
looks like.”
Steve Mercer, spokesman
for U.S. Wheat Associates in
Arlington, Va., said the data
Lee generates is “absolute-
ly essential” for marketing
wheat overseas.
“Bon does a wonderful job
on this analysis,” Mercer said.
“You can just tell he enjoys
his work.”
Lee said it is a great feeling
to help wheat farmers, traders
and breeders.
“People are very nice in
the grain industry,” he said.
Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR,
and at additional mailing offices.
Wheat Marketing Center laboratory supervisor Bon Lee demonstrates the falling number test for starch
damage. “The trade is interested in all these numbers to see which area produces the quality they
want,” he said.
agriculture, including stints at
Hoody’s snacks in Beaverton,
Ore., and the Pendleton Flour
Mills in Pendleton, Ore.
At the center, Lee is known
for two things — wearing two
different colored shoes (which
he says he does for fun), and
putting together weekly qual-
ity reports during wheat har-
vest, measuring protein levels,
test weight, kernel moisture
and gluten content.
“The trade is interested in
all these numbers to see which
area produces the quality they
want,” Lee said.
To get those numbers, Lee
runs hundreds of flour sam-
ples through a battery of tests
using high-tech equipment
such as the Glutomatic, which
looks like an espresso machine
but actually uses a 2 percent
saltwater solution to separate
gluten from starch. Then there
is the Extensograph, which
stretches dough to test its
strength and elasticity.
Jessica Boone ........ Production Manager
POSTMASTER: send address changes to
Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR
97308-2048.
To Reach Us
Circulation ......................... 800-882-6789
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Main line ........................... 503-364-4431
Fax ................................... 503-370-4383
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News Staff
Idaho
Carol Ryan Dumas .......... 208-860-3898
Boise
Sean Ellis .......................... 208-914-8264
Cent. Washington
Dan Wheat ........................ 509-699-9099
W. Washington
Don Jenkins ...................... 360-722-6975
E Washington
Matthew Weaver .............. 509-688-9923
Oregon
George Plaven ................. 406-560-1655
Mateusz Perkowski .......... 800-882-6789
Graphic artist
Washington Sheep Producers honor Busboom
Capital Press
Jan Busboom, a Wash-
ington State University Ex-
tension meat specialist, has
received the 2017 Golden
Sheep Hook from the Wash-
ington State Sheep Producers.
It is the organization’s
highest honor.
The organization gave
Busboom the award in rec-
ognition of his “outstanding
service to the sheep industry,”
according to a press release.
Busboom grew up in the
industry, raising and showing
sheep with his father as his
mentor. They were recognized
across the U.S. as top quality
Columbia breeders.
He pursued a degree in an-
imal sciences and received a
Ph.D. at Michigan State Uni-
versity.
When Busboom arrived
Calendar
Washington State Sheep Producers
From left, Washington State Sheep Producers President Jill
Swannack with Jan Busboom, Washington State University
Extension meat specialist and recipient of the 2017 Golden Sheep
Hook Award, and Mark Martinez, recipient of the award in 2016.
The organization recognized Busboom for his years of sharing his
expertise and mentoring students.
at WSU in 1989, he “quickly
became a valuable asset to the
world of academia, extension
and the sheep industry here,”
Sponsored by:
according to the organization.
Busboom is the WSU Meat
Evaluation and Analysis Team
(MEAT) team leader for the
www.oxarc.com
ven Road, Suisun City, Calif. Cali-
fornia Wool Growers Association is
hosting four interactive workshops
focusing on improving lamb market-
ing and quality as well as producer
profitability by applying innovative
management practices and tech-
nologies. To register contact the
CWGA office at info@woolgrowers.
org or (916) 444-8122.
Unit, 311 Nicholas C Shouten
Lane, Chico, Calif. The Califor-
nia Wool Growers Association
is hosting four interactive work-
shops focusing on improving lamb
marketing and quality as well as
producer profitability. To register
contact the CWGA office at info@
woolgrowers.org or (916) 444-
8122.
Monday, Jan. 15
Soil Health Workshop with
Brendon Rockey & Steve Kenyon.
8 a.m.-3 p.m. The Gathering Place,
510 South Main, Three Forks,
Mont. We have a number of great
presenters lined up throughout the
week that will share their own ex-
periences in building and maintain-
ing soil health. Cost: $20. Website:
http://bit.ly/2zGUuZC
Soil Health Workshop Fea-
turing Brendon Rockey & Wendy
Taheri. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Holiday Inn,
1100 5th St. S, Great Falls, Mont.
Cost: $20. Website: http://bit.
ly/2BpzYNT
Tuesday, Jan. 16
Cereal Grains Seminar. 8:30
a.m.-2:30 p.m. Walla Walla, Wash.,
Regional Airport. The seminar will
cover soilborne wheat mosaic virus,
grasshoppers and Mormon crickets
and other issues impacting farm-
ers in Columbia and Walla Walla
counties. For more information,
contact Becki Green, WSU Walla
Walla County Extension coordina-
tor, at 509-524-2685 or email becki.
green@wsu.edu. Register online.
Cost is $25, including lunch and
refreshments.
Sheep Producer Workshop.
Emigh Livestock, 2838 Goose Ha-
Woodland
Rice
Grower
Meeting. 1:30-5 p.m. Cracchi-
olo’s Market, 1320 E. Main St.,
Woodland, Calif. Website: http://
cesutter.ucanr.edu
Wednesday, Jan. 17
represented WSU by sharing
knowledge on carcass and
meat qualities.
He is currently a team
member on a WSU Sheep
Endowment ram management
study on reproductive fitness
of breeding stock and working
with a group to create a Span-
ish language resource guide
for sheep herders.
He received a University of
Idaho grant to conduct training
for ultrasound technicians spe-
cializing in sheep evaluation,
to take place in the summer of
2018.
Busboom will retire from
WSU in September, “but will
forever remain passionate
about education, meat science,
genetic improvements, youth,
mentoring, research and the
sheep industry,” according to
the organization.
GASES / WELDING / SAFETY / FIRE
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@
capitalpress.com. Write “Calendar”
in the subject line.
Sheep Producer Workshop. Et-
chamendy Sheep Company, 24394
Highway 46, Wasco, Calif. The Cal-
ifornia Wool Growers Association is
hosting four interactive workshops
focusing on improving lamb market-
ing and quality as well as producer
profitability by applying innovative
management practices and technol-
ogies. To register contact the CWGA
office at info@woolgrowers.org or
(916) 444-8122.
Lamb 100, 200 and 300 pro-
gram and was “instrumental”
in delivering the programs in
Washington, Oregon, Califor-
nia and the Rocky Mountain
region.
“A sheep judge in all cli-
mates, he shares his expertise
with those passionate about
sheep,” the organization stat-
ed. “His calm demeanor and
steady personality make Jan
easy to work with and he ex-
cels in mentoring youth as a
tireless, dedicated 4-H leader.”
Busboom and his wife,
Janice, manage a flock of Suf-
folk-Hampshire crosses and
lead the Albion 4-H Sheep
Club.
He has served as mentor to
“countless” graduate students
for 25 years. He’s also been
involved in the annual North-
west Junior Sheep Expo and
Richvale Rice Growers Meet-
ing 8:30 a.m.-noon. Evangelical
Church, 5219 Church St., Rich-
vale, Calif. Website: http://cesut-
ter.ucanr.edu
Glenn Rice Growers Meeting.
1:30-5 p.m. Glenn County Office
of Education, 311 S. Villa Ave.,
Willows, Calif. Website: http://ce-
sutter.ucanr.edu
Beekeeping Talk. 6-8 p.m.
OSU Extension classroom, 505 N
Columbia River Highway, St. Hel-
ens, Ore. Beekeeper Bill Catherall
will discuss resource hives, which
are a way to save money by mak-
ing your own splits, never having to
buy bees with unknown pedigrees
or diseases and having bees to sell
or share. Website: http://extension.
oregonstate.edu/columbia/
Wednesday-Thursday
Jan. 17-18
Sheep Producer Workshop.
Chico State University Sheep
Idaho Noxious Weed Con-
ference. Riverside Hotel, 2900
2018 Northwest Hay Expo. 8
a.m.-4 p.m. Three Rivers Conven-
tion Center, 7016 W. Grandridge
Blvd., Kennewick, Wash. Featur-
ing 90-plus exhibitors, top speak-
ers and breakout sessions cov-
ering industry updates. Website:
http://wa-hay.org/nwhayexpo/
20 Northwest Locations
W. Chinden Blvd. Boise, Idaho.
A variety of presenters will offer
information important to weed
control. Website: www.idahoweed
control.org
1-800-765-9055
the future of the agricultural indus-
try. Website: https://salemcham-
ber.org/
Sheep Producer Workshop.
UC Hopland Research and Exten-
sion Center, 4070 University Road,
Hopland, Calif. To register contact
the CWGA office at info@wool-
growers.org or (916) 444-8122.
Soil Health Workshop Featuring
Brendon Rockey & Derek Axton. 8
a.m.-3 p.m. Richland County Fair-
grounds, 2118 W Holly St. Sidney,
Mont. We have great presenters
lined up throughout the week that will
share their own experiences in build-
ing and maintaining soil health. Cost:
$20. Website: http://bit.ly/2zGUuZC
Soil Health Workshop Featur-
ing Brendon Rockey & Steve Ken-
yon. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Big Horn Re-
sort, 1801 Majestic Lane, Billings,
Mont. We have a number of great
presenters lined up that will share
their experiences in building soil
health. Cost: $20. Website: http://
bit.ly/2zGUuZC
Soil Health Workshop Featur-
ing Steve Kenyon & Wendy Taheri.
8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sleep Inn, 1006 S.
Haynes Ave., Miles City, Mont. We
have a number of great presenters
lined up throughout the week that will
share their own experiences in build-
ing and maintaining soil health. Cost:
$20. Website: http://bit.ly/2zGUuZC
Friday, Jan. 19
Family Foresters Workshop.
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Coeur d’Alene
Inn, 506 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur
d’Alene, Idaho. The workshop,
sponsored by the University of Idaho
and Washington State University, is
for any professionals that work with
family forest owners. Cost: $90 by
Jan. 12. Website: www.uidaho.edu/
FamilyForesterWorkshop
Thursday, Jan. 18
SAIF Agri-Business Banquet.
6-9 p.m. Salem Convention Center,
200 Commercial St. SE, Salem,
Ore. The SAIF Agri-Business Ban-
quet is a celebration of the agri-
cultural community and its impact
on the mid-Willamette Valley. The
Salem Area Chamber of Com-
merce prioritizes hosting this event
along with title sponsor SAIF and
presenting sponsor KeyBank be-
cause agriculture is a key part of
Oregon’s economy. The banquet
will feature guest speaker Steve
Gilliland’s humor, inspiration and
business insight. There will also be
recognition of an outstanding FFA
student for leadership in shaping
Colusa Rice Grower Meeting.
8:30 a.m.-noon. Colusa Casino Re-
sort, 3770 Highway 45, Colusa, Calif.
Website: http://cesutter.ucanr.edu
Yuba City Rice Grower Meeting.
1:30-5 p.m. Veterans Hall, 1425 Vet-
erans Memorial Circle, Yuba City, Ca-
lif. Website: http://cesutter.ucanr.edu
Alan Kenaga ..................... 800-882-6789
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Index
American Farm Bureau ........ 12
Dairy ...................................... 8
Livestock ............................... 8
Opinion .................................. 6
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