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2 CapitalPress.com Friday, December 14, 2018 People & Places California rice farm flourishes Ken LaGrande heads sprawling family operation in the Sacramento Valley EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER Established 1928 Board of Directors Ken LaGrande Residence: Sacramento, Calif. By JULIA HOLLISTER For the Capital Press SACRAMENTO — Ken LaGrande grew up in the Sacramento Valley’s “Rice Country.” In its fifth gener- ation, the sprawling family operation continues to thrive today. “In 1851, the LaGrande family moved to the Sacra- mento Valley,” he said. “We grow, dry, mill and market rice.” The brands include Sun Valley Rice, Planet Rice, Valley Select and Gen- Ji-Mai. Planet Rice was recently voted “best whole grain” rice by Delicious Liv- ing magazine. LaGrande, founder of the Sun Valley Rice Co. and the LaGrande Family Foods Group, plants about 500,000 acres to rice each year. Because of consistent weather and low humid- ity, California does not have the pest issues that some other parts of the country experience. Though one of the larg- est rice operations, the farm is one of many in the valley. “There are approxi- mately 2,500 rice farmers in the state,” said Jim Mor- ris, spokesman for the Cal- ifornia Rice Commission. “In addition, 97 percent of the nation’s rice is grown in Family: Wife, Julie, and two sons Education: Santa Clara University, bachelor’s degree in finance Occupation: Rice farmer Quote: “To provide superior and innovative rice and food products, services and solutions throughout the world.” Ken LeGrande is a fifth generation rice farmer in California. He farms in the state’s “Rice Country” near Sacramento. He is also active in water issues that challenge California. Sacramento Valley and vir- tually 100 percent of Amer- ica’s sushi rice is grown in California.” What about competi- tion? LeGrande said it’s not a problem. “The California rice industry is relatively small with a handful of compet- itors of different sizes,” he said. “But, for the most part we all work together really well to bring the high- est quality to the consum- ers. We currently sell rice in North America, parts of Asia, Europe and the Mid- dle East.” When he is not farming rice, LeGrande is involved in many of the import- ant issues that impact Cal- ifornia’s environment and farmers. “Ken LaGrande has been a leader and advocate for California agriculture and irrigation water policy for over two decades,” said Jef- frey Sutton, general man- ager of the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority. He has served as a member of the authority board of directors for 21 years. The authority operates and maintains a 140-mile dual canal water conveyance system that provides irriga- tion water to 17 Central Val- ley Project water contrac- tor districts throughout four counties: Tehama, Glenn, Colusa and Yolo. “Ken’s talent, conviction and leadership were instru- mental to the successful implementation of the $185 million Red Bluff Fish Pas- sage Improvement Proj- ect,” said Sutton. The proj- ect is a partnership between the authority and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and resulted in the construction of a quarter-mile fish screen, one of the longest in the country. “This important project secured reliable year-round water diversion capabil- ity for the 17 water districts served by the TCCA, while simultaneously resolving a huge (Endangered Species Act) conflict and greatly benefiting several listed threatened and endangered fish species,” he said. “The successful imple- mentation of the Fish Pas- sage Improvement Project prevented a huge regional catastrophe to our rural agri- cultural communities,” Sut- ton said. “Without Ken LaGrande’s determina- tion and ingenuity the proj- ect would not have been a reality. The success of this effort will serve to benefit the farms and ranches of the west side of the Sacramento Valley for generations to come.” Would LaGrande advise anyone to begin a career in rice farming today? “A simple answer is ‘Yes,’” he said, but he added a caveat. “Rice farming is a commitment of time, energy and resources and it would be difficult to jump into without experience.” Oregon FFA searches for first CEO Organization recently approved restructuring By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press Oregon FFA is poised to hire its first chief executive officer in charge of over- seeing staff and finances for three separate organi- zations, including the state FFA Association, Founda- tion and Alumni. All three groups voted unanimously earlier this fall to create a new man- agement structure that will bring them together under one CEO, overseen by a 10-member joint policy board. Kirk Maag, pres- ident- elect of the Ore- gon FFA Foundation, Kevin White said the goal is to increase efficiency and improve collaboration. “We decided we could be more efficient in our use of funds by hiring a sin- gle executive to oversee all organizations,” Maag said. The groups each have similar but distinct roles in supporting Oregon FFA. The Association works directly with students and agriculture teachers to organize FFA activities, How to apply Candidates for Oregon FFA CEO are encouraged to apply by Dec. 15. Materials should be emailed to the Oregon FFA including: • Cover letter • Resume • List of references • Response to the following prompt: “Describe your top priorities for your first six months on the job if you are hired as Oregon FFA CEO.” For more information, or to suggest a candidate, contact Kirk Maag at 541-881-9613 or email kirk.maag@gmail.com. such as the annual conven- tion. The Foundation is the main fundraising arm, ral- lying support from mem- bers and corporate spon- sors. Finally, the Alumni are an all-volunteer fac- tion that provides on-the- ground advice and support for local chapters. Rather than seek indi- vidual executives for each entity, Maag said they felt it made sense to have one person at the top of the organizational chart who will align their efforts and mission. The National FFA Organization, Foundation and Alumni underwent a similar restructuring in 2015. “What you have now is a CEO who will understand both the fundraising side, and the needs on the asso- ciation side of where that money is going,” Maag said. Conversations about restructuring Oregon FFA began in September, after Kevin White resigned as executive director of the Foundation. Under White’s leadership, the Foundation went from raising less than $10,000 per year to more than $600,000 per year. The state Legislature quit funding FFA in 2011. Wild West Seed sees flower interest rising By BRAD CARLSON Capital Press Wild West Seed Inc. has a quiet but substantial pres- ence in southwest Idaho, where it grows some of its flower seeds and most of its vegetable seed. “The Treasure Valley is far and away our big- gest production region by acres,” Business Develop- ment Manager Matt Hilbert said. “On the vegetable side, most is grown in the Trea- sure Valley.” The 20-year-old Wild West Seed, a family-owned company based in Albany, Ore., produces open-polli- nated flower, vegetable and herb seed, and wildflower mixes for other seed compa- nies that sell primarily to home gar- deners. With 10 full-time employees, it does busi- ness nation- ally and to an Matt Hilbert extent inter- nationally — competing with big-name, merger-enlarged agribusi- nesses, among others. “Those big compa- nies participate in the same market. We are definitely small,” Hilbert said. “We will be faced with our chal- lenges, but we enjoy what we are doing. Mother Nature can throw you the challenge, but the real challenge is overcoming. Between us in the group, we usually come up with some pretty good solutions.” Wild West grows echi- nacea and perennial blue flax flower seed in the Trea- sure Valley of southwestern Idaho and southeastern Ore- gon, and has tried to grow some other flower seed in the region. It’s one of the company’s smaller flow- er-seed production areas, “but we have had growers in the area express interest in growing flower seed for us,” he said. “That is relatively new. Growers are interested in flower production.” Wild West grows some herbs such as dill in the Treasure Valley. Hilbert said about 70 percent of reve- nue comes from vegetables and herb seed, the rest from flower seed. The company grows most of its flower seed in the Willamette Val- ley of western Oregon. “The share from flower seed has gone up — not in a big way, but it has increased a bit in the past four to five years,” he said. Seeds for edibles were in high demand during the recession years of 2008 and ’09, when the popularity of vegetable gardens surged, Hilbert said. “Since then, flowers have rebounded a bit, a contributing factor being interest in pollinator habitat.” Though the home gar- den market is Wild West’s main segment and has seen increased interest in polli- nating insects, the company also may deal to an extent with farmland put into a fed- eral conservation program. Recent years have seen new incentives to add pollinator habitat to conservation land. “We may help them source that seed, probably from a seed company that is in their region or has formu- lated regionally appropriate conservation mixes,” Hil- bert said. Some of that seed could come from Wild West, which since its inception has developed seed blends suited to particular regions. The company lately is doing some more organic seed production. And it is developing more specialized products, including certain pollinator-attracting flowers. panel of experts on the topic: farmers, landowners, and farm incubator managers will- ing to share their experiences regarding what works, what doesn’t, and how to create good lease relationships.$15 per person. https://extension. wsu.edu/snohomish/event/ grow-your-farm-3/. have been applied for. http:// oregonmint.org. Bureau’s annual national meet- ing. http://www.fb.org/events/ afbf-annual-convention/. vention and IDEA Trade Show: Ernest N. Morial Con- vention Center, 900 Con- vention Center Blvd., New Orleans. The Farm Bureau’s annual national meeting. http://w w w.fb.org/events/ afbf-annual-convention/. CALENDAR Wednesday, Dec. 19 Lease Literacy for Farmers & Landowners: 7-9 p.m., WSU Snohomish County Exten- sion’s Cougar Auditorium, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. This infor- mal workshop is designed to help address some of the chal- lenges landowners and ten- ants have related to develop- ing and maintain good land lease arrangements. We’ll have a lawyer familiar with land leases on hand to explain the legal details and answer ques- tions. In addition, much of the evening will be devoted to a Thursday, Jan. 10 69th Annual Oregon Mint Growers Meeting: Salishan Resort, 7760 US-101, Gleneden Beach. Attendees will hear the latest on the mint industry. Pes- ticide recertification credits Friday, Jan. 11 69th Annual Oregon Mint Growers Meeting: Salishan Resort, 7760 US-101, Gleneden Beach. Attendees will hear the latest on the mint industry. Pes- ticide recertification credits have been applied for. http:// oregonmint.org. 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Conven- tion and IDEA Trade Show: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans. The Farm Saturday, Jan. 12 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Conven- tion and IDEA Trade Show: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans. The Farm Bureau’s annual national meet- ing. http://www.fb.org/events/ afbf-annual-convention/. Sunday, Jan. 13 2019 Bureau American Federation Farm Con- Monday, Jan. 14 2019 American Farm Bureau Federation Conven- tion and IDEA Trade Show: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Cen- ter Blvd., New Orleans. The Farm Bureau’s annual national meeting. Mike Forrester Steve Forrester Kathryn Brown Susan Rana Harrison Forrester Mike Omeg Cory Bollinger Jeff Rogers Corporate Officers Heidi Wright Chief Operating Officer Rick Hansen Chief Financial Officer Capital Press Managers Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher Elizabeth Yutzie Sell ... Advertising Director Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor Jessica Boone ............ 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