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CapitalPress.com
Friday, January 3, 2020
People & Places
A livestock ‘knowledge broker’
Sarah Smith helps
producers find new,
more efficient ways
to raise animals
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Established 1928
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Western
Innovator
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
MOSES LAKE, Wash.
— If Sarah Smith has her
way, more ranchers will
soon be using needleless
syringes on their sheep, cat-
tle and hogs.
“It’s pretty cool,” she
said. “We call it the injec-
tion gun. Instead of having
a needle, the CO2 pulses
through at such a high level,
it penetrates the skin.”
Use of the tool increases
vaccination efficiency and
safety for humans and ani-
mals, reducing the risk of
broken needles or acciden-
tally sticking oneself.
As animal sciences
regional specialist for Wash-
ington State University
Extension in Moses Lake,
Smith primarily supports
beef, sheep and hog pro-
ducers. She also helps with
some goats and with dairy
cattle once they’re desig-
nated for beef production.
Farm to table
She says she covers live-
stock from farm to table,
keeping in touch with chefs
and consumers.
Smith wants to keep
ranchers informed about
regulations, disease out-
breaks and the bigger
picture.
She will mark her 20th
anniversary with WSU
Extension in July.
Washington’s ‘marvel’
She
considers
the
Columbia Basin in Central
Washington a “marvel.”
SARAH SMITH
Age: 46
Title: Animal sciences
regional specialist, Wash-
ington State University
Extension
Kevin Blodgett ........... Advertising Director
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager
Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager
Entire contents copyright © 2020
EO Media Group
dba Capital Press
An independent newspaper
published every Friday.
Hometown: Troy, Idaho
Current location: Moses
Lake, Wash.
Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is
published weekly by EO Media Group,
2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303.
Education: Washington
State University, bache-
lor’s degree and master’s
degree in animal science
Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR,
Washington State University Extension regional specialist Sarah Smith with her
sheep at her ranch Oct. 28 near Moses Lake, Wash.
Family: Has own farm;
with siblings, helps par-
ents with family farm
POSTMASTER: send address changes to
ficial insemination. For
sheep, this requires laparo-
scopic surgery.
She jokes that when she
sends her ewes to school,
she hopes they come back
pregnant.
Smith considers her
work an opportunity to give
back.
“Someone invested in
me when I was going to
school,” she said. “This
(allows) me to invest in
students. ... I’m so thank-
ful to be able to have vets
and specialists, if we don’t
do this, we’re not going to
be able to have them in the
future.”
Website: https://exten-
sion.wsu.edu/animalag/
Matthew Weaver/Capital Press
“A lot of people, they
drive on I-90, they see some
sagebrush and some fields,”
she said. “Even when I took
this job, I didn’t under-
stand how much agriculture
is here. We have such pro-
gressive farmers. They’re
trendsetters, they keep us
on our toes. The amount of
crops coming out of here,
the level we can feed peo-
ple and the quality is just
remarkable.”
Smith grew up in North-
ern Idaho. Her grandpar-
ents raised cattle, and her
parents raised sheep, while
she participated in 4-H and
FFA.
“My parents now have
the cattle, and I have the
sheep,” she said.
She thought she would
become a veterinarian, but
while studying at WSU, she
realized she prefers com-
mercial livestock produc-
tion for food and genetics.
Smith helps her parents
with their wheat and cattle
farm in Dusty, Wash.
“I really enjoy the cat-
tle part of it,” she said.
“The wheat I think is beau-
tiful, but you’re not going
to get me in one of those
combines.”
Valais blacknose
She keeps Valais black-
nose sheep as a hobby, rais-
ing show lambs. She mar-
kets them by 90 days and
90 pounds, she said.
How many sheep does
she have?
“More than I should,”
she said of about 50 ewes.
“I’m so fascinated with
genetics, that’s why I did
it,” she said. “Not necessar-
ily to create a pet — they
are pretty darn cute and
pretty friendly. I think they
bring some unique qualities
we could use on the West
Coast.”
She works with WSU’s
veterinary school on arti-
Sharing knowledge
Moxee, Wash., sheep
producer Nick Martinez
said Smith has helped his
ranch with ram breeding
studies and trials, providing
another set of eyes.
“She’s always been
helpful and trying to make
and at additional mailing offices.
Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR
97308-2048.
To Reach Us
everything go better,” he
said.
The needleless syringe
will hopefully be faster and
safer, he said.
“Be interesting to try it,”
he said.
Smith works to help
companies and individual
ranchers become more prof-
itable, said Ephrata, Wash.,
rancher Bill Sieverkropp.
“She’s always trying
to see what’s happening
around the world, where
things are going and what
do we need to be thinking
about in the future,” he said.
“I just transfer knowl-
edge, broker knowledge,
move it around, help create
new recipes,” Smith said.
“I learn something at one
farm, and say, ‘Well, I think
part of this will work over
here.’”
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CALENDAR
Submit upcoming ag-related
events on www.capitalpress.com
or by email to newsroom@capital-
press.com.
MONDAY, JAN. 13
Idaho Range Livestock Sym-
posium: 8 a.m., American Legion
Hall, Marsing, Idaho. Adapting to a
changing rangeland environment.
Registration is required. Contact:
Scott Jensen, 208-894-4104, scottj@
uidaho.edu Website: https://bit.
ly/2DMjylR
Rice Grower Meeting: 8:30 a.m.,
Evangelical Church, 5219 Church St.,
Richvale, Calif. This is part of a series
of rice grower meetings sponsored
by UC Extension. http://cecolusa.
ucanr.edu/?newsitem=82541.
Rice Grower Meeting: 1:30 p.m.,
Glenn County Office of Educa-
tion, 311 S. Villa Ave., Willows,
Calif. This is part of a series of rice
grower meetings sponsored by UC
Extension. http://cecolusa.ucanr.
edu/?newsitem=82541.
TUESDAY, JAN. 7
TUESDAY, JAN. 14
MONDAY, JAN. 6
Idaho-E. Oregon Alfalfa and
Clover Seed Growers Meeting:
8 a.m., Caldwell Elks Lodge, 1015 N.
Kimball Ave., Caldwell, Idaho. Alfalfa
and clover seed growers from East-
ern Oregon, southwest Idaho and
the Magic Valley of Idaho will have
their annual meeting. Contact: Ben-
jamin Kelly, 208-888-0988, benja-
min@amgidaho.com
Idaho Range Livestock Sym-
posium: CSI Herrett Center, 315 Falls
Ave., Twin Falls, Idaho. Adapting to
a changing environment. Registra-
tion required. Contact: Benton Glaze,
208-736-3638, bglaze@uidaho.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/2DMjylR
TUESDAY-
WEDNESDAY,
JAN. 7-8
Cropping Systems Confer-
ence: 9 a.m., Three Rivers Conven-
tion Center, 7016 W. Grandridge
Blvd., Kennewick, Wash. The two-
day event features something for
everyone with a trade show, general
and breakout sessions, and research
poster sessions. Sponsored by the
Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Asso-
ciation. Website: http://directseed.
org Contact: agmgt@agmgt.com,
509-585-5460.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8
Idaho Range Livestock Sympo-
sium: 8 a.m., Bannock County Veter-
ans Memorial Building, 300 N John-
son Ave., Pocatello, Idaho. Adapting
to a changing environment. Reg-
istration required. Contact: Ben-
ton Glaze, 208-736-3638, bglaze@
uidaho.edu Website: https://bit.
ly/2DMjylR
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
Idaho Range Livestock Sympo-
sium: 8 a.m., BYU-Idaho Ag. Science
Center, 525 S Center St., Rexburg,
Idaho. Adapting to a changing envi-
ronment. Registration required. Con-
tact: Benton Glaze, 208-736-3638,
bglaze@uidaho.edu Website: https://
bit.ly/2DMjylR
THURSDAY-FRIDAY
JAN. 9-10
Oregon Mint Growers Annual
Meeting: 8 a.m. Salishan Resort,
7760 North Highway 101, Gleneden
Beach, Ore. Make your plans to
attend the 71st annual meeting,
where you’ll hear the latest on the
mint industry. Contact: http://ore-
gonmint.org, 503-364-2944
Introduction to Food Safety
& HACCP Workshop: 8 a.m. U of I
Food Technology Center, 1902 E Chi-
cago St., Caldwell, Idaho. This is a
one-day overview course designed
for line workers, QC personnel, sani-
tation professionals, supervisors, and
other employees of food processing
operations. Participants will spend
part of the day learning about food
safety prerequisite programs, which
are used to ensure food products are
free from nonhazardous objection-
able contaminants. Cost: $355 Web-
site: https://bit.ly/2DJSOSP
Rice Grower Meeting: 8:30 a.m.,
Colusa Casino Resort, 3770 High-
way 45, Colusa, Calif. This is part
of a series of rice grower meet-
ings sponsored by UC Exten-
sion. http://cecolusa.ucanr.
edu/?newsitem=82541.
Rice Grower Meeting:
1:30 p.m., Veterans Hall, 1425 Vet-
erans Memorial Circle, Yuba City,
Calif. This is part of a series of meet-
ings sponsored by UC Cooperative
Extension. http://cecolusa.ucanr.
edu/?newsitem=82541.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15
Farm and Ranch Succes-
sion Planning Workshop Series:
1-4 p.m. Multnomah Grange No. 71,
30639 SE Bluff Road. Gresham, Ore.
Register now for this free series of
workshops on farm and ranch suc-
cession. Workshops are held every
other Wednesday from Jan. 15 to
Feb. 26 In addition to these courses,
no-cost, confidential, one-on-one
business counseling is provided free
by an experienced Farm and Ranch
Small Business Development Cen-
ter adviser. Let us help you iden-
tify issues and evaluate options in
passing your farm and business on
to the next generation. A compli-
mentary light lunch is provided at
12:30 p.m. There is room for 50 peo-
ple. Presented by: Clackamas Small
Business Development Center and
the East Multnomah & Clackamas
Soil & Water Conservation Districts.
Questions? Call Diana Tourney at
503-594-0732.
Irrigation Workshop: 9 a.m.-
noon, Oregon Department of Fish
& Wildlife, Fairview Industrial Drive
SE, Salem. Join us for a morning of
experts discussing irrigation innova-
tions, incentives and conservation
of water. Participants in this no cost
workshop will learn how to effec-
tively utilize water with emerging
technology, equipment upgrades
or retrofits, and how to use data to
irrigate agricultural grounds profi-
ciently. Speakers: Troy Peters, Ulrike
Mengelberg and Teri Hranac will
provide engaging topics as well as
answer your questions pertaining to
irrigation and conservation. Marion
SWCD, 503-391-9927. http://www.
marionswcd.net
Rice Grower Meeting:
1:30 p.m., Norton Hall, 70 Cotton-
wood St., Woodland, Calif. This
is part of a series of rice grower
meetings sponsored by UC Exten-
sion. http://cecolusa.ucanr.
edu/?newsitem=82541.
WEDNESDAY-
THURSDAY,
JAN. 15-16
Introduction to Safe Quality
Food: 8:30 a.m. U of I Food Technol-
ogy Center, 1902 E Chicago St., Cald-
well, Idaho. Instructor Jana Ham-
lett will provide knowledge of the
roles and responsibilities of the SQF
practitioner and how they ensure
supplies are in compliance with
an internationally recognized and
accredited Food Safety Manage-
ment System which will support
compliance to the FSMA rules. Web-
site: https://bit.ly/2LmrLS3
Idaho Noxious Weed Confer-
ence: 8 a.m. Riverside Hotel, 2900
W. Chinden Blvd., Boise, Idaho. The
2020 Idaho Noxious Weed Confer-
ence features a variety of topics
dealing with vegetation manage-
ment. Website: http://www.ida-
howeedcontrol.org
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY,
JAN. 15-17
Northwest Agricultural
Show: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednes-
day, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday. Oregon State
Fair and Expo Center, 2330 17th St.
NE, Salem, Ore. The 50th edition of
the Northwest Ag Show will fea-
ture over 120 exhibitors and part-
ners and seminars and workshops
covering a variety of topics import-
ant to farmers and ranchers. Admis-
sion on Wednesday and Thursday is
$5 for adults, $3 for seniors, and free
for children 12 and under. Admis-
sion on Friday is free, courtesy of
the Oregon Ag in the Classroom
Foundation. Contact: 503-364-4431
http://northwestagshow.com
THURSDAY, JAN. 16
Oregon Seed Association
Mid-Winter Meeting: 8 a.m., Boul-
der Falls Inn, 505 Mullins Drive, Leb-
anon. The OSA Mid-Winter Meeting
is held every January in Oregon’s
Willamette Valley region. The one-
day event consists of commit-
tee and general session member
meetings, workshops, and includes
lunch. Scholarship awards are pre-
sented to eligible applicants. The
day concludes with an early eve-
ning reception to honor past OSA
association presidents. See web-
site for more information and reg-
istration form. Angie Smith, smith@
pacwestcom.com, 503-685-7555.
Telephone (toll free) ............800-882-6789
www.oregonseed.org/events/
winter-meeting/
FRIDAY, JAN. 17
SAIF Agri-Business Banquet:
6 p.m. Salem Convention Cen-
ter, 200 Commercial St. SE, Salem,
Ore. The SAIF Agri-Business Ban-
quet is a celebration of the agricul-
tural community and its impact on
the mid-Willamette Valley. This year,
Jim Bernau of Willamette Valley
Vineyards is the featured speaker.
https://salemchamber.org/events/
saif-agribusiness-banquet/
SATURDAY, JAN. 18
Oregon Dairy Princess Ambas-
sador Contest: 5:30 p.m. Salem
Convention Center, 200 Commercial
St. SE, Salem, Ore. Join the excite-
ment as the county dairy princess
ambassadors demonstrate their
dairy knowledge and public speak-
ing and communications skills.
Online: https://oregondairywomen.
com/events/
FRIDAY-
WEDNESDAY,
JAN. 17-22
American Farm Bureau
Annual Convention and Trade
Show: Austin Convention Cen-
ter, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin,
Texas. This is your opportunity to
help set the agenda for the leading
voice of agriculture. Participate in
educational workshops to advance
your leadership skills, expand your
business acumen and gain deep
insight into the trends and reali-
ties impacting food production.
Contact: https://annualconvention.
fb.org/
SUNDAY-TUESDAY
JAN. 19-21
NFU Women’s Conference:
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa,
3999 Mission Blvd., San Diego, Calif.
This conference will not only pre-
pare attendees for success in agri-
culture, but it will also provide them
with their own network of women
farmers and ranchers they can reach
out to throughout the year. Con-
tact: Hannah Packman, hpackman@
nfudc.org, 202-554-1600. https://nfu.
org/womensconference/
WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY,
JAN. 22-24
American Hop Convention:
Portland Marriott Downtown
Waterfront, 1401 SW Naito Parkway,
Portland. The Oregon Hop Grow-
ers Association and its members
welcome hop growers and indus-
try members to Oregon for the 64th
annual American Hop Convention.
Hop Growers of America, 509-453-
4749. http://www.usahops.org/
convention/.
TUESDAY, JAN. 28
FSPCA Preventive Controls for
Human Food Course: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.,
TBD, Twin Falls. The Food Safety
Modernization Act regulations
require every food processing facility
to have a “Preventive Controls Quali-
fied Individual” (PCQI) who has com-
pleted a specialized training course,
such as this one, and who will over-
see the implementation of the facil-
ity’s food safety plan. Janna Hamlett
, jannahamlett@techhelp.org, (208)
736-3610. $750. https://techhelp.
org/events/pcqitwin2020/
4-Part Workshop On Small-
Scale Backyard Dairy Manage-
ment: 5:30-8 p.m., Linn County
Extension Office, 33630 McFarland
Road, Tangent, Ore. This four-class
series is for those interested in own-
ing a dairy animal to provide milk for
home use. This class will not cover
rules and regulations for selling milk
or milk products. Nutrition and Feed-
ing (Jan. 28), Facilities and Manure
Management (Feb. 4), Milking and
Milk Handling Procedures (Feb. 11)
and Health and Reproduction (Feb.
18) Teagan Moran, teagan.moran@
oregonstate.edu, 541-713-5011. $60
for series. A partner can be added for
a discounted $35. https://extension.
oregonstate.edu/smallfarms/events/
MONDAY, FEB. 3
Oregon Blueberry Conference:
8 a.m. Salem Convention Center, 200
Commercial St. SE, Salem, Ore. This
is the Oregon blueberry industry’s
annual meeting and features a vari-
ety of presentations and other infor-
mational sessions. Contact: http://
oregonblueberry.com 503-364-2944
TUESDAY, FEB. 4
Create a FSMA Compliant
Food Safety Plan: 1-4 p.m., Idaho
Falls, Idaho Falls. The IFSC is a free
program that helps small food pro-
cessors (500 employees or less)
create a FSMA compliant food
safety plan during six afternoon
sessions spread over 2 months.
Idaho Falls course takes place
1-4 p.m. on Feb. 4 and 18, March
3, 17 and 31 and April 14. Janna
Hamlett, jannahamlett@techhelp.
org, (208) 731-9363.
TUESDAY-THURSDAY,
FEB. 4-6
Spokane Ag Show: 9 a.m., Spo-
kane Convention Center, 334 W Spo-
kane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash.
Spokane’s annual celebration of all
things agricultural, with a large ag
equipment show and full sched-
ule of presentations that will be of
interest to all ranchers and farmers.
Online: www.agshow.org
TUESDAY-THURSDAY,
FEB. 11-13
World Ag Expo: 9 a.m., Interna-
tional Agri-Center, 4500 S. Laspina
St., Tulare, Calif. World Ag Expo is
the world’s largest annual agricul-
tural exposition. More than 1,500
exhibitors display the latest in farm
equipment, communications and
technology on 2.6 million square
feet of exhibit space. Free seminars
focus on a variety of topics import-
ant to dairy producers, farmers,
ranchers and agribusiness pro-
fessionals. Online: www.worldag-
expo.com
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Markets .................................................12
Opinion ...................................................6
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