2
CapitalPress.com
Friday, January 25, 2019
People & Places
Point man on elk intrusion
Randy Good
represents cattlemen
in Washington’s
battle over elk
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Established 1928
Board of Directors
Western
Innovator
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
Randy Good
Age: 70
To focus minds on the
damage caused by elk,
Western Washington cat-
tleman Randy Good talks
to decision-makers, orga-
nizes bus tours, seeks allies
and attends meeting after
meeting.
He’s been at it for sev-
eral years. Asked if he’s seen
results, he says “no,” but
that he won’t give up.
“I learned a long time
ago, you just keep at it and
sooner or later, you’ll hit the
right person,” said Good, 70.
Good has been at the
forefront of a long-running
struggle by eastern Skagit
County landowners to get
elk off their pastures and
fields. Farmers report exten-
sive damage to fences, pas-
tures, hay bales and plants.
They worry about elk drop-
pings contaminating crops
and elk spreading hoof dis-
ease to livestock.
An ongoing survey of
farmers suggests elk are
causing roughly $1.5 mil-
lion damage to agriculture a
year, according to the Skagit
County Assessor’s Office.
Good estimates his losses at
$46,000 a year because he’s
had to abandon raising beef
cattle in a field occupied by
elk. “It’s a sad, sad situa-
tion,” he said.
Fish and Wildlife and
Native American tribes
imported elk from Mount St.
Helens in 2003 and 2005 to
enlarge the North Cascades
herd. The plan worked.
The department agrees too
many elk have moved from
the hills, where they were
released, onto agricultural
land.
Fish and Wildlife and
Job: Rancher, former dairy
farmer
Positions: Vice president of
Skagit County Cattlemen’s As-
sociation, president of Friends
of Skagit County
Education: Skagit Valley Com-
munity College
Don Jenkins/Capital Press
Sedro-Woolley, Wash., rancher Randy Good stands in his field and by a fence damaged
by elk. Elk are a continuous problem for farms in eastern Skagit County, as Good
continuously reminds the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
tribes have helped land-
owners haze elk and put up
fences, but landowners say
the problem has outgrown
hazing and fences.
The department issues
some kill permits to let land-
owners shoot an elk, but the
permits are meant to con-
trol damage and are too few
to stop the herd from grow-
ing. At least some of the
nine tribes involved in man-
aging the herd oppose more
hunting.
Lawmakers directed Fish
and Wildlife to reduce the
number of elk on farmland,
but the department has not
had any apparent success.
State Sen. Keith Wag-
oner, a Republican who
represents eastern Skagit
County, said Good and allies
have kept the issue in front
of wildlife officials.
“They have their atten-
tion. I’m sure they do,”
said Wagoner, who said
he’s interested in testing
beefed-up fencing to keep
elk off farms. “I think it’s
been very helpful. Randy
has been persistent to the
point of annoyance.”
Good’s remarks — writ-
ten and verbal — about Fish
and Wildlife’s inability to
move elk are pointed. He
delivers the comments as a
landowner, vice president
of the Skagit County Cattle-
men’s Association and presi-
dent of the Friends of Skagit
County, a group founded to
promote protection of rural
land.
Asked if he’s enjoying
the political arena at all, he
says no.
“I’d rather be home farm-
ing all the time,” he said.
For more than three
decades, Good and his wife,
Aileen, had a dairy farm.
Good now raises beef cat-
tle on a field not occupied
by elk.
In lobbying Fish and
Wildlife for action, he’s
joined by other landowners,
such as beef rancher John
Jonasson, who figures elk
have breached his fences 25
to 30 times.
“Randy does most of the
actual coordinating,” Jon-
asson said. “He’s doing an
outstanding job. He’s been
staying in their face about it.
He’s not going to back down
if he knows he’s right.”
Good organized a bus
tour in early December
for new Fish and Wildlife
Director Kelly Susewind to
see the elk. Good said he
was hoping for four hours,
but got two. The tour ended
at a library, where farmers
described the damages.
“Randy did a great job
on that. He had everything
timed down to the minute,”
Jonasson said.
Good has organized other
bus tours and also gone to
Olympia.
Last April, Good, Jonas-
son and three other Skagit
County residents went to
a Fish and Wildlife Com-
mission meeting and spoke
during the period when peo-
ple have three minutes to
talk about whatever they
want.
Good presented the case
in his typical way.
First, he reminded the
commissioners of their role.
“You are our only voice with
the DFW,” Good said. He
stated the problem: “Our
frustrations are at a tip-
ping point in eastern Skagit
County with the intrusion
of elk onto our agricultural
valley floor for the past 10
years.”
Then, he quoted state
law: Nothing in Fish and
Wildlife’s mandate shall
be construed to infringe on
Cause: Getting elk off farms
and ranches, including his, in
eastern Skagit County, Wash.
landowners controlling their
property.
“Please advise the DFW
to follow the law as man-
dated,” Good said.
Several Fish and Wild-
life commissioners agreed
something should be done.
Jonasson said their cause
usually gets a good recep-
tion in Olympia.
“We do feel generally
pretty good when we leave
there,” he said. “But at some
point, a human being needs
results, not just talk.”
Good said he learned a lot
about working in the public
arena beginning in the early
1990s by being on a com-
mittee that advises a high
school agricultural program.
“You don’t want advisory
committees to be a rubber
stamp for the government,”
he said.
Good’s tips for farmer
involvement include: Doc-
ument everything, attend
every meeting possible, find
allies who are willing to
speak up and get to the top
officials.
“I learned many years ago
you have to get to the right
person and inform them, or
otherwise you’re spinning
your wheels,” he said.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY,
JAN. 26-27
Two-Day Consigned Machinery
Auction: 9 a.m., Woodburn Auction
Yard, 597 S. Pacific Hwy., Woodburn,
Ore. Saturday: tools, lawn and gar-
den implements, machine tools, cars
and trucks, tractors, excavators, attach-
ments, trailers. Sunday: Field equip-
ment and attachments, hay equipment,
livestock gates, chutes and panels, irri-
gation https://woodburnauction.com.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30
Cattlecon19: Ernest N. Morial Con-
vention Center, 900 Convention Cen-
ter Blvd., New Orleans. https://bit.
ly/2ycMLDW.
Central Oregon Forage Sem-
inar: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., 4-H Clo-
ver Club Building, 502 S.E. Lynn Blvd.,
Prineville. Sponsored by Central Ore-
gon Hay Growers’ Association and OSU
Extension Service. RSVP to OSU Crook
County Extension Service (541-447-
6228) or email to Kim.herber@oregon-
state.edu by Jan. 25. http://www.oreg-
onhaygrowers.com.
THURSDAY, JAN. 31
Cattlecon19: Ernest N. Morial Con-
vention Center, 900 Convention Cen-
ter Blvd., New Orleans. https://bit.
ly/2ycMLDW.
Quincy FFA Donkey Basketball
Game: 7-10 p.m., Quincy High School,
16 Sixth Ave. SE, Quincy, Wash. The
Quincy FFA will host the Donkey Bas-
ketball Game as a fundraiser. Informa-
tion: Contact the FFA officers or advi-
sors at 509-787-3501. $8 for adults, $6
students (ages 7-12) and kids $4. All
seats are general admission and are
available at the door for $1 more. http://
rcool@qsd.wednet.edu.
FRIDAY, FEB. 1
Cattlecon19: Ernest N. Morial Con-
vention Center, 900 Convention Cen-
ter Blvd., New Orleans. https://bit.
ly/2ycMLDW.
SATURDAY, FEB. 2
Public Car Auction: 8 a.m., Oregon
State Fairgrounds, 2330 17th St. NE,
Salem. Petersen Auto Group Classic and
Specialty Automobiles http://petersen-
collectorcars.com/
Pesticide
Collection
Event
— Washington County, Ore.
8 a.m.-3 p.m., Valley Agronomics, 986
N Holladay St., Cornelius. Forms are
available on the Tualatin SWCD web-
site. Submission details are included
in the form. Information: Contact Mike
Mason of Clean Harbor Environmental
Services at (503) 742-7105 or mason.
michaelr@cleanharbors.com. Charlotte
Trowbridge,
charlotte.trowbridge@
tualatinswcd.org,
503-277-3709.
https://www.swcd.net/event/free-ag-
ricultural-commercial-pesticide-collec-
tion-event/.
SUNDAY, FEB. 3
North American Strawberry
Growers Association Conference:
Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter-
national Drive, Orlando. http://www.
nasga.org.
MONDAY, FEB. 4
North American Strawberry
Growers Association Conference:
TUESDAY, FEB. 5
Lawyer Nursery Auction: 11 a.m.,
Musser Bros. Auctions and Real Estate,
7515 Meridian Road SE, Olympia. A
169.58± acre farm is offered at pub-
lic auction. Lawyer Nursery has oper-
ated a successful root-stock nursery at
this location since 1988. https://mbauc-
tion.com/.
North American Strawberry
Growers Association Conference:
Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter-
national Drive, Orlando. http://www.
nasga.org.
Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific
Northwest Farm Forum: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Spokane Convention Center, 334 W.
Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash.
The annual Spokane Ag Expo provides
a showcase for agricultural equipment
and related products to the farmer,
rancher and customer. Pacific North-
west Farm Forum spotlights major
speaker events during the show, and
seminars ranging across a wide spec-
trum of current topics of interest to
full-time and part-time farmers, ranch-
ers and agricultural producers. http://
AgShow.org.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6
North American Strawberry
Growers Association Conference:
Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter-
national Drive, Orlando. http://www.
nasga.org.
Soil Health Workshop: 9 a.m.,
Best Western Burley Inn, 800 N. Over-
land Ave., Burley, Idaho. Featuring Jay
Fuhrer, a soil health specialist with the
Natural Resources Conservation Service
in Bismarck, N.D., who will talk about
regenerative agriculture. Also featured
is a presentation on carbonics by Keith
Burns, a no-till farming and seed expert.
ewcswcd@gmail.com, 208-572-3369.
Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific
Northwest Farm Forum: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Spokane Convention Center, 334 W.
Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash.
http://AgShow.org.
THURSDAY, FEB. 7
Spokane Ag Expo and Pacific
Northwest Farm Forum: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Spokane Convention Center, 334 W.
Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, Wash.
http://AgShow.org.
SATURDAY, FEB. 9
Heavy Equipment & Public Con-
signment Auction: 9 a.m., Commer-
cial Industrial Auctioneers, 13231 SE
Division St., Portland. Heavy equip-
ment, trucks, trailers, cars, tools, city
and county fleet vehicles and bank-
ruptcy items. www.commercialindus-
trialauctions.com
TUESDAY, FEB. 12
Produce Safety Rule Course:
8 a.m.-5 p.m., Clarion Inn Ontario, 1249
Tapadera Ave., Ontario, Ore. The Pro-
duce Safety Rule is part of the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration’s efforts to
carry out its Food Safety Modernization
Act. The course is slated to cover identi-
fying microbial risks, reducing risks, and
how to best start using recommended
produce-safety practices on the farm.
Instructors will discuss a safety plan’s
parts and how to start writing one.
They will detail the rule’s requirements
and how to meet them. $35. https://
www.eventbrite.com/e/produce-safe-
ty-alliance-psa-grower-training-tick-
ets-53020538859.
Walla Walla Food Producers
Workshop: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Walla Walla
County Fairgrounds Community Cen-
ter, 363 Orchard St., Walla Walla, Wash.
The meeting with food producers
will include a discussion on the feasi-
bility of a Walla Walla food hub, cov-
ering a 400-square-mile distribution
area. Jeff Mathias, jeffm@bmacww.org,
509-524-5218. https://slcceep.wufoo.
com/forms/walla-walla-food-produc-
ers-workshop-registration/
Lost Valley Farm: 5 p.m., Martella
Livestock Market, 16140 CA-99, Tipton,
Calif. 2,500 Head Jersey & Cross Heifers
from 4 months to 10 months. Also sell-
ing 500 Holsteins from Frings Ranch.
Heifers will be sorted by size, age and
breed and vet checked for reproductive
soundness prior to sale. http://www.
amlivestockauction.com/.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13
Changing Hands in Baker City
— Workshop on Farm/Ranch Trans-
fer and Access: 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Geiser
Grand Hotel, 1996 Main St., Baker City,
Ore. Join Rogue Farm Corps for “Chang-
ing Hands: A Workshop on Farm Trans-
fer and Access to Land.” This work-
shop is a part of a series that will bring
together retiring and aspiring farmers
for a full day of training on land access
and succession planning. We will also
have facilitated networking through-
out the day to introduce landseekers to
landowners. If you are a retiring farmer,
come learn from experts about how
to pass on your business to the next
generation and assess its profitabil-
ity. If you are an aspiring farmer, come
learn about creative ways to start your
farm business with topics on finding
and leasing agricultural land, business
planning and accessing financing. The
workshop starts with breakfast at 8 a.m.
The program begins at 8:30 a.m. and
goes until 3:45 p.m., with breakfast and
lunch included. Ashley Rood, ashley@
roguefarmcorps.org, (971) 409-6806.
$20. https://bit.ly/2MexZlW.
THURSDAY, FEB. 14
Organicology 2019: Hilton Port-
land and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth
Ave., Portland. Organicology seeks to
bring all of the stakeholder groups to
the table to not only develop skills in
their own areas of activity but to gain
exposure to the challenges and accom-
plishments of those in other areas of
the trade and movement. http://www.
organicology.org/welcome/.
PNW Pollinator Summit and Con-
ference: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CH2M Hill
Alumni Center, Oregon State University,
725 SW 26th St., Corvallis. A two-day
conference and an additional day of
workshops designed to “connect-the-
dots” between research, extension and
application. This meeting is for exten-
sion agents, natural resource profes-
Corporate Officers
Heidi Wright
Chief Operating Officer
Rick Hansen
Chief Financial Officer
Capital Press Managers
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EO Media Group
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published every Friday.
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CALENDAR
Wyndam Orlando Resort, 8001 Inter-
national Drive, Orlando. http://www.
nasga.org.
Oregon Blueberry Conference:
7:55 a.m.-6 p.m., Salem Convention
Center, 200 Commercial St., Salem. A
season recap and market projections,
export markets, trade show and indus-
try reception are among the many top-
ics and events scheduled for this year’s
conference. http://oregonblueberry.
com.
Mike Forrester
Steve Forrester
Kathryn Brown
Susan Rana
Harrison Forrester
Mike Omeg
Cory Bollinger
Jeff Rogers
sionals, land managers, educators, as
well as pollinator enthusiasts who want
to develop or enhance the pollinator
programming in their area. Conference
talks will be mixed with discussion ses-
sions, allowing participants to network
and identify local knowledge and edu-
cation gaps. https://www.oregonbee-
project.org/pnwpollinators2019.
FRIDAY, FEB. 15
Organicology 2019: Hilton Port-
land and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth
Ave., Portland. http://www.organicol-
ogy.org/welcome/.
PNW Pollinator Summit and
Conference: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CH2M
Hill Alumni Center, Oregon State Uni-
versity, 725 SW 26th St., Corvallis.
https://www.oregonbeeproject.org/
pnwpollinators2019.
Bosma Milk Co. Complete Dairy
Dispersal: 10 a.m., 13805 Ave. 160,
13805 Avenue 160, Tipton, Calif. 3,500
head Jerseys Milking and Dry, 3,500
head Jersey heifers. Selling in conjunc-
tion with the World Ag Expo http://
www.overlandstockyard.com/
SATURDAY, FEB. 16
Organicology 2019: Hilton Port-
land and Executive Tower, 921 SW Sixth
Ave., Portland. http://www.organicol-
ogy.org/welcome/
PNW Pollinator Summit and
Conference: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., CH2M
Hill Alumni Center, Oregon State Uni-
versity, 725 SW 26th St., Corvallis.
https://www.oregonbeeproject.org/
pnwpollinators2019.
2019
Organic
Agriculture
Research Forum: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Hil-
ton Portland and Executive Tower, 921
SW Sixth Ave., Portland. The forum will
feature innovative presentations from
researchers across all disciplines related
to organic farming and food systems.
https://ofrf.org
SATURDAY, FEB 16
Farm Transition Play & Workshop:
4-8 p.m., Jessie Mays Community Hall,
30975 NW Hillcrest St., North Plains, Ore.
Who’s going to get the farm? And what
are they going to do with it? Will your
future plans for your land create har-
mony or strife for your family? Or have
you even started to think that far ahead?
Join the Tualatin Soil and Water Conser-
vation District, Rogue Farm Corps, and
instructors from Oregon and Iowa to
learn how to plan for the future of your
farm. Free event with dinner included.
Agenda includes a performance of “Map
of My Kingdom,” a play about the issue of
land transition followed by a discussion
and a presentation and Q&A with attor-
ney Maria Schmidlkofer of Schwabe, Wil-
liamson & Wyatt. Charlotte Trowbridge,
charlotte.trowbridge@tualatinswcd.org,
503-277-3709. https://www.swcd.net/
event/farm-transition-workshop/
SUNDAY, FEB. 17
”Map of My Kingdom” — Hood
River: 6:30-8 p.m., Wy’east Middle School
Auditorium, 3000 Wyeast Road, Hood
River, Ore. Who’s going to get the farm,
and what are they going to do with it?
Will your future plans for your land create
harmony or strife for your family? Or have
you even started to think that far ahead?
“Map of my Kingdom,” a play commis-
sioned by Practical Farmers of Iowa and
written by Iowa’s Poet Laureate Mary
Swander, tackles the critical issue of land
transition. In the drama, Angela Mar-
tin, a lawyer and mediator in land transi-
tion disputes, shares stories of how farm-
ers and landowners she has worked with
over the years approached their land
successions. Doors open at 6 p.m. with
the one-hour performance beginning
at 6:30. The event includes a brief panel
discussion facilitated by Mary Swan-
der. A $10 donation is requested.This
event is made possible with generous
contributions from Gorge Grown Food
Network, Columbia Gorge Winegrow-
ers, Six Rivers Mediation Center, Best
Western Plus Hood River Inn, Solstice
Wood Fire Cafe & Bar and several private
donors. 10. https://www.facebook.com/
events/359649488192946.
TUESDAY, FEB. 19
Changing Hands in Medford:
Workshop on Farm/Ranch Transfer and
Land Access: 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Central
Point Extension, 569 Hanley Road, Cen-
tral Point, Ore. Join Rogue Farm Corps for
“Changing Hands: A Workshop on Farm
Transfer and Access to Land.” This work-
shop is a part of a series that will bring
together retiring and aspiring farmers for
a full day of training on land access and
succession planning. We will also have
facilitated networking throughout the
day to introduce landseekers to land-
owners. If you are a retiring farmer, come
learn from experts about how to pass on
your business to the next generation and
assess its profitability. If you are an aspir-
ing farmer, come learn about creative
ways to start your farm business with
topics on finding and leasing agricul-
tural land, business planning and access-
ing financing. The workshop starts with
breakfast at 8 a.m. The program begins
at 8:30 a.m. and goes until 3:45 p.m., with
breakfast and lunch included. Ashley
Rood, ashley@roguefarmcorps.org, (971)
409-6806.$20. https://www.eventbrite.
com/e/changing-hands-in-medford-
workshop-on-farm-transfer-and-access-
to-land-tickets-54297683834.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20
Redmond Ranch/Farm Transfer
Workshop: 1-5 p.m., Deschutes County
Fairground, North Hall, Ochoco Room,
3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, Ore.
Learn how to pass your farm or ranch to
the next generation at this free event.
Agenda includes a performance of “Map
of My Kingdom” and discussion with
the author and a presentation and Q&A
with an attorney about ranch/farm suc-
cession planning and a presentation by
the Deschutes Land Trust about how
a working land easement can be part
of a succession plan. “Map of My King-
dom” is a play commissioned by Prac-
tical Farmers of Iowa and written by
Iowa’s Poet Laureate, Mary Swander.
It tackles the critical issue of land tran-
sition. In the drama, Angela Martin, a
lawyer and mediator in land transition
disputes, shares stories of how farm-
ers and landowners she has worked
with over the years approached suc-
cession planning. Some families almost
came to blows struggling to resolve the
sale or transfer of their land — dissolv-
ing relationships. Others found peace-
fully rational solutions that focused not
only on the viability of the family, but
also of the land.RSVP to nellie @ rog-
uefarmcorps.org or 971-409-6806. Nel-
lie McAdams, nellie@roguefarmcorps.
org, 9714096806. https://www.face-
book.com/events/2109485942423212/.
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