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CapitalPress.com
Friday, March 1, 2019
People & Places
Ingenuity meets enthusiasm
Leo Castagno
builds equipment,
structures of
all types
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Established 1928
Board of Directors
Mike Forrester
Steve Forrester
Kathryn Brown
Susan Rana
Harrison Forrester
Mike Omeg
Cory Bollinger
Jeff Rogers
By DIANNA TROYER
For the Capital Press
Instead of wincing at a
problem with dread, welder
and designer Leo Castagno
confronts it with an inven-
tor’s ingenuity and an edu-
cator’s enthusiasm at his
businesses in eastern Idaho.
Whatever problem farm-
ers, business owners and
homeowners present, “we
find a solution,” he said of
his Rexburg-based busi-
nesses: Premier Powder
Coating and Custom Fabri-
cation, Idaho Laser Cutting
and Grow it Now.
“We can design and build
whatever people need from
OEM ag parts to furniture
and decorative signs for
businesses and entryways to
ranches,” he said of himself
and his 35 employees, rang-
ing from engineers to weld-
ers. “We love to partner with
any size business that wants
to make great products.”
Castagno holds three pat-
ents: a structure having a
compactible walkway, inte-
rior space expansion sys-
tem and a plant protector
for gardeners. He has also
designed and built foldaway
steps to access a trailer, a
stable picnic table that does
not tip over and bear-proof
receptacles.
One of his most memo-
rable designs helped carrot
farmers market their prod-
uct. While working for Van-
mark Equipment in Iowa,
he designed a machine
that washed, scrubbed and
peeled the baby carrots sold
in grocery stores.
Castagno shared that
experience when he taught
welding engineering tech-
nology at Brigham Young
University-Idaho, as an
example of how students’
work could eventually be
used outside the classroom.
After the welding pro-
gram was eliminated from
the curriculum, he opened
Premier Powder Coating
and Custom Fabrication in
2005.
“To me welding has
become more than just
plunking down a pretty bead
of hot molten metal,” he
said. “I’ve always tried to
inspire.”
While it has been reward-
ing to receive patents, he
said one of his greatest privi-
leges was establishing weld-
ing schools in Mexico City
and Guadalajara.
“It was immensely sat-
isfying to teach young peo-
ple how welding could influ-
Corporate Officers
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Chief Operating Officer
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Chief Financial Officer
Capital Press Managers
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Elizabeth Yutzie Sell ... Advertising Director
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager
Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager
Entire contents copyright © 2019
EO Media Group
dba Capital Press
An independent newspaper
published every Friday.
Courtesy of Leo Castagno
Castagno’s bear-proof containers are used at campgrounds throughout the region.
Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR,
and at additional mailing offices.
Western Innovator
LEO CASTAGNO
Age: 61
Leo Castagno and his wife, Becky, employ 35 workers
who design and weld customized ag equipment, picnic
tables, memorial benches and signs.
ence their future,” he said.
“It was a way to teach them
‘how to fish.’”
Castagno said teach-
ing in Mexico changed his
ideas about education and
eventually running his
businesses.
“I came back and
changed my syllabus to
say, ‘This is not a welding
course. This is a course on
ship-building, sword-mak-
ing, problem-solving and
leadership. I will teach you
to stand up, lead out, take
charge, solve problems and
make decisions and use
welding to do it.’ ”
To Castagno, “sword-
making” is a metaphor to
protect people from their
“enemies,” whether in a
classroom or workplace.
“We all have enemies
— lack of training, lack
of education, unemploy-
ment or underemployment,
laziness, poor quality, lack
of pride, indecision, pro-
crastination, poor lead-
ership, and issues with
problem-solving, self-con-
fidence and self-esteem.”
“Ship-building” can carry
the future of students as
well as employees.
“A ship is a vessel that
floats and carries and
transports valuable cargo
— people with dreams,”
he said. “While protect-
ing passengers, it weath-
ers storms and navigates
rough seas and strong cur-
rents. I encouraged stu-
dents and now my employ-
ees to make swords and to
build ships.”
Castagno said whatever
he designs, “I try to mini-
mize the number of welds
and parts to help make a
product last.”
His company’s reputa-
tion for precision and fast
turnaround times landed
him a contract with a
business cleaning up the
Fukushima nuclear acci-
dent site in Japan.
“A company back East
Cultivating the Harvest Small
Farm Conference: 8:30 a.m.-
5 p.m., University of Idaho
Pitman Center, 709 Deakin
Ave., Moscow, Idaho. Keynote
speakers include Beth Robinette
of Lazy R Ranch, Laura Garber of
Homestead Organics Farm and
Bill Snyder, WSU entomologist.
Colette DePhelps, cdephelps@
uidaho.edu, 208-885-4003.
$25-75. Website: https://bit.
ly/2GTdoD7
SUNDAY, MARCH 3
National Farmers Union 117th
Anniversary Convention: Hyatt
Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue
Way NE, Bellevue, Wash. Fam-
ily farmers and ranchers from
across the country, industry
professionals and notable
speakers will gather. Those from
Washington, Oregon and Idaho
are provided with a special offer
to receive a free, one-year NFU
membership with their registra-
tion. Website: http://NFU.org/
nwfu-2019-convention.
MONDAY, MARCH 4
National Farmers Union 117th
Anniversary Convention:
Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900
Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue,
Wash. Website: http://NFU.org/
nwfu-2019-convention.
TUESDAY, MARCH 5
National Farmers Union 117th
Anniversary Convention:
Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900
Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue,
Wash. Website: http://NFU.org/
nwfu-2019-convention.
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 6
Changing Hands in Corvallis:
Workshop on Farm Transfer and
Land Access: 8 a.m.-3:45 p.m.,
LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW
26th St., Corvallis, Ore. Join Rogue
Farm Corps for a workshop that
will bring together retiring and
aspiring farmers for a full day of
training on land access and suc-
cession planning. We will also have
facilitated networking throughout
the day. Retiring farmers can learn
from experts about how to pass
on their business to the next gen-
eration. Aspiring farmers can learn
about creative ways to start their
farm business. Starts with light
breakfast at 8 a.m. The program
begins at 8:30 a.m. and goes until
3:45 p.m. Lunch included. Ashley
Rood, ashley@roguefarmcorps.org,
(971) 409-6806. $20. https://bit.
ly/2GqGdHP
NRCS Northwest Working Group
Meeting: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Padilla
Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve, 10441 Bayview Edison
Road, Mt. Vernon, Wash. The data
collected at these meetings plays
a major role in the agency’s direc-
tion at the local level. Snohomish,
Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan Islands,
Whidbey Island, Clallum, Jefferson
conservation districts. Sarah Tanu-
vasa, 360-428-7684.
OFRF’s 22nd Annual Benefit Lun-
cheon: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., The City
National Grove of Anaheim, 2200
East Katella Avenue, Anaheim,
Calif. Organic dairy farmer Heather
Darby of Allburg, Vt., will be joined
by Allie Mentzer, advocacy senior
manager at National Co+op Gro-
cers, and Brise Tensor, executive
director at the Organic Farming
Research Foundation. Prepare to
be inspired by these groundbreak-
ers in the organic industry as you
kick off Expo West. https://ofrf.org/
events.
MONDAY, MARCH 11
NRCS Snake River Working
Group Meeting: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.,
WDFW Office, 529 W. Main St., Day-
ton, Wash. The data collected at
these meetings plays a major role
in the agency’s direction at the lo-
cal level. Includes the Asotin Coun-
ty, Columbia, Franklin, Pomeroy,
Walla Walla conservation districts.
Tracy Hanger, 509-522-6340.
TUESDAY, MARCH 12
Healthy Soil, Healthy Region
Workshop: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Pendleton
Convention Center, 1608 West-
gate, Pendleton, Ore. The Healthy
Soil, Healthy Region Workshop is
a region-wide approach to bring
together agricultural professionals
and producers from Washington,
Oregon, and Idaho for a 3-day
workshop to improve awareness of
existing, new, and evolving regional
soil health practices and assessment
methods. The workshop will provide
hands-on training on soil health
practices, improve understanding
of the practical barriers producers
face when implementing soil health
practices, and increase familiarity
with tools that can be used by
producers to make decisions related
to soil health. Karen Hills, khills@
wsu.edu. http://csanr.wsu.edu/
healthysoils/.
Introduction to GMPs, Preventive
Controls, and FSMA Workshop:
8 a.m.-5 p.m., Century Hotel, 8185
POSTMASTER: send address changes to
Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR
97308-2048.
To Reach Us
Education: Brigham Young Uni-
versity with a bachelor’s degree in
manufacturing engineering tech-
nology and a master’s degree in engineering management
Circulation ...........................800-882-6789
Email ........... Circulation@capitalpress.com
Main line .............................503-364-4431
Owner: Premier Powder Coating and Custom Fabrication,
Idaho Laser Cutting, Grow it Now
Idaho
Carol Ryan Dumas ..............208-860-3898
Patents: A structure having a compactible walkway, interior
space expansion system, and a plant protector for gardeners
Boise
Brad Carlson .......................208-914-8264
Family: He and his wife, Becky, have seven children and 11
grandchildren
Website: ppccfab.com
found us on a Google
search,” he said. “They
needed customized metal
catwalks with certain spec-
ifications. We made and
shipped what they needed
in about two weeks.”
He has also designed
and built platforms and
railings for the Hanford
Nuclear Site.
At his website, a video
shows how his foldaway
stairs solved a problem
at farms and businesses
and are used to easily and
safely access places with-
out having to use a ladder.
A regional problem he
solved was to make dura-
ble bear-proof containers.
His Bear Guardian products
are used at parks and camp-
grounds and include dump-
sters, trash cans and food
containers.
“We make a large quan-
tity of items as part of the
Bear-Proofing
Montana
Project,” he said.
Castagno’s Premier Pic-
nic Tables do not tip over.
The sturdy metal tables
are popular with farm fam-
ilies and park managers
because they are safe and
long-lasting.
His employees at Idaho
Laser Cutting manufacture
the tables and other items
including bedframes, cus-
tomized memorial benches
and signs.
An avid gardener, Cast-
agno started Grow It Now
after becoming frustrated
with eastern Idaho’s short,
unpredictable growing sea-
son and June frosts.
He designed several plant
protectors to shelter vege-
tation from frost, wind and
hail. His mini-greenhouses
and raised beds help garden-
ers’ plants flourish.
He attributes his busi-
ness success “to having
great customers, wonderful
employees and my very sup-
portive wife, Becky. We’ll
always be developing new
products.”
CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MARCH 2
Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is
published weekly by EO Media Group,
2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303.
SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road,
Tualatin, Ore. This one-day overview
course is especially designed for
line workers, QC personnel, sanitors,
supervisors, and other employees
of food processing operations. It
provides an overview of food safety,
GMPs, and Preventive Controls, and
meets the FDA Preventive Controls
for Human Food (PCHF) regula-
tion Presented by Mark Daeschel,
professor emeritus, Oregon State
University; and Jeff Kronenberg,
retired assistant professor, University
of Idaho. Ariel Kronenberg, ak@
fsnwllc.com, 208-891-5799. $295.
https://bit.ly/2DBY0I4
WEDNESDAY,
MARCH 13
Healthy Soil, Healthy Region
Workshop: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Pendleton
Convention Center, 1608 Westgate,
Pendleton, Ore. http://csanr.wsu.
edu/healthysoils/.
NRCS Puget Sound Working
Group Meeting: 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m.,
USDA Service Center, 1835 Black
Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia, Wash. The
data collected at these meetings
plays a major role in the agency’s
direction at the local level. Includes
the King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce,
Thurston conservation districts. Amy
Hendershot, 253-256-6744.
THURSDAY,
MARCH 14
2019 Agri-Ecotourism Confer-
ence: 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of Salem,
5090 Center St. NE, Salem. Farmers
and value-added operators who sell
directly to consumers, and family
woodland owners who provide rec-
reation to visitors on their land, will
benefit from information presented
at a conference featuring national
and local experts in both agri and
ecotourism. Ecotourism Keynoter
Toby Bloom, national program man-
ager for tourism and interpretive
services for the U.S. Forest Service,
kicks off the day presenting how the
U.S. Forest Service brings together
gateway communities, their part-
ners and experts from conservation,
the community and economic
development. Agritourism Key-
noter Stephanie Larson, director,
University of California Cooperative
Extension Sonoma County, will
cover opportunities to enhance
local experiences with agritourism
adventures. Other presentation
topics range from the cider industry
to industrial hemp tourism. Mary
Stewart, mary.stewart@oregonstate.
edu, 503-891-4103. https://bit.
ly/2GzDPhT.
Healthy Soil, Healthy Region
Workshop: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Pendleton
Convention Center, 1608 Westgate,
Pendleton, Ore. http://csanr.wsu.
edu/healthysoils/.
Introduction to GMPs, Preventive
Controls, and FSMA Workshop:
8 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn,
1000 Welcome Way, Medford, Ore.
Participants will spend one-half
day learning about GMPs and
prerequisite programs. This includes
the recently updated FDA GMP
rules, which are required by both
state and federal food regulators.
The second half of course material
will be devoted to introducing
participants to the new Food
Safety Modernization Act (FSMA),
with a focus on the Preventive
Controls for Human Food regula-
tion (21 CFR 117). Other new FSMA
regulations will be presented.
Ariel Kronenberg, ak@fsnwllc.com,
208 891 5799. $295. https://bit.
ly/2DBY0I4
News Staff
Central Washington
Dan Wheat ..........................509-699-9099
Western Washington
Don Jenkins .........................360-722-6975
Eastern Washington
Matthew Weaver ................509-688-9923
Oregon
George Plaven ....................406-560-1655
Mateusz Perkowski .............800-882-6789
Graphic artist
Alan Kenaga ........................800-882-6789
Designer
Randy Wrighthouse .............800-882-6789
To Place Classified Ads
Telephone (toll free) ............800-882-6789
Online ...........CapitalPress.com/classifieds
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Mailing address:
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News: Contact the main office
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send the information to
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Include a contact telephone number.
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Index
Opinion ...................................................6
Markets .................................................12
CORRECTION
A story in last week’s editions
about the proposed move of
the USDA Economic Research
Service and the National
Institute of Food and Agricul-
ture from Washington, D.C.,
should have stated Congress
had given NIFA more than $100
million to modernize the grants
management system. Also,
Sonny Ramaswamy, former
head of NIFA, did not contact
several land grant universities
regarding their efforts to attract
ERS and NIFA.
The Capital Press regrets the
errors.