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2 CapitalPress.com Friday, December 25, 2020 People & Places Getting small farmers together By MATTHEW WEAVER Capital Press Aba Kiser knows food comes from farmers. But she wants to go the next step and organize events to help them form communities and support one another. Kiser is project manager of Washington State Uni- versity’s food systems pro- gram and coordinator of the Cascadia Grains con- ference, which supports small-scale grain farmers. In her job organizing ag-related events, she helps farmers get together to share their experiences and expertise and, in the pro- cess, form communities. The COVID-19 pan- demic is a “wild time” to think about defining or expanding agricultural communities, she said. “We’ve realized, with this constraint we all have, it’s really a huge oppor- tunity to be able to define your community however you want to,” she said. Kiser sees her role as giving people the space to share their expertise. “I’m really interested in structures that are equi- table, revelatory and the idea that the best idea can come from anywhere in the room, and it likely will,” Kiser said. “Aba is fearless in advo- cating for social equity and inclusiveness in agri- culture, and tireless in her efforts to reach out to under-represented commu- nities in the U.S. and across South America,” said Kevin Murphy, WSU spe- cialty crop breeder. “Aba has had, and will continue to have, a positive impact on marginalized farmers and communities who are not otherwise represented by established industries.” Equity, social justice and inclusion are Kiser’s priorities when planning a conference or event, said Lane Selman, director of the Culinary Breeding Net- Courtesy of Aba Kiser work in Oregon, which connects breeders, seed Aba Kiser is project manager of Washington State Uni- dealers, farmers and chefs. versity’s food systems program. Part of her job is orga- “It’s also really fun to nizing events to get small farmers together. work with her,” Selman added. “She brings a lot ast to help people connect pop, with a heartache for country swing and jazz.” of joy and honest interest and tell their stories. “In some ways, my jour- But putting together in what she’s doing. She believes in it, and it comes ney has always been con- meaningful events, both nected to food,” she said. in-person and online, through.” Kiser still performs as remains her priority. Kiser grew up in Vir- ginia, and when she was a musician. She appears “It’s always been a focus young she sang with a jazz under the name Abakis. She of mine to create these group at her father’s restau- made an album, “I’m One, events that bring together rant during brunch. Too,” and plays in a band — culture and food, that cre- She uses her back- “me and whoever I can con- ates revelatory experiences ground as a musician, vince to play at the time.” for people, and allows farmer, farmers market She describes her music them to connect and enjoy manager and food enthusi- as “roots-y orchestral folk beautiful food, but with a EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER Established 1928 Capital Press Managers Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher Anne Long ................Advertising Manager Western Innovator ABA KISER Age: 31 Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor Jessica Boone ............ Production Manager Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager Entire contents copyright © 2020 EO Media Group dba Capital Press Title: Statewide Project Manager, Washington State University Food Systems Program; coor- dinator, Cascadia Grains Conference Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is Hometown: Fairfax, Va. published weekly by EO Media Group, Current location: Chi- macum, Wash. 2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303. Family: Single Education: Bachelor’s degree in integrated me- dia; attended Evergreen State College and Univer- sity of Washington Websites: https:// foodsystems.wsu.edu/ https://www.cascadia- grains.com/ http://www.abakismusic. com/ context and understanding of where it comes from,” she said. An independent newspaper published every Friday. Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Capital Press, P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048. To Reach Us Circulation ...........................800-781-3214 Email ........... Circulation@capitalpress.com Main line .............................503-364-4431 News Staff Idaho Carol Ryan Dumas ..............208-860-3898 Boise Brad Carlson .......................208-914-8264 Wilco awards grants to two Oregon FFA chapters Crook County, Astoria FFA each receive $4,000 By GEORGE PLAVEN Capital Press MT. ANGEL, Ore. — Wilco, a farmers’ cooper- ative based in Mt. Angel, Ore., has awarded two, $4,000 grants to a pair of Oregon FFA chapters to install new equipment and expand agricultural educa- tion programs. The donations are part of Wilco’s FFA Forever pro- gram, which has sur- passed more than $1 mil- lion since it started. Astoria Sam FFA will use Bugarsky its $4,000 grant to help purchase drip irrigation, benches and other supplies for a larger greenhouse. Crook County FFA received $4,000 to help install pod irrigation and cross fencing, adding two additional pastures for its land lab. Sam Bugarsky, president and CEO of Wilco, said the co-op is committed to help- ing youth in agriculture thrive. “We look forward to continued support of these youth programs as we part- ner with our vendors, cus- tomers, employees and farmer-owners to assure our future is bright,” Bugarsky said in a statement. As part of the FFA For- ever program, Wilco ear- marks more than $125,000 annually to support the Ore- gon FFA Foundation. Of that total, $25,000 goes directly to benefit local FFA chapters. Wilco also helped 11 Oregon county fairs pivot to virtual livestock auctions for FFA and 4-H members amid the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to providing $2,000 for fees and expenses associated with hosting a vir- tual auction, Wilco members were active bidders, con- tributing to the purchases of more than 100 animals and helping to bump up prices. “Many of our team mem- bers were in FFA and 4-H as kids, so we immediately rec- ognized how disheartening the situation was with fairs canceled,” Bugarsky said. “We were happy to add the additional donations and be active in virtual auctions to add good things in tough times.” Finally, to help jump- start youth projects in 2021, Wilco has also mailed out over $150,000 in rebates for those with youth accounts in Oregon and Washington. Established in 1967, Wilco today serves more than 500,000 customers and has more than 3,000 farmer members across the Pacific Northwest. 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 Sierra Dawn McClain ..........503-506-8011 Designer Randy Wrighthouse .............800-882-6789 To Place Classified Ads Telephone (toll free) ............800-882-6789 Online ...........CapitalPress.com/classifieds Subscriptions Mail rates paid in advance Easy Pay U.S. $4 /month (direct withdrawal from bank Do you have the best farm dog? Tell us By SIERRA DAWN MCCLAIN Capital Press Courtesy of Valley Wide Cooperat Carly Weaver of Valley Wide Cooperative, left, pres- ents a $10,000 check to Idaho FFA Foundation Exec- utive Director Marcia Jedry and Programs Director Liz Wilder. Co-ops donate $10,000 to Idaho FFA Foundation Valley Wide Coop- erative, with grant part- ner Land O’ Lakes, has donated $10,000 to the Idaho FFA Foundation. Funds will be used for items such as educational resources, digital plat- forms and programming, and scholarships. The two cooperatives contribute more than $100,000 annu- ally to local communities and organizations. “We know and work in ag, equipment, energy and mechanics indus- tries every day and see new generations com- ing to work and making a real difference,” Valley Wide Cooperative CEO Dave Holtom said in a news release. “It’s critical to support the education of up-and-coming farm- ers and industry leaders in any way we can; investing in their future is investing in the future of our co-op and ag industry.” Idaho FFA Founda- tion Executive Director Marcia Jedry thanked Nampa-based Valley Wide for its donation and detailed activities the cooperative supports. “Great businesses always think about the future of the industry they work in,” she said in the release. “Valley Wide’s donation, which will sup- port Idaho FFA members’ learning and growth, is an investment in future industry leaders. The foundation is grateful for the support of Valley Wide Cooperative, Valley Agro- nomics and their family of companies for activities like (FFA) State Leader- ship Conference, agron- omy career-development events at state and national levels, career-success tours, in-classroom partic- ipation, FFA adviser train- ing, and so much more.” Valley Wide said agri- cultural education “pre- pares students for success- ful careers and a lifetime of informed choices in the global agriculture, food, fiber and natural-re- sources systems” by pro- viding opportunities rang- ing from education and career preparation to lead- ership development and personal growth. The Capital Press is look- ing for stories about farm dogs. If you think you’ve got the world’s best farm dog, tell us why. Maybe your dog pro- tected your livestock from a coyote attack. Perhaps your dog does a great job herd- ing sheep. It may have saved your life. Or maybe it’s just a faithful friend that follows you around on the ranch every day. If you’ve got a spe- cial farm dog, the Capital Press wants to know about it. You, and your dog, just might be featured in an Sierra Dawn McClain/Capital Press A Maremma livestock guardian dog in a snow-cov- ered sheep pasture. upcoming story. What to do: Write one short paragraph about your dog. Include the dog’s name and breed and tell us why it’s such a great farm dog. Send your paragraph to our reporter, Sierra Dawn McClain, at: smcclain@cap- italpress.com. In the email subject line, write “Best Farm Dog.” Please include your full name, age, city and state in the email. Deadline: Jan. 4, 2021, at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time Who may enter: Anyone in California, Oregon, Wash- ington or Idaho may partic- ipate. Individuals affiliated with Capital Press, including employees, interns and their household family members may not participate. Tell us about your farm dog today. or credit card account) 1 year U.S. ...........................................$55 2 years U.S. ........................................$100 1 year Canada .....................................$275 1 year other countries ...........call for quote 1 year Internet only .........................$49.99 1 year 4-H, FFA students/teachers .......$30 9 months 4-H, FFA students/teachers ..$25 Visa and Mastercard accepted To get information published Mailing address: Capital Press P.O. Box 2048 Salem, OR 97308-2048 News: Contact the main office or news staff member closest to you, send the information to newsroom@capitalpress.com or mail it to “Newsroom,” c/o Capital Press. Include a contact telephone number. Washington native crowned ag advocate 40 miles southeast of Seattle. Her parents, Michael and Sondjia Edwards, own Midnight Mountain Farm. Lundquist and her husband, Washington native Sondra Lundquist was Michael, currently live in Florida, where he’s crowned America’s Miss Agribusiness at a a technical adviser for a heavy equipment pageant last month in Florida. dealer. Lundquist, 33, won the Elegant Lundquist said they plan to eventu- ally return to Washington. “I love the Miss title, one of 11 age categories. snow. I’m not made for 100 degrees,” She also won the title National AgVo- cate, a separate competition held the she said. same day. Lundquist has won national Reigning titleholders promote horse-showing and pageant titles agriculture, make appearances and before. Miss Agribusiness was the Sondra perform community service, accord- first farm-related pageant she has Lundquist entered. ing to the organization. “I’ll be a representative for the Lundquist won the Florida Miss farmer,” she said. “I will talk to farmers to Elegant title and competed in a seven-woman understand their problems and how to fix field Nov. 22 in Crestview, Fla., for the them. ... I want to explain to people in (cities) national crown. About half the contestants where food comes from.” were unable to attend because of coronavirus Lundquist grew up in Enumclaw, about restrictions, she said. By DON JENKINS Capital Press SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY JAN. 10-13 American Farm Bureau Annual Convention (virtual): The conven- tion will focus on top issues includ- ing the impact of COVID-19, sustain- ability and the future of the supply chain. Website: https://www.fb.org THURSDAY, JAN. 14 Create a Plan for Your Land Workshop (virtual): Learn from experts about soil, water and wild- life conservation. Classes are geared toward small farms and rural prop- erties, but anyone is welcome. We will provide technical assistance to complete conservation plans and potentially find funding for conser- vation projects on your land. Plan to comments on agriculture-related public issues to opinions@capitalpress.com, or mail your letter to “Opinion,” c/o Capital Press. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Deadline: Noon Monday. Capital Press ag media CapitalPress.com FarmSeller.com MarketPlace.capitalpress.com facebook.com/CapitalPress facebook.com/FarmSeller twitter.com/CapitalPress youtube.com/CapitalPressvideo Index Dairy .......................................................8 Markets .................................................10 CALENDAR Submit upcoming ag-related events on www.capitalpress.com or by email to newsroom@capital- press.com. Letters to the Editor: Send your Opinion ...................................................6 attend all four free sessions, which will be from 5 to 8 p.m.: Jan. 14: Conservation planning — Soil. Jan. 21: Water and vegetation. Jan. 28: Streamsides and woodlands. Feb. 4: Working lands — Put- ting it all together. Contact: Marion Soil and Water Conservation District, 503-391- 9927. Registration: http://virtualp- fyl.eventbrite.com Correction policy Accuracy is important to Capital Press staff and to our readers. If you see a misstatement, omission or factual error in a headline, story or photo caption, please call the Capital Press news department at 503-364-4431, or send email to newsroom@capitalpress.com. We want to publish corrections to set the record straight.