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CapitalPress.com
Friday, June 18, 2021
People & Places
Extension educator elevated 4-H teen programs
By CAROL RYAN DUMAS
Capital Press
EMPOWERING PRODUCERS OF FOOD & FIBER
Empowering youth was at the
core of Donna R. Gillespie’s job
with the University of Idaho Exten-
sion, a career that spanned 23 years.
She retired in May.
Long involved in 4-H, she spent
the last six years of her career as a
regional youth development educa-
tor, partnering with 4-H profession-
als in youth-development program-
ming throughout central Idaho.
On top of that, she oversaw 4-H
teen programs statewide, providing
leadership in 4-H personal devel-
opment, leadership, and citizenship
and civic education.
“Anything having to do with teen
programs statewide, I was involved
with,” she said.
Gillespie earned a national repu-
tation for award-winning 4-H youth
leadership programs that included
the 4-H Know Your Government
Conference, State Teen Association
Courtesy of Donna Gillespie
Convention and 4-H Ambassadors.
Her reorganization of Idaho 4-H Donna R. Gillespie with Angel Melendez, 2019-2020 Idaho 4-H Teen
teen programs increased youth lead- Association vice president from Richfield, Idaho, at the Hispanic
ership opportunities significantly, Youth Summit at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.
with the number of statewide lead-
ership positions growing from 13 to pletely revamped its 4-H teen pro- reach their potential.
grams under Gillespie’s leadership
49 since 2015.
“She empowers them to take
“We changed how they were so that teens are partners in learn- the leadership responsibility for all
facilitated, with youth in leadership ing, said Jim Lindstrom, 4-H youth of the programs she leads. That’s a
development program director for really special skill,” he said.
roles,” she said.
The programs’ steering commit- the university.
She’s been a great role model in
tees are now primarily made up of
They don’t have to wait years to engaging teens and building their
youth.
become a leader; they practice lead- leadership skills, he said.
“It was pretty much ground-break- ership skills the moment they enroll.
“Her passion is building those
ing to have youth in the lead in those It’s exciting for teens — they’re leadership skills with teens.”
programs,” she said.
making decisions, planning and
He said he knew her retirement
The changes won two major implementing, he said.
was imminent but he just kept hop-
awards from the National Associa-
“That’s so exciting, and Donna’s ing it wouldn’t happen.
tion of Extension 4-H Agents — the been our leader in that,” he said.
“I miss her already,” he said.
Beyond Youth Leadership Award in
Gillespie said her favorite part
She has worked with each of
2018 and the Excellence in Work- those teen program committees so of the work was “watching kids
force Development Programming the kids are in the front, making develop, watching kids grow
Award in 2019.
the decisions. That’s a major differ- and find their voice to serve their
Gillespie said the things she is ence from adults being in charge and community.”
most proud of in her career are all leading, he said.
The best part was seeing them
tied to the concept of “Leadership
“With Donna’s leadership, this develop their own leadership skills,
Now!” — the initiative that changed has really moved us forward,” he she said, adding that it is possible
the way Idaho 4-H teen programs are said.
because there are so many 4-H vol-
developed, facilitated and evaluated.
He describes Gillespie as a “silent unteers and a lot of people who care
The University of Idaho com- pied piper” empowering youth to and donate time and money.
Established 1928
Capital Press Managers
Western
Innovator
ALBANY, Ore. — Ore-
gon Women for Agriculture,
a volunteer organization of
women ded-
icated
to
promoting
agriculture
statewide,
has honored
two of its
members for
outstanding Anne Marie
Moss
service and
leadership.
Dona Coon, of Shedd,
Ore., received the Leaven
Award for her decades of
work with the group. Anne
Marie Moss, communica-
tions director of the Oregon
Farm Bureau, was given the
OWA Service to Ag Award
for her integral role advocat-
ing on behalf of farmers and
ranchers.
Both awards were pre-
sented Feb. 27 during the
OWA annual meeting, which
Oregon Women for Agriculture
Dona Coon, left, with Mary Hood, the Linn-Benton
Women for Ag chapter president.
was held virtually.
Coon serves as vice pres-
ident of the OWA Linn-Ben-
ton county chapter, and as a
county director on the orga-
nization’s state board. She
joined OWA in 1983, and
for 38 years has been deeply
Carl Sampson .................. Managing Editor
Samantha McLaren ....Circulation Manager
DONNA R. GILLESPIE
Occupation: University of Idaho
Extension professor and regional
youth development educator,
retired.
Entire contents copyright © 2021
EO Media Group
dba Capital Press
An independent newspaper
Positions: Camas County Exten-
sion agent, 1978-1981; Minidoka
County Extension educator, 2001-
2015; regional youth develop-
ment educator, 2015-2021.
published weekly by EO Media Group,
Home: Rupert, Idaho.
2870 Broadway NE, Salem OR 97303.
published every Friday.
Capital Press (ISSN 0740-3704) is
Age: 67.
Publications: Numerous papers
on 4-H and food preservation.
Affiliations: Epsilon Sigma Phi,
western regional vice president,
2014-2015; National Association
of Extension 4-H Agents, western
regional director, 2011-2013,
and 2020 conference co-chair,
2017-2020; Idaho Association of
Extension 4-H Agents, president
2006 and 2011.
Honors: National Association of
Extension 4-H Agents Specialty
Awards for youth leadership, edu-
cation, video program, workforce
development training and service.
Education: Bachelor’s degrees in
veterinary science and animal in-
dustries, 1975, University of Idaho;
master’s degree in meat science,
1977, University of Idaho.
Family: Husband, Kent; two
grown children; one grandchild.
Periodicals postage paid at Portland, OR,
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Idaho
Carol Ryan Dumas ..............208-860-3898
Boise
Brad Carlson .......................208-914-8264
Western Washington
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Eastern Washington
Matthew Weaver ................509-688-9923
Now that she’s retired, she plans
to do all the things she formerly
didn’t have time for — seeing more
of her children, gardening, travel-
ing and taking up golf again after a
20-year absence.
Oregon Women for Agriculture honor two at annual meeting
By GEORGE PLAVEN
Capital Press
Joe Beach ..................... Editor & Publisher
Anne Long ................. Advertising Director
involved in running state con-
ventions, the annual auction
and Oregon State Fair booth.
In addition to OWA, Coon
is a key supporter of Oregon
Ag in the Classroom. She
kept the program alive in the
1990s after the Agri-Business
Council of Oregon pulled its
support, moving materials
for Oregon AITC from the
council’s offices in Portland
to her home.
Today, Oregon AITC
reaches more than 200,000
students and 270 teachers
in all 36 counties, providing
agricultural education and
hands-on activities.
The Leaven Award is
given each year to a member
of OWA who “acts as leaven
and multiplies her effective-
ness for the good of the orga-
nization, just as leaven does
to bread.
“Dona’s many talents
and devotion for all aspects
of agriculture make her a
very worthy recipient of
the Leaven award,” the
group announced.
The OWA Service to Ag
Award goes each year to
someone who extensively
shares the message of agri-
culture with others — essen-
tially Moss’ job description
for the state Farm Bureau.
As communications direc-
tor, Moss is a spokesperson
for agriculture every day. She
is a messenger for the Farm
Bureau and the farmers it
represents, whether conduct-
ing outreach to students, con-
sumers or state lawmakers in
Salem.
Moss is also a graduate of
the Resource Education and
Agricultural Leadership pro-
gram, known as REAL Ore-
gon, a leadership training
course for the agriculture and
natural resources sectors.
Helle Ruddenklau, OWA
past president, said Moss is
“talented in her work, and
with her positive and upbeat
personality is a joyful yet
forceful advocate on behalf
of Oregon agriculture.”
Oregon
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Salad days ahead for this small farm
By ALIYA HALL
For the Capital Press
GRESHAM, Ore. — As
outdoor enthusiasts, Quinn
Richards and Theus Weis-
kopf were often disap-
pointed in the lack of variety
and freshness that came with
backpacking food.
“It’s like space food,”
Richards
said.
“It’s
pre-packaged and people
drink beer and you’re like,
‘What is this culture?’”
The absence of high-qual-
ity food and feeling a desire
to “deeply root themselves
to a place” led Richards and
Weiskopf to stop traveling
and pursue their interest in
growing food.
The couple started Farm
Punk Salads in 2019 on a
half-acre plot at Headwaters
Incubator Farm in Gresham,
Ore.
The farm focuses on
salad greens and culi-
nary herbs, which they sell
at farmers markets and
through their weekly Com-
munity Supported Agricul-
ture (CSA) home deliveries.
They also make a dressing,
which is sold at select retail-
ers, including New Seasons
Markets.
“It seems to me that agri-
culture and farming is where
a lot of people end up when
looking for different ways
to connect with the land,”
Weiskopf said.
Richards said she knew
getting into the Portland
farming scene was compet-
itive, so they approached
their business model with a
niche in mind.
“We thought if we got
specific and do salad, we can
create a decent margin off
that,” she said. “I also made
my own dressing and felt
disappointed with the dress-
ings that were available, so
it felt like we could make a
value-added product and sell
it like a kit.”
Include a contact telephone number.
Letters to the Editor: Send your
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Press. Letters should be limited to
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Capital Press ag media
CapitalPress.com
FarmSeller.com
MarketPlace.capitalpress.com
facebook.com/CapitalPress
Aliya Hall/For the Capital Press
Theus Weiskopf and Quinn Richards of Farm Punk Sal-
ads said the outdoors and delicious vegetables got
them involved with farming. Richards said being a Farm
Punk is about “honoring who you are.”
facebook.com/FarmSeller
twitter.com/CapitalPress
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Index
CALENDAR
Submit upcoming ag-related
events on www.capitalpress.com
or by email to newsroom@capital-
press.com.
THURSDAY-
SATURDAY
JUNE 24-26
United Fresh Convention
and Expo (in person and online):
Los Angeles Convention Center.
Whether online or in person, United
Fresh is your partner connecting
the global fresh produce industry.
Sponsored by the United Fresh Pro-
duce Association and the Fresh Pro-
duce and Floral Council. Website:
https://www.unitedfresh.org/unit-
ed-fresh-convention-expo-2021/#
MONDAY-TUESDAY
JUNE 28-29
Idaho Cattle Association Sum-
mer Round-Up: Stagecoach Inn,
Salmon, Idaho. The conference will
include updates from the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Idaho
Beef Council, Idaho Department of
Agriculture and Idaho Departments
of Lands, as well as market updates.
An optional rafting trip is planned
for June 27. Website: www.idaho-
cattle.org
WEDNESDAY-
THURSDAY
JUNE 30-JULY 1
Western Governors’ Associ-
ation 2021 Annual Meeting (vir-
tual): The event will feature gov-
ernors in roundtable discussions
on topics such as energy response,
public lands challenges, shared
Markets .................................................10
stewardship, infrastructure and
workforce. Website: www.west-
gov.org
WEDNESDAY-
SUNDAY
JUNE 30-JULY 4
St. Paul Rodeo: 7:30 p.m.
nightly, with a 1:30 p.m. matinee
Sunday at the St. Paul, Ore., rodeo
grounds. Tickets are $16 to $26, not
including a convenience fee, and
can be purchased online at StPaul-
Rodeo.com. For more information,
visit the rodeo’s website or call 800-
237-5920. Covid guidelines will be
in place during the rodeo. Tickets
purchased earlier in the year will be
honored.
Opinion ...................................................6
TUESDAY-THURSDAY
AUG. 10-12
Accuracy is important to Capital Press
staff and to our readers.
2021 Cattle Industry Conven-
tion & Trade Show: Gaylord Opry-
land Resort, Nashville, Tenn. The
convention will include educational
seminars, exhibits and network-
ing. Website: http://convention.
ncba.org
Correction policy
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
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to set the record straight.