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146th Year, No. 106
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INSIDE STILL TIME TO ‘GET WILD’ IN PENDLETON IN GO!
SPRING RAINS LEAD
TO BOUNTIFUL
WHEAT HARVEST
By JOHN TILLMAN
East Oregonian
U
MAPINE — What a
diff erence a year made
to wheat growers.
The drought of 2021 caused near crop-failure conditions
in some wheat-growing areas of the Pacifi c Northwest. Don
Wysocki, extension soil scientist for Oregon State University
in Pendleton, said last year’s crop was 60% or less than usual
in some areas. But 2022 has a bumper crop.
“This year is well above average in most areas, and
the quality is really good,” he said. “Last year it was low,
with grain shriveled by drought.”
Harvest should last a week to 10 days later than usual,
Wysocki said, thanks to the record-breaking spring rains
and two recent thunderstorms. The Basin Agricultural
Research Center near Adams received eight-tenths of an
inch of rain from the storm on Aug. 11
Wheat harvest should wrap up by the end of August in
Umatilla County, he added.
“It’s already over in the drier areas,” Wysocki noted.
“Conservatively, yield should be 20% above average. In
some areas, 30% to 40% higher. Some growers say they
cut the best yield they’ve ever had. And the price is better
than last year as well.”
All wheat planted in Oregon in 2021 totaled 720,000
acres, down 3% from the previous year, the National Agri-
cultural Statistics Service reported in January. Harvested
area, at 705,000 acres, was also down 3% from 2020. Produc-
tion totaled 31.7 million bushels, down 32%. Yield was esti-
mated at 45 bushels per acre, down 19 bushels from 2020.
See Harvest, Page A8
C LA SS IC
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IN C R U IS FO R
E
A combine harvests wheat Friday,
Aug. 19, 2022, on a fi eld northeast of
Pendleton off Highway 11. Don Wysocki,
extension soil scientist for Oregon State
University in Pendleton, says yield
should be 20% above average.
Yasser Marte/East Oregonian
Summer
heat or the
pandemic?
Local museums
discuss reduced
attendance
By DAKOTA
CASTETS-DIDIER
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — More than two
years since the beginning of the
coronavirus pandemic, some local
tourism and culture centers still feel
the pain of reduced traffi c.
April Meadows, administrative
assistant of the Heritage Station
Museum, Pendleton, said this
summer is better than last year,
but numbers are not to pre-pan-
demic levels.
See Museums, Page A8
UMATILLA COUNTY FAIR
Youth livestock auction sets record
By MARCO GRAMACHO
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — The Umatilla
County Fair Youth Livestock
Auction achieved a record in sales
this year.
Marie Linnell, who oversees
the Youth Livestock Sale, said
sales totaled more than $1.15
million.
She explained one of the
reasons for the greater success
than the record of $795,000 in
2021 is because of the higher
number of youths participating.
The 2021 sale had 219. This past
fair, that jumped to 267.
“COVID-19 was still a big
issue last year, besides the cancel-
lation of the fair in 2020. We have
achieved greater pre-COVID
numbers again since the UCF
Bump Program was started nearly
20 years ago,” she said.
In addition to the prices
received during the auction,
Erick Peterson/East Oregonian, File
Sandy McKay, left, and Ellery Jones look at work that needs to be done
Aug. 11, 2022, in livestock pens at the Umatilla County Fair, Hermis-
ton. The Youth Livestock Auction on Aug. 13 set a record with sales
exceeding $1.1 million.
many individuals and organiza-
tions choose to provide add-ons
in one form or another. Dona-
tions of more than $62,000 from
48 businesses and/or individuals
were pooled to “bump” the price/
pound for youth exhibitors who
leave the ring with a price that is
below average.
This year the bump brought
each species up to a record high
base price with lambs at $14.69
per pound, hogs at $12 a pound,
goats at $22.50 per pound, steers
at $4.58 a pound, turkeys to $800
each and chickens to $890 per pen.
“We greatly appreciate the
295 businesses and individuals
who supported this year’s event
whether they purchased an animal,
added on to an exhibitor and
supported the bump program,”
Linnel said.
Youths selling steers were
responsible for $547,155.32.
The sales of hogs represented
$429,100.23, lambs $106,788.51,
goats $60,193.84, turkeys $8,045,
chickens $2,250 and rabbits
$1,250. In all the sales totaled
$1,154,782.90.
See Auction, Page A8
Reaching out
Milton-Freewater
School District
works to reconnect
community to schools
By SHEILA HAGAR
Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
M I L T O N - F R E E WA -
TER — School officials in
the small agricultural town of
Milton-Freewater are moving
forward into the new school year
by looking back at yesterday.
There was a time, not long
ago, that communities such
as Milton-Freewater revolved
around its schools, meaning
families were familiar and
comfortable inside the buildings
and with teachers and other staff .
Superintendent Aaron Duff
said his school board is deter-
mined to reset the environment
to ref lect that environment
again.
To that end, the Milton-Free-
water Unifi ed School District
is adding to its push to reduce
barriers between school and
home and engage with parents as
a primary way to connect youths
to their education.
The eff ort began two years
ago at McLoughlin High
School, in a program overseen
by Amanda Noirot, director of
federal programs and bilingual
education for the district.
See Schools, Page A8
Greg Lehman/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Rico Graham, Amanda Noirot and Angel Palacios pose for a photo Friday, Aug. 19,
2022, at McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater. The team is the new root
of the Milton-Freewater Unifi ed School District’s outreach program that uses
nonteachers for extra support of students and families.