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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 19, 2015)
Wallowa County Chieftain wallowa.com News Nashes honored as Cattlemen of the Year Todd and Angie Nash were honored Saturday night at the Wallowa County Stockgrowers Awards Banquet as Cattlemen of the Year. Nash, who is manager of Marr Flat Cattle Co. of Joseph, has been an active community leader for many years With wife Angie at his side, supporting him even when cat- tle raising didn’t look like a very good idea, Todd has served as vice president of Stockgrowers under President Phil Ketscher and was president from 2010 to 2012. He also serves as chair- man of the Wolf Committee for the Oregon Cattleman’s Associ- ation, came up with the idea for the Stockgrowers Rodeo and World Championship Rock Jack Building contest seven years ago and served as chairman of the event. He hosts exchange kids from Sunnyside Environ- mental School in Portland who come to learn the ranchers’ way RI OLIH DQG ZDV LQÀXHQWLDO LQ starting the scholarship program and heifer program which sup- plies young cattlemen and wom- en with a purebred heifer. And that’s just a partial list. Beef leader Under Nash’s management. Marr Flat Cattle, which is owned by the Don Buhler Fami- ly, has become a leader in grass- -fed beef products. Todd manages 800 cows, grazing 80,000 acres. The cows make an annual 120-mile round- trip migration from the calving grounds between Enterprise and Joseph to Big Sheep and then Marr Flat on the edge of the Ea- gle Cap wilderness. The vast amount of time the cows are grazing and the short amount of time they have to be fed expensive hay has been D NH\ WR WKH ZHOONQRZQ HI¿- ciency of this operation under Todd’s guidance. In addition, Nash runs a smaller seed stock group of cows at the Mt, Joseph Ranch Courtesy photo/Janie Tippett Cattleman of the Year winners Angie and Todd Nash of Marr Flat Cattle Co. Friend and fellow rancher Jeff Parker (far right) provided the extensive history of the Nashes’ contributions to Wallowa County and made the presentation. where Todd has implemented DQ DUWL¿FLDO LQVHPLQDWLRQ $, program for several decades. There, the couple produces bulls for their own use and to sell. Marr Flat Cattle is heavily involved in Branded Beef pro- JUDPVUHWDLQLQJRZQHUVKLSDQG TXDOLW\FRQWURORIWKHPDMRULW\ RI WKHLU FDOYHV WKURXJK WKH ¿Q- ishing phase. They began pioneering the specialty market with their own Marr Flat All Natural Beef, which has been sold into several states with considerable volume. Over the years, Marr Flat cattle have been sought out by and marketed through several large, well-known branded pro- grams, such as Country Natural and Meyers all natural beef, but by far the largest number of cat- tle over the years have gone to Merton Homer’s Painted Hills Natural Beef program, based out of Fossil. Todd has said when they 0DUNHW¿QGV last-minute hero back and has purchased prop- erty in Lostine and will be the volunteer organizer once again. The Wallowa Livestock The only shipment date for Marketing Association lamb 2015 will be 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. shipment received a last-min- Saturday, Aug. 29 at Wayne ute reprieve last week. The Cook’s Livestock scales on auction, which began in 1927, Southeast Florence in Enter- almost ended when Larry and prise. Sheep growers are ad- Juanita Waters retired as volun- vised to note the cutoff time teer organizers. of 10 a.m., as it will be strictly ³:HFRXOGQ¶W¿QGDQ\RQHWR enforced. take it over,” OSU Extension Juanita Waters will handle Agent John Williams said. “I the paperwork in advance for was just about to announce, one last time, she said. Sheep ‘It’s been here since 1927, but growers planning to send sheep it is no more.’ Then Bob Perry should contact Juanita Waters volunteered.” at 541-432-7055 by 7 p.m. Perry has served as an orga- Tuesday, Aug. 25, with the nizer in the past, but had left the number of sheep they wish to county for South Dakota. He’s ship. By Kathleen Ellyn Wallowa County Chieftain VWDUWHG¿QLVKLQJFDWWOHWKH\KDG about 25 percent grading select and just a very occasional prime. Today, they have virtually no select, mostly choice, but have impressively moved to approx- imately 25 percent prime. While Todd’s early involve- ment in A.I. to improve the herd has played a role, much of the success is attributed to the care and management the cattle re- ceive. Nash is quick to credit his wife of 25 years, Angie, with essential support. Angie is a multitasker who works on the ranch, is a big part of Marr Flat all natural beef sales, and vol- unteers to cook Marr Flat beef at local events — such as Hells Canyon Mule Days — and also works at Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness. Despite their combined rep- utations, the award surprised the Nashes. “I was surprised,” Todd Nash said. “When I look at the people who got it in prior years, it’s real humbling. You don’t do any of that work by yourself; I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of people for a long time.” August 19, 2015 A7 Gathering honors logging By Steve Tool Wallowa County Chieftain The Maxville Gathering, an event celebrating and honoring the former logging town, is taking place Aug. 22. The event is sponsored by the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center and is hosted by the Wal- lowa Band Nez Perce Interpretive Center at the Tamkaliks grounds just outside Wallowa. Gwen Trice, MHIC’s direc- tor, has high hopes for this year’s gathering. “We’re having a lumberjack show this year, so when people come to the gate, they’ll pull over and pay an entry fee, which will help us sustain the lumberjack show annually,” Trice said. She added that having cash rather than a credit/debit card will expedite the entry process. The entry fee is $3 for stu- dents $5 per individual, $10 per family and $15 for groups. “Our goal is for anyone to be able to afford to enter, but we want to maintain the event,” Trice said. She also said the dinner price is $7 and features barbecue. Free tent and RV camping is available sans water hookups, although campers must register. Showers are also available for a nominal fee for campers. Dogs are allowed on leash, and owners must clean up after them. The lumberjack show is a new feature of the gathering and called “The West Coast Lum- berjack Show.” Because of in- surance concerns, locals cannot participate, although Trice said that may change in the future. The show will feature three perfor- mances throughout the day, with children’s games and activities offered after each show. Local musician Darrell Brann is scheduled to perform music, while Grammy Award-win- ning traditional musician Dom Flemons, formerly of the group “Carolina Chocolate Drops,” will give a preview of his full concert performance slated at the OK Theatre after the event. Anyone with a prepaid ticket to Flemons’ theatre performance will get free access to the gathering. “Darrell and I have talked about getting Dom down here for a long time. He knows the music of the period well, and he sings it with the energy of youth,” Trice said. Attending the gathering can SURYLGHDEHQH¿WWRWKHFRPPX- nity as well as the individual ac- cording to Trice. “This isn’t only about celebrating Maxville, it’s a gathering of community, and welcoming visitors. We want everyone to be joyful that we’re all working together to provide a safe, family-friendly opportunity to know a little bit about Wallowa County’s cultural history as well as its logging history,” she said. 201 East Hwy 82 Enterprise, OR 97828 541.426.0320 FALL it IS When comes COMING! to your home GET YOUR or business, the Safe FILLS! Way PROPANE is 1 the Best Way! Aug thru Sept 30 541.426.0320 Call NOW for information about Energysaver® Direct Vent Wall Furnaces. Power Plant Employees and Contractors If you or a family member ever worked at a power plant, you could have been exposed to asbestos. 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