Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2019)
AG DAY BlueMountainEagle.com Wednesday, March 20, 2019 A9 Did you know? Bottled up Maggie Justice sent in this photo. If you’ve taken a great photo, send it to editor@ bmeagle.com. Contributed photo Maggie Justice FFA Continued from Page A8 were part of an FFA “super- vised agricultural experi- ence” program, she said. FFA had much to do with her development, Jus- tice said, from helping the community and moving her career forward to providing opportunities for research, entrepreneurship and job shadowing. She said she was inspired by Ineck and wants to pursue a degree in education and then return to small-town life in Eastern Oregon. Parker Manitsas, a soph- omore at Grant Union, lives in John Day where he raises show hogs under the FFA program. His brother Matt is the ag project leader for the city’s future commer- cial greenhouse program. Parker is interested in pur- suing a career in education. FFA is a platform that builds confidence in stu- dents who are growing up and learning who they are, Manitsas said. He’ll put that experience to work at the FFA State Conven- tion in Redmond on March 22-25 where he’ll present a speech on bio-security that won at district and sectional meets. Manitsas said he spent a lot of time researching the topic and rehearsing for the speech. After talking about good practices that limit traffic to livestock to reduce transmission of diseases, he will be peppered with ques- tions from the audience for five minutes and needs to come out sounding like an expert, he said. The career path Like Manitsas, Kori Jo Girvin lives in John Day, not on a farm or ranch, but she spent time on fam- ily-owned ranches every other year in Idaho. She started raising 4-H pigs in fifth grade, but through FFA she’s been involved in soil judging, livestock judging and public speaking. Girvin will compete in the parliamentary procedure event at the state conven- tion. As a committee chair- person, she must ensure that the issues debated by a committee are conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order. A senior at Grant Union, Girvin plans to join the Air Force after graduating and pursue a college degree through the military. She credits FFA with providing her with many of the skills she’ll need later in life. Cinch Anderson, a junior at Grant Union, has lived on a cattle ranch near Izee since he was 2. The fam- ily leases the ranch and pas- tures 200-250 cattle on a 50,000-acre allotment in the Malheur National For- est. There’s some flood irri- gation, but the Andersons purchase hay, he said. Like all farm kids, Anderson has daily chores like feeding grain to show cattle and bulls, but his duties picked up recently when his parents went on vacation. Seasonal work includes delivering hay to livestock in winter and moving cattle around on Forest Service land to com- ply with regulations. The Andersons do all their work on horseback — not ATVs. It’s a 45-min- ute drive to school, longer in deep winter snow, and he knows his experience is very different than other students at Grant Union. It’s harder, but it’s a way of life that he grew up to appreci- ate. He said he feels lucky to be able to work with his parents and two younger sisters. Anderson is the local FFA chapter vice president and plans to run for state FFA office next year. He completed eight days of auc- tioneer training in Iowa last June and wants to pursue that career path after attend- ing Treasure Valley Com- munity College. He also plans to continue working on ranches and eventually return home to Izee. To celebrate Ag Day 2019, the Ore- gon Farm Bureau compiled these statis- tics about agriculture in the state: • 97 percent of Oregon’s farms and ranches are family owned and operated. • Less than 1 percent of Oregon’s pop- ulation are principal operators of farms and ranches. • 39 percent of all Oregon farmers and ranchers are women, which is one of the highest percentages in the nation. • The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program reports that 1,212 farms and ranches have achieved century status for remaining operational and within the same family for at least 100 years. For- ty-one more boast sesquicentennial sta- tus for reaching the 150-year milestone. • Oregon farmers, ranchers and fishers produce more than 225 crops and live- stock, making Oregon one of the most diverse agricultural states in the nation. • Oregon agriculture represents a diversity of successful operations. That helps keep the ag community resilient. Big or small, organic or conventional, growing for local or export markets, Ore- gon is home to all types of farms and ranches. • Oregon is the No. 1 producer in the United States for blackberries, boysen- berries and hazelnuts, raising nearly 100 percent of the U.S. supply for these commodities — as well as being No. 1 in the nation for growing Christmas trees, rhubarb, potted azaleas, crimson clover, sugar beet for seed and a few grass seed varieties. • Oregon ranks sixth among U.S. states in certified organic acreage and fourth in farmgate sales for organics. • Oregon ranks sixth in the United States in fresh market vegetables. • There are 34,200 farms in Oregon, covering about 16.3 million acres. The average farm size is 477 acres. • Oregon agriculture’s value at the farm gate is $5.7 billion. Agriculture is always a top economic driver for each of the state’s 36 counties. • Oregon’s agriculture, food and fiber industry is economically linked to approximately 13.2 percent, $50 billion, of all Oregon sales. • With about 80 percent of what is pro- duced leaving the state either domesti- cally or through export, Oregon agricul- ture brings in billions of new dollars to the state’s economy every year. • 40 percent of Oregon’s agricul- ture products are sold to international customers. • Agriculture represents 10.9 percent of all Oregon exports. • Farm Bureau was first established in Oregon almost 100 years ago, in Uma- tilla County in 1919. The statewide Ore- gon Farm Bureau was established in 1932. • Farm Bureau is Oregon’s largest general agriculture organization. Find more facts about Oregon agricul- ture on Oregon Farm Bureau’s website at oregonfb.org/agweek. 110115 John Day Basin Office Oxbow Conservation Area Forest Conservation Area John Day Basin Office • 320 W. Main Street • John Day • (541) 575-1866 107659 The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has a long tradition of natural resource stewardship. The John Day River basin is within the Tribes ceded lands and supporting sustainable agriculture and watershed restoration efforts are an important part of maintaining cultural foods and fish populations. The Tribes want to recognize the value of local agriculture, and the landowners that work to build and maintain the lands and communities that we live in. ly p p u S ing d l i u B Mills ll t For A s e B e ith Th s Build W ultural Need ic r g Your A Horse Barns • Storage Buildings • Hay Barns • Sheds & Building Supplies Metal Roofing & Siding 751 W Main St. • John Day 541-575-1021 551 W Main St • John Day • 541-575-1346
