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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 5, 2018)
A16 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM FARM continued from Page A1 testify in front of the Ways and Means committee, and I realized, they’re not my stakeholders. They’re my friends.” Hamm retired from research about seven years ago, but since then has been at the experiment station part-time as an administrator. Hamm said the posi- tion at the experiment sta- tion was brand new when he arrived in 1980 — he applied for it after several years as a research assistant in forest pathology at OSU. During that time he’d also gotten a graduate degree in plant pathology. When he applied for the position in Hermiston, Hamm said that role hadn’t existed at the station before, but some local growers had gone to the state legislature and got the position secured. Though most of his research has focused on potatoes, Hamm said the diversity of crops in the Columbia Basin has lent variety to his research, as well. “We worked on lots of diseases with other crops — lima beans, onions, carrots, corn,” he said. His colleagues noted his knack for developing rela- tionships with both growers and other researchers. “Extension means com- munication,” said Silvia Rondon, an OSU professor and extension entomologist. “I’ve seen very few people WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2018 FROM A1 STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY ANEY Phil Hamm, director of the Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, chats with another participant on Nov. 28 at the Hermiston Farm Fair. Hamm announced he will retire this summer. within the extension service who can convey information like him.” Ken Frost, an assistant professor of plant pathology, said Hamm’s support for researchers has been a help to all staff. “He’s worked really hard to promote OSU extension, and also help out growers,” he said. “He’s done a lot to foster the relationships with growers in the region.” Hamm said those rela- tionships took time and effort. “When I first came here, I was the new guy — peo- ple didn’t know about me, I didn’t know about them.” So he began going to visit growers and look for issues with potatoes, as well as other crops. He began rec- ognizing issues that some of the growers didn’t recognize they had. “They just lived with them,” he said. Once he started visiting farms and developing those relationships — plus show- ing what the research station could offer — he said the calls came in quickly. Over the years, he and his team have worked with growers around the region, researching diseases in pota- toes and other crops in the area. He added that his role is not to “think out loud.” “My role is not to give out ideas. My role is to give out research-based informa- tion,” he said. There were solutions that have remained elusive — dealing with ergot, a fun- gal disease in grass seed, is a problem Hamm said is still largely unsolved — but he said he felt good about the progress he and his team made on several prob- lems with potatoes and other crops. “We’ve provided new information to growers about how they could use (our research) to reduce and com- pletely manage diseases,” he said. Though he’s been a staple at the experiment station for nearly 30 years, many com- munity members might rec- ognize Hamm from other areas. He’s a board member for several community organi- zations, like the Blue Moun- tain Community College Foundation and the Umatilla Electric Cooperative. “I’ve still got lots of things to keep me busy,” he said. He plans to stay in Herm- iston, where he will continue to serve with local groups, as well as hunt and fish in his free time. “Maybe more importantly than anything, I have grand- kids that live right next to me,” he said. “If they’re not moving, I’m not moving.” Hamm said that while he won’t be working in the industry, he looks forward to continued growth and change in local agriculture. “We have over 204 differ- ent crop types in the Colum- bia Basin,” he said. “That’s going to continue to change as growers look for things that provide them a greater return on investment.” He said he expects to see major changes as hemp becomes more widely grown. “It’s still a federally reg- ulated material, but that’s going to change,” he said. “We’ll always be a potato area, but hemp might turn out to be a huge new oppor- tunity with huge potential returns.” LIGHTS Continued from Page A1 have torn up the driveway. “Since it started life as a Christmas tree, if it needed to be taken out anyway, we thought it would be nice to end its life as a Christmas tree,” he said. Barron said his mother has passed away since planting the tree all those years ago, but she was a longtime Hermiston resi- dent and would have been proud to see the tree giving enjoyment to so many peo- ple in the community. “It will be nice to see it decorated as a Christmas tree again,” he said. Thursday’s tree-light- ing ceremony will begin with live entertainment by the Hermiston High School jazz choir and jazz band at about 5:30 p.m. on Northeast Second Street between Main Street and Gladys Avenue. Opening remarks and the arrival of Santa Claus will begin at 6 p.m., and the tree will be lit at about 6:15 p.m. Everyone is invited to stay after and get pictures with Santa, ride in a horse-drawn buggy, enjoy concessions and shop First Thursday deals at downtown merchants who are extending their hours to 7 p.m. or later. Gems Cheer will also per- form at 7 p.m. Parks and recreation director Larry Fetter said there will be heaters and portable fire pits set up around the festival street and Santa will be in a more spacious location this year on the north side of the tree. “It will be quite fes- tive,” he said. Fetter said the tree will be decked out in new, brighter lights this year. The street will also look more polished as this is the first Christmas since the city completed the festival street this summer. “It’s the first time using the festival street now that it’s had the makeover, and I can already tell you the electricity situation is way better,” he said. After the celebration Thursday, a light show with music will be avail- able at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Fri- day until Christmas. Fet- ter said there will be three songs the first week and a new song will be added each week. The festival street will be the site of another cel- ebration on New Year’s Eve. Some details are still being worked out, but the city will host a New Year’s Eve bash on Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to midnight with fireworks and entertain- ment by classic rock and pop band The Shades. The city is also hosting Pancakes with Santa on Dec. 22 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Hermiston Commu- nity Center. Seating is lim- ited and tickets ($8 for children ages 2-15, $10 for ages 16 and older or $30 for a family of four) will be sold at the community center until Dec. 19. MORE WINNERS. MORE OFTEN. JOIN US FOR 2 EPIC PARpIES Rivers Event Center 9pm Doors Open 8pm Sports Bar 9pm Doors Open 8pm Food and Drink Speciats • Free Party Favors • Midnight Countdown and poast • Hot Seats Enjoy CASH and FREEPLAY drawings for you and your friends every 30 minutes! Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 7-10pm $10,000 GRAND PRIZE CASH WINNER Winner’s Friend: $2,500 Cash • Friend’s Friend: $500 FreePlay December 30, 10pm 1 entry per 16 points. Winners and friends must be present to win. 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