A 6-month perspective

I first want to wish all wheat farmers a safe and bountiful harvest. As I reflect on my first six months as president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), I want to thank all of the previous presidents for the time and dedication they invested while moving through the chairs. I am sure each tenure came with challenges, but also moments of satisfaction, accomplishment, and pride.

The year has flown by. It is hard to believe that my tenure is already halfway complete. I knew that taking on the role of president would be time-consuming, but I welcomed the challenge of balancing the responsibilities of my own farm with the duties that come with serving WAWG. What has surprised me most is the sheer size and scope of what we represent. Washington is the third-largest wheat-producing state in the nation, and last year, our farmers produced approximately 140 million bushels of wheat. Wheat production contributes nearly $3 billion annually, both directly and indirectly, to our state’s economy. We represent approximately 3,700 wheat farms across Washington, the vast majority of which are family-owned operations. Serving on the board and progressing through the chairs is a significant responsibility, and one that I do not take lightly.

Some of the highlights of the past six months began in January when WAWG attended Olympia Days. This year, we focused our discussions on how difficult it has become to remain profitable as farmers in Washington. One of the highlights of Olympia Days is always our gathering at Anthony’s, where we invite representatives, senators, and legislative staff to join us. It provides a great opportunity to visit with them outside the office in a more relaxed setting and build relationships that help us advocate for agriculture.

Next, our WAWG group attended the winter National Association of Wheat Growers meetings and Hill visits in Washington, D.C. At one point, I wasn’t even sure our group would make it, as a major snowstorm was shutting down much of the city and causing widespread flight cancellations. Our Hill visits are always a valuable opportunity to share growers’ concerns and help Congress better understand how they can support policies that allow farmers to remain successful.

The opportunity that stands out the most, however, was receiving an invitation to the White House for the “Great American Agriculture Celebration.” It was truly an experience I will never forget. Being there and hearing how important agriculture is to this administration was meaningful and seeing tractors displayed on the South Lawn was something I never imagined I would witness.

I can honestly say serving as president has been even better than I expected. The support of our outstanding executive director, Michelle Hennings, along with KayDee Gilkey and Keri Gingrich, has helped make everything run smoothly. I have also relied on the guidance of several past presidents and our current officer team, and I am grateful for their willingness to share their experience and advice.

I am confident the next six months will be just as rewarding as the first. I welcome any concerns, ideas, or comments you may have. I truly enjoy visiting with fellow farmers and learning about what’s taking place across our industry. Once again, I wish everyone a safe harvest season with bin-busting yields. Stay safe, take care of one another, and here’s to a successful crop year.