Bringing conservation to Washington ag, livestock, forestry industries

Not many people are fortunate enough to have their career employment place them in locations where they can indulge their favorite hobbies to the extreme.  Keith Griswold would qualify as one of those few. His conservation career has included stops in Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Washington state. An avid hunter and fisherman, Griswold has successfully…

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Leadership skills prove valuable beyond WAWG board tenure

Raised on a farm homesteaded by his grandfather, Dan Blankenship had a typical wheat farm upbringing. His parents, Dwayne and Beulah Blankenship, had a large family with one daughter and five sons. The fifth of six children, Blankenship worked on the farm as a youth and was also “loaned out” to neighbors in the Washtucna…

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Montana native handles multiple duties

It was an unusual route taken by Scott Steinbacher to becoming eastern regional manager of the Grain Inspection and Warehouse Audit program manager for the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).  Based in Spokane, Steinbacher joined the WSDA in 2011. His previous employment had been in the high-end hospitality industry. Born and raised in Montana,…

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Retirement leads seed dealer to new business venture

Most Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ (WAWG) past presidents from the 1980s are now at least semiretired. Not Dana Herron, who served from 1986-87. A native of Connell, Wash., Herron grew up in a farm family founded by his grandfather in 1896 near Kahlotus. Herron’s brother, Chris, still farms that homestead land as well as…

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Helping to ensure farmers’ financial survival

Rick Williams, a senior risk management specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), was raised on a wheat and barley farm near Reardan, Wash. And while he didn’t take over the family farm, he put in many hours on tractors and combines over the years, even after launching his career in…

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Educator works with region’s farmers, ranchers

Growing up on a farm near Uniontown, Wash., Mark Heitstuman determined his career goal early on. Active in his FFA group at Colton High School, he envisioned working in agricultural education. After high school graduation, Heitstuman attended Washington State University (WSU) and earned his degree in ag education in 1987. Understanding that continuing his studies…

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CTE teacher/FFA adviser continues family tradition

Enthusiasm emanates from Samantha Sims. Now in her sixth year of teaching career and technical education at Ellensburg High School (EHS), Sims has already amassed an impressive record of Washington state FFA champions and top-four finishers at the national competition level. Sims was recently awarded the 2023 National New Teacher of the Year by the…

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WAWG past president still farming in the Palouse

In an occupation that is far more a way of life than just a profession, Dave Harlow has something in common with many other farmers. “I remember not particularly enjoying some of the jobs on the farm in my youth, but a few years later, my perspective had changed. Now, I can’t imagine any career…

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‘Man of action’ takes on new role as PNWA president

Tom Kammerzell is a man of action who wears many hats. He approaches issues and projects by conducting thorough research and then instituting a plan to achieve specific goals. “If you aren’t playing offense, you are always going to be on defense, in a reactive mode,” he explained.  Kammerzell was raised in a homestead farm…

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Researcher centers work on maintaining, improving soil health

“I have the second-best job in the world,” said Aaron Esser, Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension agent and the Adams County Extension director. “Farming is the best job of all, but I have the opportunity to be heavily involved in the ag industry, conducting research that improves how growers are operating their farms.” Born…

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