General
Sprouting an interest
Returning to her family’s Whitman County farm may not have been in the cards for Carrie Bellecourt, but she’s found a way to honor her background by sharing her wheat-growing knowledge with her first-grade classes. Bellecourt grew up in Steptoe, Wash., the daughter of Jim and Cathy White. Jim was…
North Carolinian brings unique experience to Eastern Washington
Coming from a region of rolling hills where soft red wheat dominates and annual rainfall averages 45 inches, Morgan Menaker admits he experienced some culture shock upon arriving in Eastern Washington. “The first time I came to Pullman for my in-person interview, driving south of Spokane into Whitman County was…
Remembering why we farm
Lately, we’ve been hearing a lot of negative, doom-and-gloom talk, and to be fair, some of it is deserved. Costs are high, markets are unpredictable, and it can feel like farmers are constantly being squeezed from every direction. Still, agriculture has always had its ups and downs, and sometimes it’s…
The Catch (Part 2)
Editor’s Note: Part 1 of “The Catch” ran in the February 2026 issue of Wheat Life. That last day of harvest was marked by the cutting of the border between the families’ two fields. It was very early in the morning, earlier than usual, when Buck fired up his combine…
The Catch, Part 1
“Slow down, son. We want to get there in one piece,” John said to his grandson. “But Gramps, I’m barely going the speed limit,” replied Tommy, the driver of the old Buick. “We are getting close, and I don’t want to miss any of the sights,” John replied. “Johnny, nothing…
‘New’ mural celebrates Waterville history
Like the early 1900s aerial tramway it depicted, a 30-year-old mural on the side of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville, Wash., was in danger of fading into obscurity. But over the past summer, it got more than just a facelift, thanks to local artist Don Nutt. “The mural had…
Showing up matters the most
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a farmer tries to navigate the maze of state and federal politics, you are in the right place. Working in Olympia and Washington, D.C., has taught me that the distance between a farm and lawmakers is far greater than the miles on a…
Why do I farm?
Over the years, I’ve lost count of how many times someone has asked me, “Why do you farm?” Is it the long hours, the hard work, the low pay, or maybe the camaraderie of having a beer cooler in the back of every pickup? For me, the answer is simple….
Looking back
As I sit down to write this final column, I can’t help but reflect on what a whirlwind this past year has been. Between the phone calls, emails, and texts (on top of farming), there were days when it felt like I was juggling 20 things at once. But when…
Franklin County grower roots life in community, ag involvement
“One person can make a difference,” exemplifies Walt Neff’s philosophy on determination to accomplish goals. The Neff family has a saying that accentuates what can be achieved by one determined person: “If you don’t think one individual can make a difference, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito!” It’s…
