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YF&R members attend the Fusion conference in Pittsburg, Penn. Picture from L to R: Megan Miller, Laura Lakowski, Jake Devaney, Kelsey Evans, Matt LaShaw, Stacey Righter, Lady Porterfield, Rosella Mosby
The 2017 AFBF Fusion conference was held February 10th -13th in Pittsburgh, Penn. Seven of our Washington Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Ranchers attended the event hosted by the AFBF Womens, YF&R and Promotions & Education committees.
They started Friday with State Chair training and a fun welcome reception. Saturday and Sunday were the key networking days and included various break-out sessions focused on advocacy, leadership, business, rural development/entrepreneurship and technology. Dynamic speakers added inspirational and comedic humor to the information filled days.
Our members, along with Oregons Young Farmers and Ranchers, were graciously treated out to Dinner one evening with Bob Baker of Farm Bureau Bank. It was a great, fun filled evening, thank you Bob and FB Bank! The two commitees really built a strong connection that evening and are looking to work together more in the future to strengthen both states’ YF&R programs.
Finally Monday brought tours and trainings.Vice-Chair Matt LaShaw attended the Flight 93 memorial and said that made the whole trip for him. Others visited farm stands, wineries and other local Ag related locations. Chair Stacey Righter attended one of the trainings offered instead of a tour and was excited to bring back what she learned. The whole weekend wrapped up that evening at the grand finale event at Heinz Field with a fun filled evening of dinner, dancing and games.
State YF&R Committee
Pictured from L to R: Kristen Hinton, Stacey Righter, Matt LaShaw, Kelsie Knight
Congratulations to Washington State University student, Megan Miller, for winning the state Collegiate Discussion Meet competition held in Yakima at the Washington Farm Bureau Annual meeting in November 2015. The winner receives an expense paid trip to the national conference and an embroidered coat. Megan will represent WA at the National competition on Feb. 12-15, 2016 in Kansas City, MO. Good luck and skill Megan!
WFB president, Mike LaPLant (left) and past YF&R president, Nicole Janson (right) present Megan Miller (center) with her YF&R Discussion Meet award.
Name: Amy Cable
City, town: Mount Vernon
County Farm bureau: Skagit
Operation or occupation: Agricultural teacher at Mt. Vernon High School
About me: I am a born and raised Skagit county farm girl. I grew up on a fourth generation family farm that grows potatoes, wheat, grass seed and other vegetables. My husband and I raise chickens and operate a small CSA farm in Sedro-Woolley. In the meantime I teach Agricultural Education at Mt. Vernon High School and run our FFA program.
Name: Stacey Righter
City, town: Ridgefield, WA
County Farm bureau: Clark/Cowlitz
Operation or occupation: Dobbins Farms where we are farmers
About me: I am the proud mom of two children. My husband and I farm roughly 150 acres of hay, berry and produce crops.
Name: Sarah Howard
City, town: Eatonville, WA
County Farm bureau: King/Pierce
Operation or occupation: Cattle, sheep and wholesale nursery
About me: I grew up in Eatonville on my parents ranch, went to college (University of Idaho), got a degree (Animal Science), got married (Josh) and have 2 children (Annika and Jakob), and now we’re all back in Eatonville again. We have Hereford cattle, Corriedale sheep, and a native plant nursery.
Name: Summer Steenbarger
City, town: Woodland, WA
County Farm bureau: Clark Cowlitz
Operation or occupation: Preserving the Harvest
About me: I’m a full time farmer, wife and mama of 4 fantastic kids. Our family raises pastured meats, eggs, vegetables, teas blends, and offer wild eats. We preserve foods for off season months and host homesteading and business workshops frequently. We organize and host a weekly cooperative delivery of local and fresh foods to our customer base of over 2000 families.
Name: Sydney Anderson
City, town: Othello
County Farm bureau: Adams
Operation or occupation: Goose Ridge Winery and Vineyards
About me: I grew up in Tri-Cities, WA where my family farms. I graduated from Washington State University in May of 2012 with a BS in Agriculture Technology and Production Management.
Name: Matt LaShaw
City, town: Valleyford
County Farm bureau: Spokane
Operation or occupation: Farmer
About me: I was born and raised on a 1500 acre farm where we grow cattle and dryland grains southeast of Spokane.
Name: Brandy Fay (photo not available)
City, town: Chehalis
County Farm bureau: Lewis
Operation or occupation: Vetrinarian
About me: not available
Name: Pete Appel
City, town: Endicott
County Farm bureau: Whitman
Operation or occupation: Farmer
About me: not available
Name: Bridget & Paul Coon
City, town: Benge
County Farm bureau: Adams
Operation or occupation: Ranchers and Bridget also works for the WA Beef Commission
About me: We operate the Bar U Ranch with Paul’s parents and aunt and uncle. The Bar U is a cow-calf and hay operation that has been in the Coon family for four generations. Bridget comes from King County, where her parents continue to run a small farm and feedlot. She is a Political Science graduate of WSU and holds a Masters in Public Relations from The George Washington University. Bridget works for the Washington State Beef Commission where she manages digital communications. Paul and Bridget welcomed their son Edgar in 2012, and expect a little girl this summer
Name: Nicole Jansen
City, town: Pasco
County Farm bureau: Franklin
Operation or occupation: DuPont Pioneer
About me: I’m originally from Yolo County in Northern California, I relocated to Eastern Washington 6 years ago. I graduated from Cal State Chico with a Bachelor degree in Ag Business with a minor in Plant Science. I have been a proud member of the DuPont Pioneer team for 9 years. I currently manage the seed product line for 11 western states. My YF&R experience started in California where I served as County Chairman. I have greatly enjoyed helping to build up the Franklin County YF&R group where I am currently serving as Chairman.
Name: Kelsie Knight
City, town: Nespelem
County Farm bureau: Okanogan
Operation or occupation: Cow/Calf Operater
About me: My husband Cameron and I have been married a little over two years. He is a linemen at Nespelem Valley Electric. We have a small cow/calf operation that we are working on building. I am a 5th generation cattle rancher and help with my parents and grandparents cow/calf operations.
Name: Natasha Jungers
City, town:
County Farm bureau: Franklin
Operation or occupation:
About me:
