WA State Dairy Ambassador Coronation to be held June 24th in Arlington

/ Darcel

June is “Dairy Month” and also the traditional month for the Washington State Dairy Ambassador Contest.  This program provides a tremendous professional and educational opportunity for young women in Washington State.  The young women chosen to serve as Washington’s Ambassadors for Milk receive a generous college scholarship, internships, and extensive communications training.

“It will soon be time to say good bye and thank you to our 2016- 2017 State Dairy Ambassador Alicia Smaciarz (Raymond) and State Alternates Jana Plagerman (Lynden) and Tiana Peterson (Graham). They have done a fantastic job representing the Dairy Farmers of Washington this past year and I’m sure they will continue to be lifelong advocates of our industry. We wish them well as they move on to the next chapter in their lives….” commented Tammi Schoenbachler, State Ambassador Advisor.

Please join us for the 2017 Washington State Dairy Ambassador Coronation Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd, Arlington, WA 98223.  Doors open at 5:00 pm, with the program beginning at 5:30 pm.  This year dinner will not be provided; instead there will be light Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments served during a short intermission. Tickets purchased by June 16th will be adults $20, students $10, and under 6 years free. Tickets purchased after June 16th or at the door will be adults $25, students $15, under 6 still free.  We are hoping these changes will make it easier for families, farmers and students to attend. For ticket information, please contact Gloria Edwards by email at gloria.wsdw@hotmail.com or 360.273.7313.

 

 

Skagit County Contestant ~ Juliana LeClair from Skagit County, is the daughter of Joe and Annette LeClair of Mount Vernon, WA. She will be graduating from Mount Vernon Christian School this June. Juliana has lived her whole life on her family’s dairy farm feeding calves, doing field work, and other chores needing to be done. She has been a member of the Sunshine Dairy 4-H Club for 9 years where she has completed 14 dairy projects, held club office positions, won top showmanship awards, and was selected as a Washington State Delegate to the National 4 -H Dairy Conference. In 2015, Juliana was selected as the 2015-16 Washington State Jersey Queen Alternate. She plans on attending Washington State University to pursue a degree in Agricultural and Food Business Economics with a minor in Animal Sciences. Juliana would like to own her own dairy and have it open to the public to see how their food is produced.

Claire Leininger, from Whatcom County, is the daughter of Erik and Paula Leininger of Everson, Washington. She will graduate from Nooksack Valley High School this June. As a young girl, Claire had the opportunity help at her grandparents’ farm where they raised replacement heifers. Her father also works at a local dairy where she was able to visit frequently. Learning from these early experiences and with a passion for dairy, Claire was able to secure a job at a local dairy. She has responsibilities that include milking, cleaning stalls, moving cows, heat detecting, and herd health. Claire plans on attending Whatcom Community College to attain her Associates Degree. She then plans to attend Trinity Western Washington University to study Catholic Theology. Claire would like to have her own small farm to raise replacement heifers and have a job as a Catholic youth minister.

Anna Teachman, from King-Pierce Counties, is the daughter of Michael and Lorilyn Teachman of SeaTac, Washington. She has taken classes through Global Connections High School and Valley View Academy where she will graduate in June. Anna did not grow up on a dairy, but has had a deep interest in dairy cows since she was very young. She joined the Barn Buddies 4-H Club in 2012 and has projects in dairy, rabbits, dogs, cavies, and per-forming arts. She has exhibited her projects at both county and state fairs, winning top awards. Anna was selected as a Washington State Delegate to the National 4-H Dairy Conference and also the National 4-H Dairy Conference Planning Committee where she will help with planning the 2017 Conference. She plans on attending Washington State University to pursue degrees in Animal Sciences and Strategic Communications with a career goal of a Communications position with a dairy company or organization.

Legislative Update – June 3, 2017

/ Scott

Last week marked the end of the 1st Special Session of 2017, and Gov. Jay Inslee called the Legislature back into session for a second 30-day term. The Regular Session adjourned on April 23. These special sessions come as no surprise, as over the past several years the divided Legislature has typically needed special sessions to resolve its business.

Legislators have not come to agreement yet on an education plan to meet the Supreme Court’s McCleary mandate, whether to increase taxes, or the 2017-19 operating and capital budgets. However, they reached bipartisan agreement on a biennial transportation budget during the Regular Session. The end of the state’s fiscal year is June 30, so legislators will face increased pressure to reach a budget agreement by then.

During the past month, the governor has taken action on bills passed during the regular session. A full list of the governor’s actions can be found here.

Below is a list of issues that we worked on or were following during the legislative session, as well as updates on where those issues stand now. Some of the unresolved issues may again surface as the Legislature gets closer to a final go-home budget deal, presumably in late June.

WSU Plant Sciences/WADDL

/ Scott

Legislators are still considering a proposal to fund two agricultural science buildings on the WSU Pullman campus. The House Capital Budget provides $38.1 million for the first stage of the Global Animal Health Phase II project — the new home of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL). However, no funding was provided for the new Plant Sciences Building in the House budget. The Senate version of the Capital Budget provides $52 million for Plant Sciences and $23 million for Global Animal Health building. Both buildings are essential to Washington agriculture, and we support the funding of both projects.

Voluntary Stewardship Program Projects

/ Scott

Legislators are still considering some funding for certain VSP projects. Eligible cost-share funding in the Senate budget is $4 million for shellfish growing areas and $5 million for other parts of state. The House has $4 million for shellfish areas and $7 million available cost share in non-shellfish areas of state.