Columbia Gorge
Babies abound in the leadership of our Columbia Gorge chapter! Founded and first President Josie Miles (who now belongs to the Eastern Oregon chapter) started the trend with her little guy Joe over a year ago. Treasurer Dani Annala had son Aatto on her due date, Valentine’s Day 2017. And switching from President to VP/Membership Chair, Deanna Sudan is due the first part of June. As new President and age 54, if this happens to me, it will be a very Biblical “Sarah” moment, indeed!
Five chapter members attended Convention, learning lots and enjoying being around so many great gals who love Oregon agriculture. In February and March, the chapter donated almost 60 “Get Oregonized” textbooks and teacher guides to the 3rd and 4th grades at Sherman County School, and have a homeschooling family interested in the materials as well. New crop ID signs have been ordered and will be placed by chapter members, including titles like “Winter Wheat”, “Dryland Wheat”, and “Wheat Storage”.
The chapter has solicited donations for the annual auction, including a wonderful basket of a winery tour and goodies from Phelps Vineyard in Hood River for the oral auction; a Dufur basket of local products; and the chapter decided to spend funds purchasing a variety of locally crafted items as well.
We will be a financial sponsor for the annual “Bull Tour” sponsored by the North Central Livestock Association (NCLA), which will be touring livestock operations in south Wasco County on Friday, April 7. Several of our chapter members are also involved with the NCLA so we small town volunteers wear many hats!
Our chapter will be sponsoring a local teacher to attend the Summer Ag Institute, and are also direction applicants to our Wasco and Sherman Soil & Water Conservation Districts who award educational grants as well. We will also sponsor a college scholarship for local graduating seniors or current college students, with a preference for a student pursuing a major in agricultural studies, with a 3.0 GPA or higher, and female. Last year’s scholarship winner never claimed her funds, so we may be able to award several scholarships this year.
New leadership for our chapter: President Cindy Brown of OSU Sherman County Extension; VP/Membership Deanna Sudan, local farmer; Secretary Susan Brown, local farmer; Treasurer Dani Annala of NW Farm Credit Services. We look forward to hosting the state meeting in May, and have enjoyed having new members join our chapter.
Cindy Brown, Columbia Gorge President