OFP Task Force

October 27th, 2008

Meetings

Find information about Task Force meetings, meeting agendas, and associated meeting materials here. All meetings are open to the public and conclude with an interactive dinner. Contact Josh Giuntoli at (360) 407-7474 for more details.

Date Press Release Location Agenda Items
December 2, 2008 Download Coast Wenatchee Center Hotel, 201 North Wenatchee Avenue
Wenatchee, Washington 98801
October 1, 2008 Download Red Lion Hotel, 303 W. North River Drive
Spokane, Washington
August 6, 2008 Download Goldendale Grange, 228 East Darland Street
Goldendale, Washington 98620
June 4, 2008 Walla Walla Community College
Walla Walla, WA
April 2, 2008 Northwest Research and Extension Center
Mt. Vernon, WA
February 6, 2008 Lacey Community Center
Lacey, WA
December 5, 2007 Cherberg Building
Lacey, WA

 

Task Force

An 18-member Farmland Preservation Task Force provides statewide guidance for farmland preservation efforts in Washington State (see Chapter 89.10 Revised Code of Washington for additional information). The Task Force consists of six farmer representatives from around the state along with legislators, county commissioners and key officials from local, state and federal agencies. Created within the State Conservation Commission is the Office of Farmland Preservation (OFP). The Task Force provides policy input to OFP as it pursues several farmland-preservation goals outlined by lawmakers.

  • Sheryl Cox represents farmers in Southeastern Washington. She and her husband operate Klicker Mountain Cattle Company on land settled by her great-grandmother in 1896. Her extended family is involved in producing strawberries, cherries, Christmas trees, blueberries and wheat. They have incorporated what she calls “farm/ranch recreation” into some of their operations.
  • Jeff Emtman represents farmers in Northeastern Washington. He is “a 37-year-old fourth-generation dry-land farmer and rancher from Valleyford, Washington,” according to the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, which recommended his appointment. On Emtman Brothers Farm, his family grows wheat and raises cattle on over 10,000 acres of land.
  • Richard Thomason represents farmers in the North Central Washington. After an engineering career, he returned to run Maverick Orchards, producing tree fruits, primarily apples. “I view the farm life experience as a wonderful character builder,” Thomason said. “I’m a strong believer in the strength it bestows on kids.”
  • Jacob Anderson represents farmers in South Central Washington. He is a third generation farmer and livestock producer in Klickitat County, and a diversified operator who runs Anderson Ranch and Anderson’s Custom Sawing, he had already become involved in farmland preservation work with other farmers and state and local officials prior to joining the Task Force.
  • Greg Schoenbachler of Silver Springs Cattle Company and Silver Springs Organicsrepresents farmers in Southwestern Washington. After receiving an Animal Science degree from WSU, he rehabilitated farmland originally held by his grandparents. He currently grows hay/haylage and raises more than 200 cow/calf pairs on 1,100 acres outside of Tenino. He focuses on the economics of farming for sustainability.
  • Bob Hart represents farmers in Northwest Washington. “It’s strategically important to be able to keep agriculture secure in the Puget Sound region,” he noted. A producer of vegetable crops and nursery stock, he is vice president of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, and chair of that organization’s Land Protection Committee. He is also a former Skagit County Commissioner.
  • Senator Mary Margaret Haugen of Camano Island represents the Washington State Senate.
  • Senator Jim Honeyford of Sunnyside represents the Washington State Senate.
  • Representative Joel Kretz of Colville represents the Washington State House of Representatives.
  • Representative Larry Springer of Kirkland represents the Washington State House of Representatives.
  • County Commissioner Rudy Plager of Adams County represents county government.
  • County Commission Don Munks of Skagit County represents county government.
  • Fred Colvin represents the Washington Association of Conservation Districts. He is a rancher and supervisor of the Thurston Conservation District
  • Lee Faulconer has been appointed by the Washington State Department of Agriculture to provide input to the Task Force.
  • Roylene Rides at the Door represents the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a non-voting member of the Task Force.
  • Dee Caputo represents the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development as a non-voting member of the Task Force.