Wheat Ambassadors

Wheat Ambassadors

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

High School seniors Charlene Gray & J.D. Rosman are representing Washington wheat farmers this year in the new Washington Wheat Ambassador program, and will be heading to Olympia this next week to learn about legislation and issues affecting the wheat industry. Kara Rowe, Affairs & Outreach Director with Washington Association of Wheat Growers, shares what prompted WAWG to spear head this program.

ROWE: Like all of ag, we always face the challenges of getting young people involved and explaining what all these different organizations do. One thing that our board unanimously thought was we used to have a scholarship program, we got away from it for a while, let’s reinvigorate that - and not just a a scholarship program but a leadership program too, where we can help them develop some skills that prepares them for life after high school.

So, how were Gray and Rosman chosen?

ROWE: They had to fill out an application form, and then also they had a few essays they had to write answering a couple of different topics, and then they also had to submit a one to two minute video - and it could be anything Lacy from them just standing with their iPhone having their Mom and Dad record them to editing a little bit and doing a little more than that.

And as far as the rest of the year?

ROWE: Doing a little bit of traveling - basically being a representative for us. The main thing that we’re asking them to do is to do a couple of presentations in their hometowns. We’ve learned that not only do the urban populations have a disconnect with the farm that we all represent, but also sometimes our own backyards.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Ag Information Network.