04/22/08 Ag Director Retires & Poetry

Ag Director Retires & Poetry plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Valoria Loveland has announced her retirement, effective May 5. Loveland has been with the WSDA since 2005 and was originally appointed in 2002 by then Gov. Gary Locke. She served as state senator from 1993 to 2001 and was Franklin County treasure for 10 years. Deputy Director, Robert Gore will serve as interim director until a permanent director is hired. The seventh annual Cowboy Poetry Week is being celebrated this week. For the celebration's second year, in April 2003, the United States Senate passed a resolution, with unanimous approval, recognizing our Cowboy Week celebration. Twenty states' governors and other officials have recognized Cowboy Poetry Week and there have been many activities across the West and beyond. Cowboy Poet Waddie Mitchell says even though the image of the cowboy has faded, he'll never die. MITCHELL: I don't think we'll ever lose the cowboy because now their getting a dose of the real thing and they're still liking him. So will we ever have a resurgence of the cowboy like we had  I doubt it but I don't think we'll ever lose that image. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Okay, so I have officially become a bag lady. But in a good way. I finally decided to jump on the "bag" wagon and purchase several of the reusable canvas shopping bags at my local grocery store. The original cost was minimal and every time I use them I receive a five cent refund. As much as I'm at the store that adds up to quite a refund. In fact, I figure pretty soon they'll be paying me to use my reusable shopping bags. All that and I am actually doing the environment a good turn too by reducing plastic bag waste. It's reported that only 1% of plastic bags ever get recycled. I have to admit though; I did drag my feet about reusable bags at first, rather like I did when my husband wanted to get me a microwave. I couldn't imagine using it for anything more than boiling water! But here I am loving my microwave and my reusable shopping bags! You know, this being earth conscious can be rather fun and exhilarating. And it's also rather addictive! Now I'm trying to find other things I can do on an individual level to aide the environment. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.