Planning going smoothly for Washington Oregon Potato Conference
Farm and Ranch August 14, 2009 The Washington Oregon Potato Conference is only about five months away now. Karen Bonaudi, assistant executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission and member of the Washington Potato Conference Board, says the planning for this first ever joint annual conference by the two states is moving along. Bonaudi: “In Washington we have an independent board that oversees the conference and in Oregon the commission does it. So the two groups have been working together to make the merger of the events really seamless.” Bonaudi says the merged organization for the conference is hard working. Bonaudi: “I can’t stress enough the fact that they really get involved and get the job done. They monitor the budget and take care of the details.” This year was the first time the Washington Potato Conference was held in the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick and Oregon growers who attended were impressed with the venue and the program. The Oregon conference is held later the same week and competes for growers’ time. So the two states committed to maintain a joint conference for three years. And when the 2010 event is held in Kennewick January 26th through the 28th Bonaudi says; Bonaudi: “Next year we do expect to see a greater turn out from Oregon as well as participation in the event itself. There will be Oregon Commissioners on the potato line for example for the potato bar.” That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
