6-7 IAN Don Hale Eulogy

 Tragedy strikes the hay and forage growers of Idaho.

There was a headline in the Magic Valley News saying “Growers are starting to refer to 2010 as the spring that never was. Even cool-weather crops are struggling to grow. It goes on to say… But Don Hale, who raises hay around Blackfoot, says alfalfa in his area is growing surprisingly well and is already 18 inches tall.” I’ve known Don Hale for several years and have always interviewed him about hay related subjects because he’s such a good grower and is very bright with opinions on everything from alfalfa to Obama care to the state of the economy. I had misplaced his number so I called the Idaho Hay and Forage Association because Don is the President. I reached Kay Johnson and asked for Don and here’s her response: “He had a heart attack and was in the hospital about 2 ½ weeks ago. They put a stent in and he was released and went home and he was carrying on as usual and somehow a clot dislodged from somewhere during the night and traveled to his heart and he died in his sleep.” I was obviously stunned and told Kay how much I respected Don and liked him. “And so personable too, easy to talk to…anyway”. Anyway, the ag world has lost a stellar citizen and he will be missed by all of us.