Ag Hall of Fame

Ag Hall of Fame

I’m Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

On January 17th five Mid-Columbia farmers and agribusiness leaders were inducted into the Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame for their outstanding contributions in the local agricultural community. Keynote speaker Alex McGregor, President and CEO of The McGregor Company, who was also an inductee receiving the Visionary Award, had this to say about today’s ag industry.

MCGREGOR: Agriculture has been a “Rock of Gibraltar” in an economy that has struggled.
I think it’s quite remarkable that when you look at agriculture as an employer it’s the biggest employer in the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest, and yet it’s the last endeavor that is dominated by dedicated farm families, individuals, couples with a deep and abiding love for the land. It’s something pretty special.

McGregor commented on how the strong values of agriculture have deep roots.

MCGREGOR: My grandpa and his three brothers got their first loan to get started in agriculture in 1885. He and his brothers speculated back then that there were five traits that would always be cornerstones to agriculture - industry, work, character, honesty, and fair dealings. When you look at the over fifty people honored in this hall of fame event you see those traits, that dedication, that passion, the desire to make a difference.

Also inducted into the hall of fame were Lori & Scott Hayles as Agribusiness Couple of the Year, Ramona Rommereim with the Agriculture Mentor Leadership Award, and the late Donald Cresswell was posthumously honored with the Pioneer Award.

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