WSPC appoints Pixton first female commissioner
WSPC appoints Pixton first female commissioner
For Warden resident, 'Mom' is most important job
WARDEN — The newest commissioner for the Washington State Potato Commission is a little more ladylike than most.
That's because longtime Warden resident Angela Pixton was named the WSPC's first female commissioner at its quarterly meeting March 8 in Moses Lake. Pixton fills the new at-large position created with the passage of the grower referendum earlier this year.
"I'm pretty proud of that," she said. "I'm very proud of it, actually, but I don't think that there is a difference between my goals and involvement in it than any of the men commissioners. I believe that we're all out there with the same objective, as to promote the potato industry, try to break down trade barriers and improve our relations with other agencies."
The potato industry faces many issues, including ecology, water and labor, Pixton said.
"So there's a lot of issues out there, and it's a potato industry issue, not a male-female issue," she said. "But I am very proud that I was chosen."
In her time as a commissioner, Pixton would like to see positive change and the industry go forward and be profitable.
The current state of the potato industry is making some headway, she said, primarily with the efforts of the cooperative for marketing of fresh potatoes. On the processing side, there's still room for improvement, she said, as with all agriculture.
"I am optimistic that the economy is improving and that we are making some headway on a positive note with ag issues," she said.
Pixton joins 14 other commissioners, made up of nine
elected by growers, four at-large appointed by other commissioners, and one representative, Janet Leister, appointed by the director of the state's Department of Agriculture. Leister had been the only woman member, and as of the referendum passage, is now a voting member instead of ex- officio.
Because of the terms of office, Pixton will need to submit her name for reappointment during the commission's annual meeting in June.
Pixton served on the Potato Conference and Trade Fair Committee for 15 years, is an advisory member to the Grant County Farm Service Agency Committee and is a former chair and current member of the State of Washington Potato Committee.
Pixton has lived with her family, consisting of husband and their children, in the Warden area for about 23 years.
She grew up within a farming family, graduating from Eastern Washington University through the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education.
Her husband had farmed with his father in the area prior to their marriage 23 years ago, and Pixton got involved in the business end as a bookkeeper, also working part time as a nurse for a while before staying at home full time until her children were older. She presently works at Hearthstone Inn, overseeing nurses and assessing residents.
Nursing appealed to Pixton because of the positive influence of an aunt who was also a nurse, as well as the caregiving aspect of the profession.
It's not the first time Pixton was offered a commissioner position. In 1997, she was legislative leadership representative for the state, and after completing a Princeton training session and lobbying with a group of commissioners in Washington, D.C., she found she really enjoyed it.
"I like the process, I like the involvement in industry issues," she said, noting she declined the initial offer because her children were younger and her primary responsibility was to her family.
"Probably my most important job that I've had is being a mom," Pixton said. "I'm happy to have raised my kids and had the flexibility of being farm wife, mom and nurse all at the same time."
"I have worked with Angela on the Potato Committee and think she will be a great addition to the commission," current WSPC chair Randy Mullen said in a statement.
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