Updegraves named grand marshals of annual agriculture parade

Holiday celebration kicks off Friday

MOSES LAKE — On Friday, the Updegraves will cross the newly remodeled street as grand marshals of the 12th annual Agriculture Lighted Christmas Parade.

"The roots for Moses Lake are agriculture, and we need to show our appreciation for that," said Sally Goodwin, executive director of the Moses Lake Business Association, who is coordinating the event. "It just gets bigger and better every year."

With the remodel of downtown Third Avenue, there was some question about whether the street would serve as the parade route, but Goodwin said the parade will still traverse down the avenue.

"Now that Third Avenue's done, we're using it," she said.

Festivities for the street party begin at 5 p.m. Friday, and run through 8 p.m. A tree lighting takes place at 6 p.m., and the parade begins at 7 p.m. Hay rides and pictures with Santa Claus are available. Most food is free, including roasted marshmallows and chestnuts, and the Moses Lake Christian Academy is selling pretzels for a fund-raiser.

Goodwin said the Updegraves were selected as grand marshals for this year's parade because of their ownership of Ladd Irrigation.

"Without water, what would we be agriculturally?" Goodwin asked.

The Updegraves said they were surprised to be selected. They have attended all but one of the agriculture parades, and usually have a parade entry through Ladd Irrigation.

"Kids always like parades, and it's fun to watch the little kids and to look at the floats," Arlie said. "It's just an exciting thing to do. You see a lot of friends you don't see too often sometimes."

The couple arrived in Moses Lake at the end of 1952. They started Ladd Irrigation in 1957, owning locations in Moses Lake, George and Othello.

"When we first arrived here, most all of the irrigation was portable aluminum mainline and hand-moved lateral," Arlie said. "Then of course, we changed basically into wheel lines and then, of course, into circles, which is a major thing that we sell now."

If it has anything to do with water, Ladd does it, Arlie said, with the exception of house plumbing.

Business has been fairly constant the last two years.

The Updegraves started the business in partnership with three people, and bought them out the end of the first year. Nine years ago, they sold 51 percent of their business in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan to the company's employees, and are in the process of selling the balance of the business as well, with completion expected in December or January.

"Ladd Irrigation will become a totally employee-owned company," Arlie explained. "The success of a business depends upon the employees. We have good employees and keep good employees, we're going to be a successful business. That's basically why we're still here."

"Usually when an owner passes away, the business just quits," Aurora said. "It's a growing business, so why not keep it going?"

Following completion of the sale, the Updegraves plan to remain in Moses Lake. They are active in the First Presbyterian Church and Arlie hopes to golf a little more, visit family and travel. The Updegraves also kept a farm on Stratford for many years, leasing the land out for farmers to grow potatoes, alfalfa and grain.

"So we've been involved not only in the irrigation business, but as the owner of an irrigated farm," Arlie said.

They are in the process of selling the farm.

The Updegraves also serve as co-chairs for the Central Basin Community Concerts. Aurora and Arlie have been involved for nearly 50 years.

"We're thinking of going back to work, because we had more time when we worked," Aurora joked.

Married 61 years, the couple met in high school in Sandy, Ore., and their first date was at Arlie's senior prom. They have four children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, with one on the way.

After leaving the Air Force, where Arlie was a second lieutenant radar observer navigator, the Updegraves were interested in agricultural country. Arlie graduated from Washington State College as an agriculture engineer.

"We were interested in this area because it was booming and growing, and going to grow," he said. "We moved here and decided to settle down and stay here, even if we had to dig ditches. And we did."

"Dug many ditches," Aurora agreed with a chuckle. "For irrigation equipment."