Grant County farm bureau meets Thursday

Longtime president steps down at annual banquet

GRANT COUNTY - After the Grant County Farm Bureau annual meeting Thursday, a new face will be in charge.

"We have to have an annual meeting, this is where we as board members and county president report to the voting members how we did for the year, the financial report," longtime bureau President John Bates said. "We also tell them what we've accomplished for the year and also the election - this is where we vote on president and vice president."

Bates said he intends to run for a board position after a total of six years as bureau president, including the last four years. He has also served on the state board and as bureau vice president.

"I've been doing it for a long time, I'm going to let somebody else do it," he said of the presidency. "I enjoyed doing it, but it's time-consuming."

Professional weightlifter and motivational speaker Rick Metzger is the guest speaker at the meeting, taking place Thursday at the Moses Lake Convention Center, located at 1475 Nelson Road N.E., Suite C.

Bates said one of his jobs each year is to find an interesting speaker for the bureau meeting.

"Just a motivational-type speaker for fun," he explained.

Bates believes the bureau had a good year, participating in topics including wire theft and labor issues with legislators, the Grant County Public Utilities District and Congressman Doc Hastings.

"(Wire theft) is one of the major issues to not only farmers but the PUD and everybody else," Bates said. "So we had some members go over and testify on that issue, and then the labor issue, if you're a person that hires people and you're part of a retro group, we have people at the state level that help. One of the problems we're facing, if you're a person who has to hire a lot of help, it's always a battle."

The state farm bureau's vice presidents are also going to be in attendance. Grant County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy John Turley speaks about wire theft at the meeting.

The bureau votes on changes to policy and by-laws and elects delegates to the state convention, who get to vote on the state farm bureau's president and vice presidents.

The bureau would like to continue to expand its membership.

"We try to grow every year, which is a challenge where the number of farmers go down and we want our voting membership to go up," Bates said. "They're going in two different directions, but there are always some out there that aren't members."

In the year ahead, Bates foresees the bureau will work on water and labor issues.

Thursday's bureau meeting begins with a social hour at 6 p.m. Cost is $15 per plate for nonvoting members and free for voting members.

"It's a good chance to visit with neighbors and keep abreast of issues facing farmers," Bates said. "I think that's one of the things the farm bureau does for me the most, is you're rubbing shoulders with people all over the county, and you're able to solve problems that way. And it's a fun night."

For more information, call the bureau at 509-349-2832.