Ephrata chamber feeds farmers
Mike Witte of Ephrata Raceway serves breakfast to Rian Allred and 11-month-old Isabelle Allred Saturday, at a Farmers' Appreciation Breakfast in Ephrata. Photo by Chrystal Doucette/Columbia Basin Herald
EPHRATA — Farmers were on the receiving end of food Saturday, when the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce recognized them with a free breakfast.
The 2009 Farmers’ Appreciation Breakfast featured speakers, singing and an award presentation while visitors enjoyed their meals.
Ephrata High School’s choir provided music. The FFA club helped with meal service, and Desert Wranglers 4-H Club helped as well.
The event is held to show appreciation for farmers and people involved with agriculture, according to chamber Executive Director Tia Tracy.
“Thank you for everything that you do in the community,” said Washington Trust Bank Vice President Tom Heath.
Heath spoke with farmers about the bank climate and about the impact farmers have on the local economy.
He said agriculture has been the driving force of the Columbia Basin’s economy for the past 50 years. He expected the industry to continue driving the economy.
“There’s always been challenges in the farming industry,” Heath noted. “There always will be challenges in the farming industry.”
Farm Service Agency Farm Loan Officer Libby Anderson informed attendees about a loan available for children.
The loan can be used for such projects as crop production, raising and breeding livestock, and growing vegetables, Anderson said.
The loans, with an interest rate of 2.12 percent this month, teach young people about financial responsibility, resourcefulness and how to respect lending policies, she said. They also begin establishing a credit history through the program.
Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, also spoke at the event.
“I am excited about recognizing what our farmers, what are agriculture community is doing for the state of Washington,” Warnick said.
The farming industry employs at least 160,000 in the state, she said.
“We make up a big, big part of Washington state’s economy,” she said.
Warnick said she opposes the proposed Business and Occupation tax.
“This is a bad tax,” she said. “It’s a bad idea, and we’re fighting to stop that.”
After Warnick’s speech, Qualls Agriculture Laboratory President Mick Qualls presented Jody and Roger Etter with the chamber’s Good Neighbor Award.
Qualls noted the Etters are neighbors who live across the street from him.
The Etters, of Etter and Tower Farms, moved to Ephrata in 1970 and began farming the same year. Jody Etter is a philanthropist society member.
They are a married couple of 43 years.