Calloway ready for potato commission role
Quincy potato grower Rex Calloway crouches in one of his fields of Russett Burbank potatoes. He was recently elected to serve as a commissioner on the Washington State Potato Commission.
QUINCY — After years of investing a lot of effort and energy into his business, Quincy potato grower Rex Calloway has more time to serve as a commissioner for the Washington State Potato Commission.
Calloway, 51, was elected by growers to the district 1, position 2 slot earlier this year and recently started his term.
QUINCY - After years of investing a lot of effort and energy into his business, Quincy potato grower Rex Calloway has more time to serve as a commissioner for the Washington State Potato Commission.
Calloway, 51, was elected by growers to the district 1, position 2 slot earlier this year and recently started his term.
The term is Calloway's first, but he's been involved with the commission in other capacities by serving on environmental and regulatory committees during the past year.
From there, he had the chance to step in and become a commissioner.
He's also reached a point in his life where it's time to give back to the potato industry.
Although he's still busy growing potatoes, wheat, alfalfa and field corn, he found more time to contribute to the industry.
His goals include working with staff and commissioners to promote the potato industry to the best of his ability.
"We need to be out there pushing the potato agenda in a positive way to legislators, keep key issues in the forefront and promote them in the most positive way we can," he commented.
Calloway's role as commissioner also involves travel.
This week, he is leaving for Los Angeles to attend the Western Regional Restaurant Association conference where he, other commissioners and the commission's director of trade, Matt Harris, promote Washington potatoes.
The group will work at a booth and offer French fry samples to participants.
He travels to Washington, D.C., in September for a public policy conference addressing issues affecting the Fresh Vegetable Association.
It's another chance for potato commission representatives to meeting with legislators and talk about specific issues.
Calloway is a third-generation farmer and a Grant County native. His father began farming in the early 1960s and grew the operation until his retirement in 2005.
The Columbia Basin Irrigation Project attracted Rex's grandfather to the area from Oklahoma in 1952. He farmed the family's original 160 acres.
Rex returned to the family farm in 1985.
He holds a degree in agronomy from Washington State University.
Royal Slope grower Frank Martinez was elected commission chair and has served on the commission since 2003.
Other leadership members for 2010-2011 are Bob Halvorson, first vice chair; Darrin Morrison, second vice chair; Jared Balcom, secretary and Angela Pixton, treasurer.
Immediate past chair Ted Tschirky is a member of the executive committee.