Local man heads up Mattawa housing project

I met with a man at Tiddaly Diddaly’s last Wednesday who has launched an ambitious housing project for the Mattawa community.

I was waiting for a suited fellow. What I got was this friendly, unassuming guy dressed for any occasion short of semi-formal.

It’s been my experience when I send an email asking to interview a builder, there is typically a hemming and hawing followed by a long wait to confirm a date to meet up.

But that wasn’t the case with Brian Talbot. He emailed his response the same day I sent my request informing me we could meet the next day at 3 p.m. Brian came to the meeting with only one document to show me – the concept (see story on page 3).

A crew from Selland Construction Company out of Wenatchee was hired to do the infrastructure phase, but when I asked for specifics on the housing phase of the project, Brian said things like “I haven’t figured that out yet,” or “I haven’t looked that far ahead.”

Then two things happened following my inquiry. First, he sensed I was doubting him. “A lot of people wonder if I can do this?” Second, I sensed there was more than a housing story, so I asked just who Brian Talbot is?

Brian came to the Mattawa area in 1990, fresh out of WSU with a degree in Ag Economics, a wife and a baby daughter. He took a job managing 500 acres of orchard for Columbia Fruit Packers shortly thereafter.

“They gave me a place to live, a pickup and a paycheck; I was set for life,” he said.

There wasn’t any real “farming blood” in the Talbot family. Brian’s dad was a pharmacist. His mother was a nurse. His older brother Tim, however was already working for Columbia Fruit Packers. Brian actually worked the summers for Tim during his teenage years

When Brian showed up with his degree, the company brought him on board. He’s been at that job ever since. Brian and his wife have raised six kids who are also successful in their own way.

We went out to get pictures of the work site, and were on our way back to Tiddaly’s, Tamara Green greeted us. She asked Brian about a chess match that was going on at the high school.

I asked Brian if he was a master of the game?

Brian laughed and said no, but added that he can coach and proved his ability to do so coaching his son to a Top 10 State ranking through his high school years.

Brian played varsity tennis for Wenatchee and never made it to state competition, but all six of his kids did.

Brian currently manages 1220 orchard acres for Columbia Fruit Packers, nearly all of which produce organic crops. Over the years, he learned to see coming trends.

“I was planting Fujis when others were planting red and golden delicious,” Brian said. “I was planting Pink Ladies while others were planting Fujis.”

I walked away believing Brian can do just about anything he puts his mind to. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished housing project, and so does Brian.