'Kind of like big dogs'

Young people show off cattle in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Kelli Nelson is no stranger to showing animals. “I’ve been showing since I was about two years old,” the 17-year-old said as she leaned on a bleacher inside the Ardell Pavillion at the Grant County Fairgrounds. A native of Pendelton, Oregon, Nelson holds the lead of an eight-month-old buff-colored Charolais-cross steer she calls Sid. He’s been washed and groomed and his fur has been fluffed up, and he looks as good as a bovine will ever look in or out of a showing ring. “I usually show sheep and goats. This year is new with the whole steers and cattle,” she said. She scratches Sid behind one ear, and the steer drools slightly. “He did pretty well this morning, and he’s getting used to it,” Nelson said. “They’re kind of like big dogs.” ...

Ruminating on grain overload

Avoiding Rumen Acidosis in cattle, sheep and goats

Ruminants like cattle, sheep, and goats have a unique digestive system that allows them to gain energy from forage such as mature pasture grass and hay. The carbohydrates found in these feeds help to provide ruminants with healthy energy, but did you know that consuming high amounts of certain other types of carbohydrates can be dangerous—and even deadly? Dr. Brian Shoemake, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses the physiology behind grain overload, treatment methods, and how to safely incorporate grain into ruminants’ diets. Ruminants are herbivores with four stomach chambers that each play a unique role in digestion. They get their name from the rumen—the first and largest chamber—which acts as a storage area and the location where microbes digest and ferment feed...

Hay exports face pandemic recovery

Anderson CEO sells hay while the sun shines

ELLENSBURG — Agriculture exports for the state of Washington are in flux with some crops declining and others, such as apples and hay have climbed the value ladder. According to figures recently published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2021 apple exports totaled nearly $2.2 billion, up 4.3% from apple exports in 2020, and roughly one-fifth of the total value of state farm product exports of $10.2 billion. While a few farm commodities posted increases in 2021 from the previous year’s levels — the value of cattle and calf exports rose 13.6%, hop exports rose 8.4% — the USDA reported the value of most of the state’s farm exports fell in 2021, some by a little — the value of potato exports fell 5.4% — while wheat exports fell by a whopping 20.2%. That likely reflects 2021’s drought-ravaged wheat harvest, which fell 48% to 87.2 million bushels from 166.2 million in 2020, according to a USDA report published in January 2020....

George I. Zucker

September 16, 1942 - September 16, 2022 George Zucker of Pasco, Washington passed away on Sept. 16, 2022, at his home surrounded by family members on his 80th birthday. He was born in Spokane, Washington on Sept. 16, 1942, to Leland and Lillian Caudill. His father passed away on July 5, 1943. His mother later married George Zucker. Early in his career he worked with his family in the cattle industry, later joining the construction industry working as a member of Operating Engineers. In the earlier 1970s he purchased his own equipment and began operating his own business, mainly in developing agricultural farmland. In 1985 he was involved in an industrial accident, leading him to retire due to the injuries received.

Warden celebrates Community Days

Grand marshal checks off bucket list item

WARDEN — Gary Olson always wanted to be the grand marshal of the Warden Community Days Parade.

'A best friend who won't tell anyone your secrets'

Horse lovers head to Ritzville for the Wheat Land Communities' Fair

RITZVILLE — Briger Peterson has a short and pithy description of what a horse is. “A best friend who won’t tell anyone your secrets,” the 14-year-old said, ready to demonstrate her bareback riding skills during the second day of the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair in Ritzville on Friday. Phil Peterson, who manages the Iron Legacy Ranch south of Ritzville along with Heidi Tracy, leaned against the wire around the equestrian pen. Many of the horses in Friday’s competition came through Iron Legacy, Tracy explained, as she too leaned on the wire to watch the kids fit and show their animals. “They’re just so good for the kids,” Tracy said. “They teach them how to think outside themselves, teaching them to be selfless.” ...

Cattlemen's Association convention announced

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association will hold its annual meeting and Cattle Producer’s Forum in Nashville this year on Dec. 8-10, according to a press release from the organization. The annual meeting is the association’s 15th, and gives ranchers from across the opportunity to review the past year and set the association’s agenda for the upcoming year as well, particularly with legislation reforming U.S. cattle markets currently making its way slowly through Congress, the press release said...

Hay King Travis Herring excels despite bad season

MOSES LAKE — There’s always plenty of work to do on a farm.

Richard Dale Shetler

Richard Dale Shetler, 58, of Moses Lake, Washington, died suddenly at home Wednesday evening, Aug. 17, 2022.

Beef well done

Wilson Creek FFA student participates in her last Grant Co. fair

MOSES LAKE — It was a hot day at the Grant County Fair on Thursday, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees and the National Weather Service issuing an excessive heat warning for much of Central and Eastern Washington. “Keep hydrated!” emanated from the loudspeakers across the fairgrounds. There was a sheen of sweat on Rylee Wilson's face as she stood in the Ardell Pavillion of the Grant County Fairgrounds late Thursday morning. She didn’t mind all that much, she said. The Wilson Creek High School graduate and FFA member had a pretty good fair this year, winning a grand champion ribbon and belt buckle Thursday morning in a competition with her steer Buttercup. “I actually won market yesterday with Buttercup and Honeybun,” she said, pointing to her two tan steers standing in a stall of one of the fairground cow barns. “And then I won showmanship with Honeybun (this morning) too. So I’m coming out with four buckles.” ...

Keeping the fair moving

Volunteers ensure smooth operations for visitors

MOSES LAKE — It looks - easy. Participants in livestock competition at the Grant County Fair enter the arena, they’re checked off, and at the end, the right ribbon goes to the right person. A hungry fairgoer walks up to a food booth run by a local nonprofit organization and places an order, and the right order arrives. From the ribbons to the Spaceburgers, it all runs pretty smoothly. It's the people over at the folding table next to the show ring, and the crews that are kind of out sight, staffing the food booths and the exhibit buildings, that make it look easy. Most of them are volunteers. Fairgrounds manager Jim McKiernan estimated it took about 250 volunteers to help the fair run smoothly. The organizations that operate the fundraising food booths find their own volunteers, and for some, it’s been a struggle. The volunteers overseeing competitions and running the food booths said it provides its own rewards...

Keeping cool

Triple-digit temperatures require fair exhibitors to keep close eye on animals

MOSES LAKE — The swine barn at the Grant County Fair is shady and relatively cool compared to outside, and the pigs were dozing in a pile of wood shavings.

Floodfest celebrates education of the Dry Falls and Sun Lakes

DRY FALLS/SUN LAKES - The annual Ice Age Floodfest was held at the Dry Falls Visitor Center on Saturday and featured the efforts of many to educate the public about the area and its history.

Rocky Ford history

Just off State Route 17, by the junction with SR 282 is a pull-off with a wooden sign.

Lourence Dormaier: Ephrata farmer finds purpose in working the soil

A local man found his purpose in farming and has turned it into a thriving business.

The Cattle Battle: Bovine Respiratory Disease

One of the greatest issues cattle owners face is Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), a complex condition that can affect cattle of any age and breed...

Gamble Sands Golf Resort

Columbia Basin links style golfing

BREWSTER — Gamble Sands Golf Resort is a direct descendant of golf courses of old - and a worth-the-trip destination for Columbia Basin golf enthusiasts. “It’s a true links-style design,” said Brian Benitz, director of sales and marketing for Gamble Sands. “It’s a throwback to the original design of golf courses.” The course is located at 200 Sands Trail Road near Brewster. It was designed by golf architect David McLay Kidd, also known for his design of the first course at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. “(Kidd) is a genius. Everything he does is good,” Benitz said...

NCHA Weekend comes to Grant County Fairgrounds

MOSES LAKE - The National Cutting Horse Association hosted its NCHA Weekend event at the Grant County Fairgrounds Saturday and Sunday, bringing in riders from across the Western United States and Canada. “Cutting is an old tradition from ranches many years ago, in order to get cows to where they needed them it was basically a form of cutting (individual cows away from their herds),” Washington Cutting Horse Association President Bruce Pinkerton said. “Now it’s refined to a very large sport in the United States.” ...

Rancher groups poised to fight proposed legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The passage of a pair of bills designed to improve regulation of U.S. cattle and beef markets has prompted concerns among some national and state cattle ranchers organizations. On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry passed the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022 and the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022, sending both measures on to the full Senate for consideration...

Earle Bennett Essex

Earle passed away on May 18, 2022, at the age of 80 at his home after struggling with a heart condition.