Recently, more than 150 people attended the Oregon Seed Association’s annual Mid-Winter Meeting at the Salem Conference Center. Guests included keynote speaker Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, deputy director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture; John Vanderkin, president of Employers Overload; Dr. Jack Qui, plant pathologist at USDA APHIS PPQ; and Scott Dahlman, policy director of Oregonians for Food and Shelter.
The OSA Mid-Winter Meeting is a one-day event that includes committee meetings, association business and updates from state agencies. Participants discussed legislative priorities for the upcoming short session, as well as issues relating to minimum wage increases, sick pay benefits, export transportation issues, seed and export regulations, and domestic and international concerns.
One of the highlights of the meeting was awarding $6,300 in scholarships to eight Oregon State University students. Three types of scholarships are awarded to students seeking higher education in agriculture with aspirations for a future in the seed industry. Committee chair Nancy Aerni, Turf Merchants, Inc., presented the scholarships. Recipients were invited to attend the meeting to accept their awards.
Recipients of the OSA/OSU scholarship awards included Elizabeth Hayes, Corvallis, Ore.; Tanner Holland, Corvallis, Ore.; Levi Graffenberger, Albany, Ore.; Simon Fraher, Olympia, Wash.; Cesar Juarez, Hood River, Ore.; and Samantha Roof, Hillsboro, Ore. Elizabeth Hayes also received theAmerican Seed Trade Association scholarship. In addition, Pete Berry and Blake Kerbs, both from Corvallis, Ore., were awarded the William Kent Wiley Jr. Fellowship award.
OSA membership continues to grow with the addition of five new companies—Thomas Ag Services, West Coast Seed Mill Supply Co., Ag 1 Source, Beta Seed, Inc., and Expeditors International of Washington-Portland.
The OSA summer convention is set for June in Portland, Oregon.
