Tag Archives: advocacy

By Michelle Hennings Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Repeat after me, “FOOD SECURITY IS SAFE, RELIABLE FOOD; AND SAFE, RELIABLE FOOD IS FOOD SECURITY!” With everything going on in the world today, this has been on my and many other farmers’ minds lately. Everything we do and accomplish is for this, but the challenge is how do you ... Read More »

The Washington Grain Commission (WGC) was established in 1958. Its mission is to enhance the long-term profitability and competitiveness of Washington small grains and small grain producers by responsible allocation of assessment funds in research, marketing, and education. The WGC is seeking applicants for Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO serves as the operations and business manager, information liaison and ... Read More »

The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) has hired Heather Stebbings as executive director to replace Kristin Meira. Stebbings has 15 years of advocacy and public policy experience for the Pacific Northwest maritime community, including 13 years directing communications and government relations for PNWA. She joins the association from member Shaver Transportation, where she has served as marine services and government ... Read More »

For the second year in a row, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) has had to modify its traditional, two-day visit to Olympia to meet with legislators. Thanks to COVID-19 restrictions that kept legislators’ offices closed to the public or limited the number of people who could be in those offices, in February, wheat growers opted to host a ... Read More »

By Michelle Hennings Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers The last six months have been interesting here at the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG). I feel like a little bit of normalcy is starting to set in as we’ve been having some in-person meetings, which has been quite refreshing. I think this will be our new normal, both ... Read More »

Andy Juris, Washington Association of Wheat Growers secretary/treasurer and a farmer from Klickitat County, is featured in KXLY’s latest Tribute 4 Our Farmers television spot. Read More »

Most of the wheat growers’ advocacy trips to Olympia and Washington, D.C., are a whirlwind of activity, hurrying from one appointment to another to fit in as many meetings as possible in just a couple of days. This year’s efforts involved a whole lot less walking but just as much advocacy. Since early March, the leaders and staff of the Washington ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Friday marked day 19 of the 2021 Legislative Session. While there has been a sharp decline of new bills being introduced, committees are busy hearing, amending and voting out bills. The first deadline is fast approaching which is Feb. 15, when all bills must be voted out of their policy committee or they are dead ... Read More »

This week, Nicole Berg, a farmer from Benton County, a past president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and vice president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, testified in support of SB 5172, a bill concerning the retroactivity of overtime claims in exceptional cases. More than 150 people were signed up to testify. Here is Berg’s testimony, which ... Read More »

Earlier today, Ryan Poe, president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, testified in support of HB 1199, a bill that would provide compensation to Washington State Department of Natural Resources lessees whose leases are terminated for reasons other than default. The bill was being heard in the House Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. The hearing was recorded on ... Read More »