Ag summit emphasizes change

The future economic vitality of Skagit County farms will come from wining and dining strangers invited on to their properties some 100 farmers and allies of agriculture were told at the Skagit Summit February 16. Mount Vernon Mayor Jill Boudreau extolled her City’s welcome strategy connecting restaurants with local farms, putting local food on local tables.

“We celebrate all of that together to control how we grow in our Valley. It is right for our heritage and future,” she said in explaining the City’s Innovation Partnership Zone. Growing Mount Vernon’s tax base means growing restaurant sales and the local economy by connecting with area farmers.

Boudreau came after Andrew Miller, from EDASC, the Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County, and Stacie Pratschner, senior planner for Skagit County. Pratschner discussed the potential for Agro-Tourism, and the codes and standards needed to handle pressures more people on the land create. Pratschner said with amendments to the County’s comprehensive plan there “will be an open door for agro-tourism.”

Miller, director of business retention and expansion and heading EDASC’s agricultural portfolio, heralded the Skagit Valley for its reputation and the historic quality of its crops. He told the group “place making proceeds price making,” that there are “opportunities commensurate to set price on products” and that the key was to differentiate Skagit Valley products. He ended “We have all the pieces, we just need to do it together.”

Working together was emphasized by two young farmers from historic Valley farm families. Michael Hughes a fourth-generation member of his family’s farm near Conway, returned in 2009 with a masters in agricultural technology management. He was optimistic about the opportunities for farming in the mid-twenty-first century. “The future is bright” he said, stressing the need to connect with the final consumer and marketing the message of the farm as well as focusing on the work on the farm.

Charlie Dykstra, a third-generation dairy farmer now farming organicaly near Burlington, also stressed young farmers involvement in farm organizations. He also returned from college to the family’s farm. Managing employees well is as important as handling technological advances, he said.

County commissioners Ron Wesen, Ken Dahlstedt and Lisa Janicki also spoke, each emphasizing their family’s long ties to the land in the Skagit Valley.

The program’s change theme was in its title: “Water, Labor, Economic Vitality, Innovation and Leadership.” It was hosted by WSU Extension at their Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center near Mount Vernon.