Western Regional Conference

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2024 Western Regional Conference

April 25 – 28, 2024

Host: Washington

Conference Registration & Fee

There are two options for registration.  You may complete the registration form and mail it in or you may do online registration.  Online registration will begin March 1 on the WA State Grange website www.wa-grange.com .  Registration must be received by April 15.

There is a $35 registration fee per person for the conference.  This will include lunch and dinner on both Friday and Saturday, both tours, and workshop materials.

Schedule

Lodging

Lodging is available at several hotels in Yakima.  Conference attendees should make their own reservations.  Below is a list of hotel facilities.  Feel free to check out these hotels online.

• Oxford Suites, 1701 E Yakima Avenue, Yakima, 509-457-9000
• Baymont by Wyndham, 1603 E Yakima Avenue, Yakima, 509-654-9168
• Best Western Ahtanum Inn, 2408 Rudkin Road, Yakima, 509-248-9700
• Super 8, 2605 Rudkin Road, Union Gap, 509-654-9371
• Holiday Inn, 802 E Yakima Avenue, Yakima, 509-494-7000
• Comfort Suites, 3702 Fruitvale Blvd, Yakima, 509-249-1900
• Red Lion Yakima Center, 607 E Yakima Avenue, Yakima, 509-248-5900
• Fairfield Inn & Suites, 137 N Fair Avenue, Yakima, 509-452-3100
• Hilton Garden Inn Yakima Downtown, 401 E Yakima Avenue, Yakima, 509-454-1111

Camping

Camping is available at the Yakima Sportsman State Park.  This is one-half mile from the Grange Hall.  We will provide shuttle service from the campground to the hotel throughout the weekend.  Telephone 509-575-2774 or email Yakima.sportsman@parks.wa.gov

Air Transportation

Yakima – Alaska Airlines has 1-2 daily flights to Seattle.  We will provide shuttle from the airport.

Tri Cities (Pasco) – Allegiant, Avelo, Alaska, American, Delt, and United Airlines all serve Pasto, a one-hour drive to Yakima.  We will provide shuttle service to Yakima.

Workshop Presenters

“Preserving Your Grange Artifacts”

Heather Ferguson has worked for 18 years in museum education, museum collections, and artifacts.  She is currently a consultant for museums and historical groups.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design and her Master’s Degree in Museum Studies.  Heather is serving as the Director of Junior Grange Activities for the Washington State Grange.

“Finding the Gaps”

Amanda Brozana Rios is the National Grange Membership and Leadership Development Director and Grange Foundation Associate.  She is enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Mississippi focused on community leadership and higher education and is an active member of Jefferson Grange #1384 (PA) as Secretary and Potomac Grange #1 (DC) as Lecturer.

“Generational Differences”          

Kent Hojem is a 40-year member of Newaukum Grange, Kent retired as the CEO of the Washington State Fair in 2022 after 17 years.  He is a past Board Chair of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions and was inducted into the IAFE Hall of Fame in 2019.  Kent serves as the facilitator for the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Institute.

“Creating Sponsorship Opportunities for your Subordinate Grange”

“Making the Grange Legislative Process Work for You”

Jesse Taylor – Jesse is the Legislative Lobbyist for the Washington State Grange.  He also serves as the Executive Director of the Washington FFA Foundation, where he is responsible for fund raising for the Washington FFA organization.  A former legislative staff member, Jesse is a WSU graduate in Agricultural Economics.

“Agricultural Careers – Your Future is Bright”

Jamie Sackman grew up a dryland hog farmer and married an irrigated cow guy. They raising 4 kids (11-18 years) in Grant County on Jeff’s parent’s farm where they manage the Registered Angus and Commercial Cattle Operation. They also raise hay. Jamie works part-time as a Livestock Nutritionist for Wolfkill Feed in Othello and teaches agriculture classes at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. Over the years, she has been involved with a variety of Agricultural organizations and events showcasing the future of Agriculture on the state and national level. As an “ag-vocate”, Jamie enjoys talking to people about agriculture and encouraging people to share their passion about all aspects of feeding the world.

“Effective Communications in a Digital World”

What are the best practices when communicating digitally?  How can we communicate clearly? Where should we be communicating? Who is our audience? The answers to these questions are Why you need to attend this workshop.  Presented by the 2023 National Grange Communications Fellows: Carolyn Chamlee (NV), Jim Dumolt (OR), Meagan McDonald (WA), Katie Squire (CA) and Lexie Suing (OR).

“Youth Fairs Panel Discussion”

A discussion on the origins of the Grange Youth Fairs Program, goals and objectives, and how it intertwines with the fraternal Grange organization.  Panelists include California State Grange President Joseph Stefenoni, Washington State Grange President Tom Gwin, Grant County (WA) Youth Fairs Program Coordinator Brittney Pittman, and Walla Walla County (WA) Youth Fairs Program Coordinator Rick Ferguson.

Tours

Treveri Cellars – Family-owned sparkling wine vineyard.   Opened in 2010 just southeast of Yakima Washington.  Their award-winning sparkling wines have been served at functions at the White House and James Beard Foundation.  They produce a wide array of sparkling wines including non-traditional varieties. They oversee the entire growing and production process, from vine to bottle.  Several of their vineyards are farmed organically.  We are fortunate to have a private walking tour, tasting, and lunch at Treveri Cellars.

Bale Breaker Brewing Company – Family-owned brewery located just east of Yakima. Backed by four generations of hop farming experience, Bale Breaker started in 2013.  They are the fourth largest independent craft brewery in Washington. They operate a 30-barrel brewhouse at a 27,000 square feet facility.  The family first planted hops in the Yakima Valley in 1932, the year before Prohibition ended.  We will have a walking tour of their operation and a chance to socialize over a good glass of beer.

Kinsey Family Farms – Family-owned farm, they are third generation farmers in the Yakima Valley. They started farming in the early 40’s in the Sunnyside area where they still farm today.  They grow a diverse product line producing both conventional and organic.  We will be touring their asparagus fields to observe harvest then to their warehouse to tour the processing.   Kinsey Farms currently have around 200 acres in asparagus production.  Greg Kinsey will be our host and guide for this tour.

Central Washington Agriculture Museum – Founded in 1979 and is located just south of Yakima.  It is the largest museum of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.  Home of 1000s of historic machinery and acres of exhibits that showcase farm life over the past 100 years.  We will have lunch at the museum and then a drive through tour.   Cheryl Reese Education Coordinator will be our host and guide.

Grange Library – The Grange library is located at the C W Ag Museum and will be open for us to browse and take in the history of local, state, and national Granges.  It also has several historical books, some written by founders Kelley and Grosh from 1875 and 1876.   The library also houses photos, documents, and symbols of the Grange.   Liz Wade, one of the founding members, will be there to answer questions and guide us through the past.