Whatever happened to Pendleton Grain Growers
Pay Attention to Your Co-Op
WORDS : ERIC FRUITS , PH.D.
Eric Fruits, Ph.D. is chief economist and president at Economics International Corp. and an adjunct professor at Portland State University.
Farmland Industries was once the largest farmer-owned co-op in the United States. In 2001, it opened a new headquarters in Kansas City. The glass-wrapped building and deluxe executive suites told the world that Farmland had become an agribusiness giant. At the time, the co-op was racking up debt—building a big expensive fertilizer plant, upgrading older fertilizer plants, and spending nearly $100 million on new computer software. In 2002, Farmland filed for bankruptcy. By 2004, its last big asset had been sold off.
Sun sets on 55-year-old Co-op
Series: Pay Attention to your Co-Op
Words: Mitch Lies
Photos: lynnphoto.com
The mood was upbeat and confident at the Malin Potato Cooperative in February of 2015. The Merrill, Oregon, agricultural co-op was preparing to open a brand-new, $7 million state-of-the-art potato packing plant. The co-op’s members had been convinced the investment would provide a much-needed lift with the promise of high efficiency and new organic markets.
Rep. Whitsett: Protecting water rights
(R, D-56) Retired
Oregon House of Representatives,
2013-2017, District 56 Including Klamath Falls and surrounding sections of southern Klamath County and southern Lake County. Chief of Staff for her husband, Sen. Doug Whitsett, 2005 to 2017.
Hon. Patti Milne: Liberating farmers from bureaucracy
(R, D-38) Retired
Oregon House of Representatives, 1993-1998, District 38 Marion County Commissioner, 1999-2014 Portions of Marion and Yamhill counties.
Hon. Tootie Smith: Her farmer rights legacy
(R, D-18)
Oregon House of Representatives, 2001-2005, District 18 Clackamas County Commissioner, 2013-2016 The first woman elected to Oregon House District 18, which includes Silverton and Molalla. First Republican woman elected to Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
Hon. Snodgrass: The farmer who became Speaker
(R, D-10) Retired
Republican, Oregon House of Representatives, 1995-2001, District 10 Clackamas, Damascus, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Boring and Gresham. Republican House speaker, 1999-2001. Current: CEO, Gresham Chamber of Commerce.
Hon. VanLeeuwen: A founder of Women for Ag
(R, D-1 (R, D-37) Retired 8)
Oregon House of Representatives, 1981-1999, District 37 At the time, included all of Linn County except Albany.
VanLeeuwen says she never dreamed she’d be in office, but her involvement in agriculture got her drafted as a write-in in the 1974 primary. Though she did not win the November general election in 1974, VanLeeuwen was elected to her first term in the House of Representatives in 1980, on her third try.
Senator Betsy Johnson: Top dairy farmer defender
(D, SD-16)
Oregon Senate, 2005-Present, District 16 Cities west of Portland from Scappoose to Tillamook up to Astoria. Oregon House of Representatives, 2001-2005.
Rep. Sprenger: Haystacker turned lawmaker
Representative
Sherrie Sprenger
(R, D-17)
State Representative, 2008-Present, District 17 East Linn County and part of Marion County.
On Representing Rural Oregon Sprenger sees herself as a steward of Oregon’s resources. She and her family love hunting, fishing and “just being in the far reaches of the state.”
Sun Sets on 55-Year Potato Co-op
Series: Pay Attention to your Co-Op
Words: Mitch Lies
Photos: lynnphoto.com
The mood was upbeat and confident at the Malin Potato Cooperative in February of 2015. The Merrill, Oregon, agricultural co-op was preparing to open a brand-new, $7 million state-of-the-art potato packing plant. The co-op’s members had been convinced the investment would provide a much-needed lift with the promise of high efficiency and new organic markets.
