Title Sponsor - Oregon Women for Ag

AG Stars

DIRECTOR OF NATURAL RESOURCES AT CHEMEKETA RECEIVES STATEWIDE AG HONORS
Craig Anderson applauded for significant agricultural contributions

Craig Anderson of Turner, OR has been chosen as the 2008 Ag Star Individual Award winner, sponsored by West Coast Bank, recognizing his dedication to agricultural education and outreach. He will be honored at a luncheon on Friday, April 25, 2008, for his long list of accomplishments in promoting agricultural industries.

Anderson was nominated because of his dedication to agriculture and his community. Craig has been instrumental in adding two associate degree programs at Chemeketa Community college, which now includes an Associate Degree in Horticulture and a degree in Wine Marketing, one of the few degrees of its kind in the nation. And, because of Anderson’s leadership, this year will mark the debut of the college’s own wine label, making Chemeketa the first and only higher education institution in Oregon to make, bottle and sell its own wines.

As the director of natural resources at Chemeketa, and in his 20-plus years with the college, Anderson has helped expand and develop the agricultural offerings on campus from a few part-time ag classes to one of the largest agriculture programs in the state, which enrolls over 2,200 students annually. The Chemeketa Natural Resource Department now includes forestry, agribusiness management, and sustainable plant research and outreach (SPROut) programs, in addition to those listed above, along with coordination of horticulture classes at the Oregon Gardens and community agriculture classes that focus on pesticide and landscape continuing education program. He was also responsible for helping to secure funding through a variety of sources for the establishment of the Northwest Viticulture Center.

Craig’s hard work and “can-do” attitude are seen in his commitment to agricultural organizations as well. He currently serves on the Oregon Ag Fest board of directors, and is the past president of the Cascade FFA Alumni Association and the Marion County Livestock Association. He has lead agricultural seminars in 13 countries and was named as a Diplomat of the American College of Animal Nutrition.

The Ag Star award recipients will be honored on April 25 at the Oregon Ag Fest kick-off luncheon held in the Hart of the Garden (Floral) Building at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. The award is given each year by Oregon Ag Fest, a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating Oregon agriculture in a fun, festive environment. Ag Fest is the largest ag-festival of it’s kind in the northwest and consistently draws 18-20,000 attendees.

DAYTON NURSERY RECEIVES STATEWIDE AG HONORS
Carlton Plants to be honored at a luncheon on Friday, April 25, 2008

Carlton Plants has been named the 2008 Ag Star Business award winner, sponsored by West Coast Bank. The award is given each year to an organization that excels in their industry and is dedicated to Oregon agriculture.

Carlton Plants was nominated because of their progressive environmental stewardship. Their focus successfully integrates growing healthy bareroot trees, ornamental shrubs, and rootstocks for retailers, landscapers and growers, while investing in their employees and protecting Oregon’s natural resources.

Fish screens protect aquatic life while cover crops provide food at the same time they are building soil during crop rotation. Wildlife habitat is provided by setting aside less productive land. Each year their recycling efforts have diverted tons of waste products away from landfills. Composting converts non-salable nursery product into an additive to augment the quality of their soil and builds soil texture. A long time energy conservation effort has improved efficiencies and saved money on electricity and fuels. Their on-site water supply is carefully protected and they apply integrated pest management methods to limit the need for chemical additives.

All of this while growing over 685 varieties of plants on roughly 1,750 acres in Dayton, where Carlton Plants has called home since 1971. Their history goes much deeper then this, however, reaching as far back as 1890 when they began growing prune trees for the commercial orchard industry in 1890 in the town of Carlton, OR.

Beyond being dedicated to their industry, Carlton Plants is exemplary in customer service and employee retention. Their 250 employees average more than eight years of service with Carlton Plants. Opportunities for advancement in knowledge and skill are ongoing and the company continually focuses on expanding their collective horticultural expertise. Carlton Plants also sponsors an internship program for domestic and international students majoring in horticulture or related fields.

The Ag Star award recipients will be honored on April 25 at the Oregon Ag Fest kick-off luncheon held in the Hart of the Garden (Floral) Building at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. The award is given each year by Oregon Ag Fest, a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating Oregon agriculture in a fun, festive environment. Ag Fest is the largest ag-festival of it’s kind in the northwest and consistently draws 18-20,000 attendees.