The Board of Directors of the Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation elected four board members. Returning board members are Mel Calloway, JH Bany Company of Quincy; Chery Sullivan, Dept. of Agriculture of Olympia and Kyle Womach, PayneWest of Yakima. New board member from Class 36 is Nate Putnam, retired from SDS Lumber Company in Glenwood.

Last month the board elected officers that includes Justin Hall as Chairman of the Board. Justin is Executive Director of the Nisqually River Foundation in Olympia. 1st Vice Chair is Jeremy VanderVegt, VP Capital Markets with Northwest Farm Credit Services in Pasco. Kyle Womach was elected as 2nd Vice Chair and he is with PayneWest serving as a Sales Executive based in Yakima. Mel Calloway will continue to serve as Secretary. She is based in Quincy with JH Bany Company. Lori Stonecipher was elected as the Treasurer. Lori is a partner in Stonecipher Ranches in Walla Walla. Dennis Swinger, Jr. will automatically serve as Past Chair. Dennis is the Vice President of Franz Farms in Lind.

A Natural Resource Specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, Erica is ready to use and further develop her ability to work with people and develop relationships. As a new mom to Everly, Erica is juggling work, motherhood, and AgForestry, and is excited for this learning opportunity. She knows that public speaking is a bit out of her comfort zone, and was able to practice these skills with her cohort in Spokane. As a Colville resident, and forester, AgForestry is looking forward to her insight at the Forestry seminar in 2022. Erica, we’re excited that you’re excited for the learning opportunity that is AgForestry.