Conversations about water, agriculture lead to WSU’s Eggert Organic Farm

Gaffney and Hansell.
Mike Gaffney, Extension Assistant Director, smilles with Oregon State Sen. Bill Hansell during a Council of State Governments West Legislative Council on River Governance visit to Eggert Farm.

WSU Extension hosted the Council of State Governments West‘s Legislative Council on River Governance, a gathering of legislators and Tribal representatives from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana, August 23 at the WSU Eggert Family Organic Farm.

Vicki McCracken, Associate Dean and Director of WSU Extension and Mike Gaffney, Extension Assistant Director and Director of WSU Extension’s Community and Economic Development Program Unit, welcomed council members to dinner at the farm, capping day two of a three-day council session.

Meeting in nearby Lewiston, Idaho, the council discussed a range of topics related to water and river management, and was interested in learning about WSU and agriculture in the region. Gaffney spoke to the council earlier that day to introduce the Western Water Network, a new western states initiative of the Western Agriculture Experiment Station and Extension Directors’ Associations.

Jaeckel with guest
Eggert Farm Manager Brad Jaeckel, right, speaks with Nez Perce Tribal Executive Vice Chairman Shannon Wheeler, left, during the dinner.

The Council of State Governments West (CSG West) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that supports cooperation, information exchange, and stronger legislative institutions. It serves the legislatures of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Pacific islands of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. Associate members include the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.

Rep. Tom Dent
Washington State Rep. Tom Dent speaks during the farm dinner, Aug. 23.

With a shared interest in improved quality of life in the West, a strengthened relationship with CSG West is mutually beneficial for the governments represented by that Council, for WSU, Western Extension, and the people of the western United States, Gaffney stated.

Members of the Idaho delegation gather at Eggert Farm.