2025 Skagit Ag Summit

Steve Omdal Memorial Skagit Ag Summit will feature Leadership, Farm Succession, Innovation & Water

Steve Omdal passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Omdal was first elected as a Port of Skagit Commissioner representing District 2 in 2012. His motivation for seeking the Commissioner position was to bring new ideas and a “for profit” business background to enhance the ability of the Port to improve economic development opportunities for all Skagit County residents.

Omdal’s business background was in sales and management with pharmaceutical companies Wyeth-Ayerst and BASF, and later on with FedEx Services. His sales career began in the mid-1970’s with Western Farmers Association, a nod to his roots growing up on a dairy and crop farm in nearby Bow, Washington. His experience on the farm helped Omdal embrace and understand the importance of valueadded agriculture in our community today, and the required infrastructure for production, manufacturing, and marketing for the industry. As a lifelong Skagitonian, his passion for agriculture, the preservation of farmland, and creating opportunities for Skagit growers and producers was widely known.

Steve Omdal served on the planning committee for the Skagit Ag Summit since it’s inception. He was never one to shy away from controversy and was always willing to lend an ear to anyone with a good idea. His collaborative style included a desire to learn and a willingness to brainstorm, “think outside the box,” and not be afraid of new ideas or opportunities that may arise in a constantly changing environment. It is more than appropriate that we will name the 2025 Skagit Ag Summit in his honor. Thank you for your contribution Commissioner.

Schedule

Friday morning, February 7th, 2025

8:30am Welcome & Opening Remarks

• Ron Wesen, Skagit County Commissioner
• Don McMoran, Director, WSU Skagit County Extension

8:40 am Building Blocks for Success: Infrastructure Supporting Agriculture

Moderator: Don McMoran, Director WSU Skagit County Extension
Objective: The continued viability of Skagit agriculture.

• Rick Larsen, Congressional District 2
• Ron Wesen, District 1, Skagit County Commissioner
• Peter Browning, District 2, Skagit County Commissioner

9:45 am Break

10 am Farm Succession

Moderator: Jennifer Smith, Western Washington Ag Association
Objective: Getting the farm to the next generation or other alternatives

• Trevor Faucet, Ag West
• Andy Perleberg, WSU Chelan County Extension
• Todd Burgers, Larson Gross
• Sarah Stoner, Skagit County Farmland Legacy

11:00 am Access, Protection, Acquisition

Moderator: Eric Nelson, Skagit Conservation District
Objective: It’s not farmland without Farmers: Getting Boots on the ground & tractors in the field

• Dan Fagerlie, WSU Extension Emeritus
• Owen Peth, John Peth and Sons
• Amy Frye, Boldly Grown Farms
• Mark Knutzen, Knutzen Farms (retired)
• Blake Van Roekel, Genuine Skagit
• Wayne Hill, Hill Farms

12 pm *Lunch Keynote Trevor Hardy– Brookdale Farm Supply

1 pm Innovation: Show Me the Money

Moderator: Jake Fowler, Northwest Ag Business Center
Objective: To educate the Skagit agricultural community on agricultural business and technology

• Steve Mantle, Innovat8
• Kate Smith WSU Skagit County Extension
• Eber Rivera, WSU Skagit County Extension
• Trevor Hardy, Brookdale Farm Supply
• Paola Pesantez-Cabrera, AgAID Institute
• Devin Gonzalez, Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship

2 pm Break

2:15pm “ The Future is in Your Hands: Supporting Skagit AG”

Moderator: Don McMoran, Director, WSU Skagit County Extension
Objective: “2025 Outlook Issues Impacting Skagit Agriculture”

• Jenna Friebel, Skagit County Dike and Drainage Consortium
• Emmett Wild, Skagit Conservation District
• Kellie Gillingham, Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE)
• Jose Ortiz, Saint Charles Church, Burlington

3:15 pm Closing Remarks

• Commissioner Peter Browning & WSU Skagit County Extension

3:30 Evaluation

4pm Social Hour at Sean O’Donnell’s

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