{"id":27276,"date":"2026-01-20T15:56:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T23:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/?post_type=tribe_events&#038;p=27276"},"modified":"2026-02-02T14:08:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T22:08:30","slug":"2026-skagit-ag-summit","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/event\/2026-skagit-ag-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Skagit Ag Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Skagit Ag Summit is our region\u2019s premier gathering for farmers, agricultural professionals, community leaders, and advocates dedicated to the vitality of Skagit County agriculture. Each year, the Summit highlights the innovation, resilience, and collaboration that define our farming community while addressing the most pressing issues facing agriculture today.<\/p>\n<p>Rooted in Skagit\u2019s rich agricultural heritage, the Summit brings together diverse voices to explore opportunities in farm business management, soil and water stewardship, climate adaptation, labor and work-force challenges, agricultural technology, and market development.<\/p>\n<p>Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and farmer-led workshops, participants gain practical tools and insights to strengthen their operations and the future of local agriculture.<\/p>\n<p>The event is also a place to celebrate the strength and diversity of Skagit agriculture, from our world-class seed industry and vibrant farm-to-table movement to emerging markets in livestock and specialty crops. Whether you are a grower, researcher, policymaker, or com-munity partner, the Skagit Ag Summit offers a chance to learn, connect, and contribute to the sustainability and resilience of our agricultural landscape.<\/p>\n<h2>Schedule for Friday, February 6th, 2026<\/h2>\n<h3>8:30 am\u00a0 Welcome &amp; Opening Remarks<\/h3>\n<p>Don McMoran, Director, WSU Skagit County Extension<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>8:40 am\u00a0 Building Blocks for Success: Infrastructure Supporting Agriculture<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Moderator:<\/strong> Don McMoran, Director WSU Skagit County Extension<br \/>\n<strong>Objective:<\/strong> The continued viability of Skagit agriculture.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rick Larsen, Congressional District 2<\/li>\n<li>Ron Wesen, District 1, Skagit County Commissioner<\/li>\n<li>Peter Browning, District 2, Skagit County Commissioner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>9:45 am\u00a0 Table Topics followed by <em>break<\/em><\/h3>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>10:15 am\u00a0 Farm Access and Succession<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Moderator:<\/strong> Mikala Staples-Hughes, Western Washington Agriculture Association<br \/>\n<strong>Objective:<\/strong> Getting the farm to the next generation or other alternatives<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anna Chotzen and Francisco Farias, Viva Farm<\/li>\n<li>Elizabeth Bragg, American Farmland Trust<\/li>\n<li>Sarah Stoner, Skagit County Farmland Legacy<\/li>\n<li>Hilary Aten, Office of Farmland Preservation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>11:15 am\u00a0 New Faces in new places\/hot topics<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Moderator:<\/strong> Eric Nelson, Skagit Conservation District<br \/>\n<strong>Objective:<\/strong> Introducing new agency representatives to the Skagit Agricultural Community.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Laura Claus, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland<\/li>\n<li>Taylor Scott, Skagit County Dr. Inci , WSU NWREC<\/li>\n<li>Dr. Kevin Murphy, WSU Bread Lab<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>12:15 pm\u00a0 Wood fired pizza by Pizza 4 Producers<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-23772\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/09\/Pizza-4-Producers-LOGO-72-396x396.gif\" alt=\"Pizza For Producers Logo\" width=\"231\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/09\/Pizza-4-Producers-LOGO-72-396x396.gif 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/09\/Pizza-4-Producers-LOGO-72-198x198.gif 198w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>1:15 pm\u00a0 Innovation<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Moderator:<\/strong> Jake Fowler, Northwest Ag Business Center<br \/>\n<strong>Objective:<\/strong> To educate the Skagit agricultural community on agricultural business and technology<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>David Wallace, Farm HQ<\/li>\n<li>Sean Hulbert, Hulbert Farms<\/li>\n<li>Andrew Tuttle and Mary Marshall<\/li>\n<li>Nathan Kusler, 5G VTOL NW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>2:15 pm\u00a0 \u00a0Table Topics followed by <em>break<\/em><\/h3>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>2:45 pm\u00a0 Water<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Moderator:<\/strong> Don McMoran, Director, WSU Skagit County Extension<br \/>\n<strong>Objective:<\/strong> 2025 Outlook Issues impacting Skagit agriculture<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jenna Friebel, Skagit County Dike and Drainage Consortium<\/li>\n<li>Kellie Gillingham, Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE)<\/li>\n<li>Erin Ericson, Snoqualmie Valley Watershed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>3:45 pm\u00a0 Closing Remarks<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Commissioner Peter Browning<\/li>\n<li>WSU Skagit County Extension<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>4:00 pm\u00a0 <em>Evaluation <\/em>and Adjourn<\/h3>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><u>Table Topics<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Farm Business &amp; Succession<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Farm succession clinics (legal, financial, and family communication \u201chot seats\u201d using real anonymized scenarios).<\/li>\n<li>Enterprise profitability labs for key Skagit rotations (dairy forage, potatoes, veg seed, berries), with partial budgets people can take home.<\/li>\n<li>Capital access and \u201cShow me the money 2.0\u201d on grants, tax credits, and lender expectations for small and mid-sized farms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Land, Water, and Code<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Agritourism code roundtable (planning staff + growers) to unpack proposed amendments and work through edge cases.<\/li>\n<li>Farmland protection in a clean\u2011energy and mitigation world: drainage, estuary restoration, battery\/ solar siting, and conservation tools.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cAccess, protection, acquisition\u201d breakout on getting new operators onto land while keeping parcels in production.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Labor, Housing, and Workforce<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Year\u2011round labor strategies: H\u20112A, local workforce development, mechanization tradeoffs, and HR basics for small farms.<\/li>\n<li>Farmworker housing, transportation, and childcare as critical infrastructure for Skagit agriculture.<\/li>\n<li>Capturing and transferring \u201cinstitutional knowledge\u201d from 20\u201330\u2011year farmworkers and retiring operators.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Innovation, AI, and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Practical on\u2011farm tech demos: irrigation and fertigation automation, drainage monitoring, and low\u2011cost sensing for flats ground.<\/li>\n<li>AI and decision tools for planting windows, risk management, and regulatory paperwork reduction, grounded in real Skagit case studies.<\/li>\n<li>Value\u2011added processing and direct\u2011to\u2011market logistics for Skagit crops (cold storage, co\u2011packing, and distribution partnerships).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Community, Stress, and Next Generation<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Farmer mental health and peer support: what\u2019s actually working in the valley and how agencies can support without adding burdens.<\/li>\n<li>Emerging farmer pathways (Viva and others): incubator to independent farm, including financing and land tenure models.<\/li>\n<li>Youth and next\u2011gen leadership: connecting FFA\/4\u2011H and farm kids with real roles in policy, drainage, and Summit planning itself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\">Platinum Sponsor:<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-13553 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/Skagit-County-1-line-jpg-396x117.jpg\" alt=\"Skagit County Extension\" width=\"396\" height=\"117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/Skagit-County-1-line-jpg-396x117.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/Skagit-County-1-line-jpg-792x234.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/Skagit-County-1-line-jpg-768x227.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/04\/Skagit-County-1-line-jpg.jpg 1128w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\">Gold Sponsors:<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24002\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/AgWestFarmCredit-Logo-396x159.jpg\" alt=\"Ag West Farm Credit\" width=\"244\" height=\"98\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/AgWestFarmCredit-Logo-396x159.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/AgWestFarmCredit-Logo.jpg 474w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 244px) 100vw, 244px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-27311 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/01\/Port-of-Skagit_horizontal.png\" alt=\"Port of Skagit\" width=\"342\" height=\"65\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-24221 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Wilbur-Ellis_refinish-1568x709-1-396x179.png\" alt=\"Wilbur-Ellis\" width=\"288\" height=\"130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Wilbur-Ellis_refinish-1568x709-1-396x179.png 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Wilbur-Ellis_refinish-1568x709-1-792x358.png 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Wilbur-Ellis_refinish-1568x709-1-768x347.png 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Wilbur-Ellis_refinish-1568x709-1-1536x695.png 1536w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Wilbur-Ellis_refinish-1568x709-1.png 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24176\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/PM_Full-Color_Horiz-396x181.jpg\" alt=\"Pape Machinery\" width=\"247\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/PM_Full-Color_Horiz-396x181.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/PM_Full-Color_Horiz-792x361.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/PM_Full-Color_Horiz-768x350.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/PM_Full-Color_Horiz-1536x701.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/PM_Full-Color_Horiz.jpg 1811w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-24206 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Skagit-Farmers-Supply-Logo-Color-396x130.jpg\" alt=\"Skagit Farmers Supply\" width=\"326\" height=\"107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Skagit-Farmers-Supply-Logo-Color-396x130.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Skagit-Farmers-Supply-Logo-Color-792x260.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Skagit-Farmers-Supply-Logo-Color-768x252.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Skagit-Farmers-Supply-Logo-Color-1536x505.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Skagit-Farmers-Supply-Logo-Color-2048x673.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-27348\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/01\/Skagit-Publishing-396x247.jpg\" alt=\"Skagit Publishing empowering the community\" width=\"396\" height=\"247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/01\/Skagit-Publishing-396x247.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/01\/Skagit-Publishing.jpg 465w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\">White Gold Sponsor:<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-24059 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/01\/NABClogo-NOtagline-396x164.png\" alt=\"NW Agriculture Business Center\" width=\"396\" height=\"164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/01\/NABClogo-NOtagline-396x164.png 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/01\/NABClogo-NOtagline-792x329.png 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/01\/NABClogo-NOtagline-768x319.png 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2020\/01\/NABClogo-NOtagline.png 1094w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-24212 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/SAKATA-396x135.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"396\" height=\"135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/SAKATA-396x135.png 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/SAKATA.png 402w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\">Silver Sponsors:<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-27312 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2026\/01\/washington-veterans-affairs.png\" alt=\"Washington State Department of Veteran's Affairs\" width=\"300\" height=\"90\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24008\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/smileys-logo-dark-396x204.png\" alt=\"Smileys PRO Services\" width=\"225\" height=\"116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/smileys-logo-dark-396x204.png 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/smileys-logo-dark.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24009\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Ag-West-Implement-396x164.png\" alt=\"Ag West Implement \" width=\"234\" height=\"97\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Ag-West-Implement-396x164.png 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/Ag-West-Implement.png 630w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 234px) 100vw, 234px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-24216 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/extension\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2024\/11\/SkagitValleyFarm.jpg\" alt=\"Skagit Valley Farm\" width=\"215\" height=\"143\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Washington State University Extension helps people develop leadership skills and use research-based knowledge to improve economic status and quality of life. Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Skagit County. Extension programs and policies are available to all without discrimination. To request disability accommodation contact the ADA Coordinator, Human Relations and Diversity, 509-335-8888 at least ten days in advance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Skagit Ag Summit is our region\u2019s premier gathering for farmers, agricultural professionals, community leaders, and advocates dedicated to the vitality of Skagit County agriculture. Each year, the Summit highlights [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":177,"featured_media":4933,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_tribe_events_status":"","_tribe_events_status_reason":"","_expiration_date":""},"tags":[6,15],"tribe_events_cat":[32,28],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/27276"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tribe_events"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/177"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27276"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/27276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27378,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events\/27276\/revisions\/27378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27276"},{"taxonomy":"tribe_events_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.wsu.edu\/skagit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tribe_events_cat?post=27276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}