What Is AgForestry
Mission Statement
History of AgForestry
Board of Trustees
Staff
Investors

Turning the Vision into Reality
The Story Behind the Foundation

The Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation was incorporated on December 16, 1977. This is the story of the inspiration and effort that led to the foundation’s creation and the history of the foundation’s first thirty years.

The story began in 1976 while Stu Bledsoe was Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Vern Divers was an Assistant Director and Supervisor of the Agriculture Development Division. Divers had responsibility for administering the Rural Rehabilitation Trust Funds.

These funds had previously been invested in rural rehabilitation loans through the Farmers Home Administration of the US Department of Agriculture. In the early 1970s, the Farmers Home Administration discontinued the sale of insured loans and requested that the states find other uses for their funds

With Bledsoe’s approval, Divers hired Dr. Arthur Peterson on a personal services contract to identify program needs and priorities, and to determine to what extent Rural Rehabilitation Trust Funds could be used to meet priority needs. Peterson, who had recently retired from Washington State University, identified several possible uses for the funds. They were analyzed and rated on a priority basis.

An agricultural leadership program, similar to one sponsored by Michigan State University with financial aid from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, was given top priority among the alternatives studied.

Dr. Robert Howell, at that time a newcomer to the rural sociology staff of Washington State University, heard about the State Department of Agriculture's interest in an agricultural leadership program. He was professionally interested because he had been in charge of a similar program in Pennsylvania, one of the four state programs which had received financial aid from the Kellogg Foundation. Moreover, Dr. Howell also had a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to assess the impact of these four states' "Public Affairs Leadership Development Programs."

He contacted Vern Divers and suggested that he take a small group to visit California and review their experiences with an agricultural leadership program. The California program had been launched in 1970 by the Council of California Growers with financial help from the Kellogg Foundation.

A group of six people, including Mike Youngquist and Bob Mickelson, representing agriculture, Vern Divers and Dick Harper, representing the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Robert Howell and Dr. Arlen Davison, representing Washington State University, went to California in July, 1977 on an exploratory mission. Upon their return, the group was very enthusiastic about what they had seen and heard. They recommended to the State Department of Agriculture and Dean of the College of Agriculture at WSU that Washington initiate a leadership program similar to the one in California.

Dr. Jack Robins, then Dean of the College of Agriculture, gave his official and personal support to the proposal, as did the new State Director of Agriculture, Gary Strohmaier, and Assistant Director, Dick Harper, who had taken Vern Divers’ place with the change in administration. This was important because the Rural Rehabilitation Funds of the Washington State Department of Agriculture could be used to finance the project with the Director's approval.

The Kellogg Foundation was also asked for financial aid but declined support awaiting the results of Dr. Howell's evaluation. This was not completed until a year later.

An ad hoc committee, with Bob Mickelson as chairman, was formed and held several planning and development meetings. Another important step at that time was to get the support of farm organizations and the forest industry.

Bob Hulbert took the lead with farm organizations and Stu Bledsoe with the forest industry. Stu had accepted a job as Executive Director of the Washington Forest Protection Association after leaving the State Department of Agriculture.

Art Peterson was asked by the ad hoc committee to aid them with publicity about the leadership program and preparation of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and related matters. He was paid through a personal service contract by the Washington State Department of Agriculture to perform these services. Art Scheunemann also worked with this committee, and later, with the board of directors.

Second California Visit
Another group of lay people, including Bob and Eleanor Laney, Jerry Sandlin, Bob Crandell and several others, went to California in November, 1977 to observe the start of a new leadership class. While there, they talked with Gene Rapp, Dean Brown and other officials of the California Agriculture Leadership Program. They gained valuable insight into that program and, like the earlier group, came back enthused.

Bob Mickelson, Bob Hulbert and Mike Youngquist signed the Articles of Incorporation of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation on December 16, 1977. Soon after that Bob Mickelson was appointed State Director of Agriculture and resigned from the board of directors. He continued to support the Foundation, personally and officially.

The first meeting of the board of directors occurred at Sea-Tac Airport on January 6, 1978. All 20 board members were present. Annual membership dues were set at $100 and charter memberships for five years at $500. Bruce Briggs and Bob Mickelson were the first charter members. Jack Bloxom was elected president of the first board of directors. Other officers were Bob Lundgren and Bob Hulbert, Vice Presidents; Eleanor Laney, Secretary; and Jon Whitman, Treasurer. Joe Leitzinger of Simpson Timber Company and Jack Wolff of the Weyerhaeuser Company accepted board positions soon after the board was organized. Their active participation at this early date provided strong support from the forest industry.

When asked why they supported the leadership program, Leitzinger and Wolff are quoted in the minutes of July 20, 1978 as saying, "Agriculture and forestry share many common problems. Both are renewable natural resource industries. For too long, these industries have not aggressively pursued their needs and explained them to the public. This is why timber companies like Weyerhaeuser and Simpson are interested in this type of leadership program. Forestry is a part of agriculture, just a different crop."

About 200 application forms had been distributed to prospective participants by July, 1978. Coordinators for the first five seminars had been recruited from colleges and businesses. The selection process was developed by a committee appointed by President Jack Bloxom on February 7, 1978. Dr. Bob Lundgren of Walla Walla was chairman. Other members of the committee were Janet Allison, Ed Minnick and Bruce Briggs. Thirty participants and eight alternates were selected for Class 1 using the process developed by this committee. This class was approved by the Board on September 22, 1978.

Class 1 held its first seminar in Yakima on October 26-28, 1978. Gene Rapp, Director of the California leadership program; Dean Brown, President of the California board and several California graduates came to Yakima to help inaugurate the Washington leadership program.

Financial Challenge
To start the financial end of the project, the State Department of Agriculture, at the request of the ad hoc initiating committee, approved a budget of $65,000 from the Rural Rehabilitation Fund. The money was paid and supervised through a personal service contract between the Department and Art Peterson. The ad hoc committee acted as an advisory group until the Foundation was incorporated. The State Department of Agriculture authorized and approved expenditures as submitted to the Assistant Director in charge of the Development Division under terms of the contract.

Financing the Foundation and the Leadership Program has been a challenge from the beginning. It continues to be a challenge that has been met by dedicated people. The cost of an international seminar for Class 1 and recruiting Class 2 to begin its two year program in the fall of 1979 were debated at every board meeting from October, 1978 until the decision to go ahead with Class 2 was made at the board meeting on May 25, 1979. The minutes of that meeting read, "Jack Bloxom agreed with Harold Cox's observation about loss of momentum if the start of Class 2 was postponed. In the past, he said, the Board had made many decisions when the money was not in hand. He made a motion that Class 2 be put on line in the fall of 1979. Cynda Webb seconded the motion. Motion passed.

In July, 1979 after Dr. Howell's evaluation showed favorable results, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation awarded a grant of $200,000 over a four year period, $75,000 in 1979, $50,000 in 1980 and 1981 and $25,000 in 1982. This commitment eased the financial problem but did not eliminate it. The continuing weakness of agriculture and forest product prices in 1981 and 1982 made it especially difficult to get the needed funds.

A professional fund raiser was hired in July, 1980 to head up the fund raising effort but he was not able to fulfill mutually agreed to goals. Following this, a few board members made an extra effort to raise funds. Their success was good enough that by July 1, 1981, they had turned the situation from a probable cash shortfall to a carry over greater than the amount carried forward on July 1, 1980.

Over the years, in addition to the annual cash receipts and expenditures, large in-kind contributions made a significant difference and are deserving of recognition. These items would have cost thousands of dollars if the foundation had to pay for them. They include:

1. Services performed without charge, or for less than actual cost, by universities, colleges, and businesses.
2. Hosting of meals.
3. Coordinators, facilities, and educational supplies furnished at little or no cost.
4. Seminar speakers who give their time as a public service. Some receive a token honorarium.
5. Travel expenses of board members to meetings.
6. Travel expenses of class participants.
7. Time spent at meetings, in travel, raising money, etc.

Building the Network
Membership in the Foundation has grown over the years. The minutes of the board meeting of July 20, 1978, show a membership of 172. A goal of 300 was set at that meeting; this goal was reached in 1981. Currently the Foundation has over 750 paid members supporting it annually.

In 1982, Art Peterson retired as the Executive Director of the Foundation and Robin Leitzinger was employed as the Executive Director. Under Robin's leadership the program continued its quality seminars and the funding of the program progressed. In the fall of 1984, Robin retired.

This program has given board members, participants and contributors opportunity to know and work with dedicated leaders across the state. As Art Peterson said, "Time will water the seeds we have planted and who can guess what the harvest will be." We are thankful to all who made this program possible and look forward to building on the success of this investment in leadership.

On October 4, 1984, Dave Roseleip, after twelve years with the Farm Credit Banks,  became the AgForestry Executive Director and moved the office from Seahurst, Washington, to Spokane, Washington.  Roseleip is a graduate of Class 1 of the program.  He employed Barbara Holloway as the Administrative Assistant, who was key in setting up and administering the Spokane headquarters until she retired in 1993.  Barbara, along with Carey Fiess, handled all central database responsibilities, seminar coordination, and recruitment administration for nearly 15 years.  Carey Fiess retired in 2002.  Other key office personnel who contributed significantly to  smooth, efficient operation included Candy Blackmer, Sean Lackner, and Maureen Stultz.

In 1989, David L. (Larry) Gueck was hired as Program Director and would later become Vice President.  Larry retired in June, 2006.  Randy Smith was contracted to work with Classes 22 and 24.

Program Curriculum
When Dave Roseleip assumed the management of the Foundation, Class 6 was half way through the program and Class 7 was just starting their first year.  They had been selected early in the summer of 1984.  Both classes 6 and 7 consisted of thirty participants.  There were 12 three-day seminars, the national seminar of eleven days, and the international seminar of three weeks (19-22 days). 

In January, 1985, Mr. Roseleip led the delegation of Leadership Program participants overseas to Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia for three weeks.  This would be followed in late February with the National Seminar to New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, for eleven days.  At that time, the Washington, DC, Seminar was coordinated by the office of U.S. Representative Tom Foley, Congressman from the 5th District of Washington State.  Mr. Foley would later become the Speaker of the House of Representatives, U.S. Congress.  Mr. Nick Ashmore was the Congressman’s Aid who worked diligently to shape the agenda of the National Seminar in Washington, D.C.

Throughout the years, Leadership Classes would experience the following National and International Seminars:

                                         
Over the course of the history of the Leadership Program, institutions of higher learning and businesses in the agriculture and forestry industries have partnered with the Foundation to provide seminar coordinators, facilities, and speakers, providing a significant educational and financial contribution to the development of astute and well-trained leaders for the natural resource industries and rural communities of the state of Washington.

Selection
Very important to the success of the Leadership Program is the recruitment and selection of candidates.  Every year, six committees of five volunteers interview candidates for the class, followed by a statewide Selection Committee meeting to make the final selection of the class to be presented to the Board of Trustees.

Running the State Selection Committee process, to assure balance in a class is truly an art.  This State Selection Committee Chairmanship position has been held by the following dedicated volunteers:

Stu Bledsoe
Alex Goedhard
Turk Ely
Chuck Podlich

Their job has been to assure a completely independent selection of a class, with balance geographically, occupationally, age wise, and philosophically.  In addition, the proper balance of production candidates must be adhered to by policy.

Governance
The Board of Trustees has played a major role in the success of the program.  By the design of a non-profit, the Board is a working board with primary responsibility for fundraising.  The size of the board was thirty-three people for the first 12 years of the program; then through the generosity of Peter Fisher, the bylaws were reviewed by legal counsel and updated.  In the process, the board was reduced to eighteen (18) people and the Endowment Fund was formalized.

Board Chairs have provided excellent leadership, as well as support and counsel for the Executive Director (now President upon rewrite of the bylaws).  Board Chairs who have served are:

2009-2010 Tom Robbert   
2008-2009    Jochen Engelke
2007-2008    Court Stanley
2006-2007    Norm Schaaf
2005-2006    Catherine O’Connell
2004-2005    Scott Swanson
2003-2004    Audrey Gravley
2002-2003    Gene Warren
2001-2002    Phyllis Gleasman
2000-2001    Jeff Light
1999-2000    Ken Lisk
1998-1999    Jim Sayce
1997-1998    Deborah Moore
1996-1997    John Gorman
1995-1996    Dick Siderius
1994-1995    Nick Kirkmire
1993-1994    Dee Eberhart
1992-1993    Randy Smith
1991-1992    Clayton Alford
1990-1991    Joe Niemer
1989-1990    Roger Calhoun
1988-1989    Alex Goedhard
1987-1988    Scott Hamilton
1986-1987    Turk Ely
1985-1986    Ward Armstrong
1984-1985    Jim Wilcox
1983-1984    Ted Tucker
1982-1983    Joe Leitzinger
1981-1982    Eleanor Laney
1980-1981    Bob Hulbert
1979-1980    Bob Lundgren
1978-1979    John Bloxom, Jr.

Curriculum
In addition, the Curriculum Committee (now called the Academic Council) has played a major role in assuring the educational program is up to date and challenging.  Leading the Committee as Chairs have been:

Janette Allison
Mike Yeager
Stu Trefry
Joyce Stewart
Ellen Wolfhagen

Over the years a “Leadership Framework” was developed to guide our thinking; and in 2003-04, under the leadership of a Research Committee chaired by Joyce Stewart, a Curriculum Guide was developed to set out the objectives of each seminar as well as guiding principles for the program.

Other outcomes of the Research Committee and through input from alumni and focus groups held around the state of Washington, the program was reduced from 71 days to 59 days of seminar activity.  This was in response to the input from applicants that time appeared to be an issue when choosing to participate.  In addition, research on leadership and other training programs has shown that a group of 24 participants has become the model for maximum learning and group interaction.  Thus, the Foundation reduced its class size from 30 participants to 24.

The Curriculum Committee (now Academic Council) has paid very close attention to the participant evaluations completed after every seminar.  Input from participants have always been taken very seriously and has helped the program stay on the leading edge.  The Committee Chairs guided the committee’s use of this input as well as “scoping the world” for better ideas and concepts.

On May 8, 2009, twenty-four participants of Class 30 celebrated their completion of the program at a Graduation Celebration in Wenatchee, Washington, with program alumni and investors looking on.

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