DENVER, Colo. — Moses Lake’s Dennis Conley was among a group of 26 people recently honored by the Western Agricultural Economics Association.

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DENVER, Colo. - Moses Lake's Dennis Conley was among a group of 26 people recently honored by the Western Agricultural Economics Association.

They received their awards at the organization's annual meeting in Denver, Colo.

The group was recognized as being "outstanding alumni of agriculture and resource economics graduate programs," according to the association.

Their professional accomplishments and job responsibilities were part of the nominating criteria.

Conley, 68, owns a consulting business in Moses Lake.

He also works on behalf of the AgPower Users Group for some Grant County irrigators. His work occurred during electrical rate restructuring with Grant County PUD.

Clients for his consulting business include food processing companies. He also works with growers on land leases.

"It was a real nice honor," Conley said. "It's kind of like being inducted into the hall of fame for ag economists."

Before starting his own business, he retired from Basic American Foods in Moses Lake.

He has since written a white paper about irrigated agriculture in Grant County for the Ag Power Users Group.

Conley is a graduate of the University of Idaho.

He returned to the university and to Washington State University to talk to students about careers in agriculture.

"I have been very active in organizations associated with the food processing industry and have been recognized by my peers for that activity," Conley said.