Ephrata-Soap Lake Ag Boosters in need of donations
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 8 months AGO
Participants herd their pigs around the ring at the 2023 Grant County Fair. The Ephrata-Soap Lake ag boosters are looking for donations to help support students during this year’s fair.
FILE PHOTO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | July 11, 2024 3:30 AM
EPHRATA — Organizers of a fund to support 4-H, Grange and FFA participants from Ephrata and Soap Lake at the annual stock sale during the Grant County Fair said the fund needs donations.
Valli Millard, director of the Ephrata-Soap Lake Ag Boosters, said the organization’s goal is to ensure raising a fair animal is not a net loss for young people from the two communities.
“We’re involved with trying to support youth whey they sell their animals at the fair,” Millard said.
Every year the livestock barns at the fair are filled with pigs, lambs and cattle raised over the summer by 4-H, FFA and Grange participants. Young people sell their animals at the stock sale with the goal of making at least enough money to offset their expenses. The Ag Boosters use the money raised each year to boost the price of animals who aren’t drawing the kind of bids they need to reach that goal.
Millard said the Ag Boosters have a pretty good estimation of the expense involved in raising an animal — and like everything else, it’s gone up the last couple years. She attends the sale and keeps track of the average price, along with an estimate of the amount needed to break even. The Ag Boosters use their funds when a Soap Lake or Ephrata participant is not reaching the break-even point.
“I’ll go in and add some money,” Millard said.
The Ag Boosters support Ephrata and Soap Lake participants, Millard said. She checks eligibility since some participants have other avenues of support.
For 2023 the Ag Boosters raised about $9,600, added to funds left over from the previous year. There is a small carryover in 2024, but donations are down. So far donations total about $3,500; Millard said ideally the fund would have about $8,000 to $9,000 by the fair time.
Donations can be sent to Millard at Ephrata-Soap Lake Youth Ag Boosters, ℅ First Interstate Bank, 66 Basin St. SW, Ephrata, WA 98823.
A flyer has been distributed around the two communities with information about the Ag Boosters and a QR code, and people can also use that to donate, Millard said.
The Grant County Fair runs Aug. 13-17 this year.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Road closures, roundabout, mean construction season underway
EPHRATA — The grass is starting to turn green, the trees are starting to leaf out, construction crews are starting to build roundabouts – hey, it’s spring. At least one roundabout project is in its final phase, held over from fall 2025. The intersection of State Route 282 and Nat Washington Way will be closed the week of April 6 to allow crews to install permanent lights. “This really is the final (closure),” wrote Grant County Administrator Tom Gaines in a media release. “The roundabout will close at 6 a.m. Monday, and we plan to reopen by Friday, possibly sooner if the work finishes early.”
Ybarra announces run for Washington Senate
QUINCY — State Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, has announced his candidacy for the Washington Senate. If he’s elected, he would replace Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who announced her retirement in March.
Othello Community Museum to open April 25
OTHELLO — With a couple of new exhibits, a new heating-cooling system, rearranged displays and a thorough cleaning, the Othello Community Museum will open for the summer April 25. The goal, said Molly Popchock, museum board secretary, is to operate for a full season.