MOSES LAKE — Kent Karstetter was elected to Ag Hall of Fame, much to Kent's surprise, and retiring State Senator Judy Warnick received a special award in honor of her service to the community at the 85th annual Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday. 

Chamber Director Debbie Doran-Martinez introduced Warnick for the award. Warnick was the Chamber’s first female chair in 1990.

“Sen. Warnick has always been a strong supporter of the Chamber, of our agricultural roots and our expanding industries,” Doran-Martinez said. “Tonight, we thank you for all you have done to cultivate and grow our community, our economy and our quality of life that we enjoy.”

On a personal note, Doran-Martinez said, Warnick’s family was among the first people she got to know when she moved to Moses Lake as a child, and she, her mother and her sister all worked for Warnick in the past.

“It was a lot of fun to get to know Debbie and her family,” Warnick said. “(It’s been) a lot of fun to represent Moses Lake and Grant County over all these years. I’m not going to miss the politics, but I’m going to miss the people … It’s been an honor to represent this area, and I look forward to retiring and getting some more horseback riding in.”

Since 2010, part of the annual meeting has been inducting new members into the Moses Lake Ag Hall of Fame. This year had only one inductee, Karstetter, of Quincy. Karstetter had been kept completely in the dark about his nomination, outgoing Chamber chair Roger Silva said. For his induction, the Chamber tried something new: a seven-minute video by Proud Family Productions in which Karstetter’s wife Lisa and some of his family and employees paid tribute to his work.

“He’s the first one to be a cheerleader for anyone else, but the last to pat himself on the back,” Lisa Karstetter said in the video.

“This is overwhelming to me, because I don’t really think I’m that deserving,” Kent Karstetter said when his induction was announced. “There are a lot of farmers all over who treat the land the best they can and try to make it good for the next generation. The work ethic that farm communities instill in their workers and their children and their grandchildren and friends is something that warms my heart.”

The final award of the evening was the Chairman’s Award, which Silva presented to Derek and Daphne Martinez, owners of Favored Farmhouse.

“When you help others achieve their goals, you in turn achieve success as well,” Silva said. “And that’s what Derek and Daphne have done. Favored Farmhouse Coffee and Cream is bringing new startup businesses right along with them, and they’re branching out with a coffee truck and now they’re putting in a food court. It’s exciting to see everything that’s happening for them.”

Daphne Martinez fought back tears as Derek took the microphone.

“She’s the boss and she’ll make me cry too if I look at her,” he said. "This has definitely been a journey, our little story and our business, and we’ve very appreciative for where we’re at. This moment means a lot.”

The Chamber has had a busy year, Silva said as he finished his term as chair. 

“This year’s Business Expo was the largest to date and was featured on the live remote on the Spanish radio station out of Wenatchee,” Silva said. “Business After Hours had record attendance, and we are booked all through next year for hosting them. So if you want to get on for 2028, you’d better start calling now.”

The Chamber’s other events were a success as well, Silva said. The Farm Family Brunch in December served more than 300 people. The Cowboy Breakfast, which the Chamber hosted for the second time, also served more than 300, and more than 400 people came to the Exhibitor’s Breakfast, which the Chamber hosts for young livestock exhibitors and their families the last day of the Grant County Fair.

This year’s theme for the meeting and banquet was “Where dreams take root and businesses grow,” and the decorations centered mostly around a baseball theme. As is the custom with the Chamber’s annual meeting, each table was decorated by a different member business, and attendees were each given two tickets to vote for the best-decorated table. This year’s winner was Modstar, whose table was festooned in automotive-related paraphernalia, including a towering centerpiece made from oil cans and vehicle parts, little toy buses at the place settings and a sign that said, “My garage, my rules.” The runner-up was Guild Mortgage, whose table featured baseballs, bats and American flags.

Silva, who represents The Rayburn Group, handed over the chair gavel to Melissa Klitske of Washington Trust Bank, who then introduced the new board members for this year: Alex Town of Samaritan Healthcare, Wendy Stark-Ebel of the Big Bend Community College Foundation and Grant County Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan.

“As I pass the gavel to you, I want you to remember one thing,” Silva told Klitske. “You were chosen to lead, but you’re not expected to have all the answers. You were chosen because people believe in your ability to bring others together, make decisions and move this organization forward. Lead with confidence, stay true to yourself and never forget that the strength of this chamber comes from the people who serve it.”

“My goal is simple: Bring people together, welcome new faces and help our businesses grow,” Klitske said as she took the gavel. “Moses Lake has strong roots, and together we can make it a place where dreams take shape and businesses thrive.”

Tara Zerbo was named the Ambassador of the Year, Ambassador General Alan Heroux announced. The Chamber Ambassadors represent the Chamber at events, welcome new members and generally serve as the Chamber’s public relations team. The 25 members vote on the award right before the meeting, Heroux said, to select the member who has been most consistently at Chamber events. Zerbo, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Mann Realty, was out of town, but Heroux promised to send her a video of the ceremony.

    State Sen. Judy Warnick thanks Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Doran-Martinez and the crowd at the Chamber’s annual meeting and banquet Tuesday. Warnick, who served as the chamber’s first female chair in 1990, is retiring after 19 years in the state Legislature.
  

    Incoming Chair Melissa Klitske takes the microphone from outgoing Chair Roger Silva at the Moses Lake Chamber’s annual meeting and banquet Tuesday.
  

    From left: Incoming Chair Melissa Klitske, Ag Hall of Fame inductee Kent Karstetter, Lisa Karstetter and outgoing Chair Roger Silva pose for a photo at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce banquet Tuesday. The award came as a complete surprise to Karstetter, who farms near Quincy.
  

    Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors pour drinks at the Chamber’s banquet and annual meeting Tuesday.
  

    Modstar’s automotive-themed table was voted best-decorated at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce banquet and annual meeting Tuesday.