WILSONVILLE, Ore. — On June 26-28, approximately 200 members, including nearly 20 sponsors, attended the Oregon Seed Association’s annual summer convention at The Resort at the Mountain, where over $12,000 was raised for its sought-after scholarship program.
This year’s convention achieved a 15 percent increase in attendance over previous years, and featured guest speakers Dr. Stephen Smith, DuPont Pioneer; Dr. David Altman, president of IPR Consulting and past OSA scholarship winner; Bob Harriman and Trevor Whitman of The Scotts Company; as well as representatives from ODOT, the Port of Portland and several more.
Funds raised for the scholarship program at this year’s convention totaled over $12,000. This money came from silent auction bids, cash donations and other fundraising activities. The scholarship committee recognized two talented young adults as recipients of the OSA Memorial Scholarship, an award presented to a child or grandchild of a current member who is pursuing higher education. Jacob Stewart, a student at Oregon State University (OSU), and Ashley Williamson, who starts at OSU in the fall, each received $1,500. The scholarship committee will award several other scholarships during its mid-winter member meeting in January.
OSA welcomed two new members during the convention, Pathfinder Logistics as an associate member and Cascade International Seed Company as an active member. OSA has more than 100 companies in its membership, which each contribute to fulfilling the organization’s mission of fostering cooperation and communication among members, suppliers, customers and regulators throughout the state, the nation and the world.
New board appointments for the 2015-2016 year include: Greg Loberg, West Coast Beet Seed Co., president; Scott Harer, Columbia Seeds, vice president; Jeff Martin, The Scotts Company, secretary-treasurer; and new directors Mandi Mack, Vista Seed Partners, and Paul Hedgpeth, Columbia River Seed. They join current board directors Kevin Rogers, CHS, Inc.; Rick Myers, DLF Pickseed USA; Phill Lindgren, Grassland Oregon; Jake Stockfleth, Oregon Seed Cleaning; and Todd Bond, Mt. View Seeds, immediate past president.
