The 2020 inductees to the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame will be honored at a dinner and installation gala at the Pasco Red Lion on Thursday, January 16, 2020, presented by the Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Port of Pasco.
This is the 20th year Hall of Fame honors have been awarded to Mid-Columbia farmers, families and agribusiness leaders in Franklin County and neighboring Mid-Columbia counties. The new inductees are being recognized for their outstanding contributions to agriculture and agribusiness in four categories. These are the categories and the inductees for 2020:
The Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame Pioneer Award honors individuals who have had a significant influence on the development of agriculture and unselfishly served their communities. This year, we have 2 inductees. Orvalla Hafer and Jim & Cindy Lancaster.
Orvalla Hafer was born in Wallowa Oregon and after spending her high school years in Portland, Or. She married country sweetheart Raymond Hafer in 1956 who was raised across the Grande Ronde Canyon from her childhood home in Promise, OR. They settled in Adams county and established multi-specialty Hafer Farms of today. Orvalla was a tireless volunteer over the years as a 4-H leader, Adams County Fair Board, Othello Jr. Livestock Sale Association as board member and secretary, founding member of Columbia Basin Jr. Livestock Show and Memorial Garden, Sandhill Crane Festival volunteer, and Cattlewomen’s Association member.
Jim & Cindy Lancaster spent their formative years in Idaho. After Jim’s service in the Korean War, he went to Sun Valley, ID where he met his future wife and they were wed in 1953. Due to his service, Jim was eligible for the Veteran’s land draw in the Columbia Basin and settled on Unit 234 Block 20 in 1961 converting dryland wheat to irrigated farmland. The early years were tough, even having to haul water for their home from neighboring wells. Cindy was one of the few wives to work off the farm teaching in Othello until her retirement. She was named Washington State Teacher of the Year in 1990. Jim & Cindy have been involved in the Franklin County Cattleman’s Association since its inception and Jim was a volunteer for Franklin County Fire District 4 for over 30 years. They volunteered for many years serving the Wahluke Water Association, Basin City Park/Arena, 20-3 Grazing Association, Connell FFA Booster and 4-H leaders in the 1970’s.
The Rising Star Award acknowledges a young individual in the agriculture industry who demonstrates a commitment to community involvement with a dedication to enhance agriculture. This year the honor goes to Greg & Shae Frichette of Frichette Winery.
Greg and Shae started their venture into the wine industry in 2013 on Red Mountain, converting an old incomplete pole building on 5 acres into a tasting room. Since then, they have fostered learning for students from WSU Tri-Cities Vintners program by providing them jobs and hosting field trips and class tours. Shae has been active in the community by serving as a board member for the Red Mountain AVA, Visit Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities Chamber, and founder of Benton City Giving Garden. Shae has been recognized with the Port of Benton Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and the Athena Award. Shae is also a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities XX
The Agriculture Advisor Award is given to an individual who has had a significant impact in ag-advancement and educational programs and similar organizations influencing the industry through leadership, guidance and community involvement. This year the honor goes to Dennis Munden.
Dennis is retired as agriculture education teacher at many local schools, including Kamiakin, Columbia, Pasco, Warden and Riverview High Schools. He has been recognized as the WA Association of Agriculture Educators Teacher of the Year in 1994 and 1997, National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association State Winner for Ideas Unlimited and Outstanding Agriculture Program, Crystal Apple Award Winner as well as numerous other recognition for his commitment and effort into agriculture education.
The Stewardship Award is presented to someone who has served the community and displayed leadership in agriculture over a long period. Denny Hayden of Pasco will receive the honor for 2020.
Denny was born and raised in Pasco growing up on the family fruit ranch. After graduation from WSU, he entered the banking and finance industry in Portland, OR for 5 years until the allure of farming brought him back home to start his own farming venture. Denny represented the board of the Washington Tree fruit Research Commission as an appointed member for over 20 years. He has also been a member of the Cherry Institute board of directors for nearly 30 years. He has been honored with Good Fruit Grower of the Year and as NW Cherry Industry’s ‘Cherry King’. He is active in the community and serves in the Knights of Columbus for his church parish.
The Agriculture Hall of Fame Gala will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2020, at the Pasco Red Lion, starting with a social hour at 5:00 p.m. A full-course dinner will feature local produce and local wines. For reservations and information, call the Pasco Chamber at (509) 547-9755 or drop by the office at 1110 Osprey Pointe Boulevard, Suite 101, in Pasco.
This is the 20th year Hall of Fame honors have been awarded to Mid-Columbia farmers, families and agribusiness leaders in Franklin County and neighboring Mid-Columbia counties. The new inductees are being recognized for their outstanding contributions to agriculture and agribusiness in four categories. These are the categories and the inductees for 2020:
The Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame Pioneer Award honors individuals who have had a significant influence on the development of agriculture and unselfishly served their communities. This year, we have 2 inductees. Orvalla Hafer and Jim & Cindy Lancaster.
Orvalla Hafer was born in Wallowa Oregon and after spending her high school years in Portland, Or. She married country sweetheart Raymond Hafer in 1956 who was raised across the Grande Ronde Canyon from her childhood home in Promise, OR. They settled in Adams county and established multi-specialty Hafer Farms of today. Orvalla was a tireless volunteer over the years as a 4-H leader, Adams County Fair Board, Othello Jr. Livestock Sale Association as board member and secretary, founding member of Columbia Basin Jr. Livestock Show and Memorial Garden, Sandhill Crane Festival volunteer, and Cattlewomen’s Association member.
Jim & Cindy Lancaster spent their formative years in Idaho. After Jim’s service in the Korean War, he went to Sun Valley, ID where he met his future wife and they were wed in 1953. Due to his service, Jim was eligible for the Veteran’s land draw in the Columbia Basin and settled on Unit 234 Block 20 in 1961 converting dryland wheat to irrigated farmland. The early years were tough, even having to haul water for their home from neighboring wells. Cindy was one of the few wives to work off the farm teaching in Othello until her retirement. She was named Washington State Teacher of the Year in 1990. Jim & Cindy have been involved in the Franklin County Cattleman’s Association since its inception and Jim was a volunteer for Franklin County Fire District 4 for over 30 years. They volunteered for many years serving the Wahluke Water Association, Basin City Park/Arena, 20-3 Grazing Association, Connell FFA Booster and 4-H leaders in the 1970’s.
The Rising Star Award acknowledges a young individual in the agriculture industry who demonstrates a commitment to community involvement with a dedication to enhance agriculture. This year the honor goes to Greg & Shae Frichette of Frichette Winery.
Greg and Shae started their venture into the wine industry in 2013 on Red Mountain, converting an old incomplete pole building on 5 acres into a tasting room. Since then, they have fostered learning for students from WSU Tri-Cities Vintners program by providing them jobs and hosting field trips and class tours. Shae has been active in the community by serving as a board member for the Red Mountain AVA, Visit Tri-Cities, Tri-Cities Chamber, and founder of Benton City Giving Garden. Shae has been recognized with the Port of Benton Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and the Athena Award. Shae is also a graduate of Leadership Tri-Cities XX
The Agriculture Advisor Award is given to an individual who has had a significant impact in ag-advancement and educational programs and similar organizations influencing the industry through leadership, guidance and community involvement. This year the honor goes to Dennis Munden.
Dennis is retired as agriculture education teacher at many local schools, including Kamiakin, Columbia, Pasco, Warden and Riverview High Schools. He has been recognized as the WA Association of Agriculture Educators Teacher of the Year in 1994 and 1997, National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association State Winner for Ideas Unlimited and Outstanding Agriculture Program, Crystal Apple Award Winner as well as numerous other recognition for his commitment and effort into agriculture education.
The Stewardship Award is presented to someone who has served the community and displayed leadership in agriculture over a long period. Denny Hayden of Pasco will receive the honor for 2020.
Denny was born and raised in Pasco growing up on the family fruit ranch. After graduation from WSU, he entered the banking and finance industry in Portland, OR for 5 years until the allure of farming brought him back home to start his own farming venture. Denny represented the board of the Washington Tree fruit Research Commission as an appointed member for over 20 years. He has also been a member of the Cherry Institute board of directors for nearly 30 years. He has been honored with Good Fruit Grower of the Year and as NW Cherry Industry’s ‘Cherry King’. He is active in the community and serves in the Knights of Columbus for his church parish.
The Agriculture Hall of Fame Gala will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2020, at the Pasco Red Lion, starting with a social hour at 5:00 p.m. A full-course dinner will feature local produce and local wines. For reservations and information, call the Pasco Chamber at (509) 547-9755 or drop by the office at 1110 Osprey Pointe Boulevard, Suite 101, in Pasco.
