Ben Barstow voted as president of Washington Wheat Growers

Whitman County's Ben Barstow last week was voted in as president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers.

A farmer in the county since 1993, Barstow said he looks forward to a year of advocating agricultural issues in both Olympia and Washington, D.C.

As president, he'll lobby agriculture in both political arenas, conduct the association's 10 annual meetings, organize the annual Wheat Growers Convention and work to educate the public on farming issues.

Barstow was officially voted president at the Wheat Grower's annual convention last week at the Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights.

Leadership in the state organization is a four-year track, with members being voted in first as secretary-treasurer, then vice president, then president and, finally, past president. Barstow served as vice president last year, starting in November 2009.

Washington Association of Wheat Growers state-wide has 1,600 member with 291 in Whitman County.

Barstow and his wife Janet farm 1,000 acres outside Palouse. Barstow said his 10 years as a member of the growers has had a direct influence on his yearly farming techniques. They grow wheat, barley and peas.

"Being involved has made me a better farmer, certainly a more informed farmer," he said. Their land has been in Janet's family since 1893. Part of their current acreage was also farmed by Ben's maternal grandfather.

The position of president is volunteer. Barstow said he is most looking forward to meeting and working with other leaders in the state and at the national level. As president, he is now also a member of the National Wheat Grower's Association.

One of the main goals of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers is to advocate for farming at the state legislative level. This means Barstow will visit state legislators from districts across the state to fight for and promote farming issues.

"In the state legislature this year, one of our priorities no doubt will be to support or maintain funding for wheat related research at Washington State University," he said.

As much as $24 million could be cut from that area of the college, he said, a move that could potentially lead to a much greater loss of funds from the federal level.

"A $24 million cut at the state level ends up being about $75 to $100 million at the university level," he said, referring to the fact that much of state research funds come in the form of matching grants from the federal government.