Teaching & Learning Catherine Van Son, PhD, RN [email protected].
2014 Conference Summary Report - Amazon...
Transcript of 2014 Conference Summary Report - Amazon...
Prepared on June 9, 2014 by Lucas Patzek and Rosanne Burke
The Cascadia Grains Conference brings together farmers, bakers, brewers,
distillers, brokers, investors, policy-makers and others to strengthen the role of
grains in the agricultural and food economy of the maritime Pacific Northwest by
sharing the latest science, techniques, and developments, as well as by creating a
space in which new business, policy and research relationships can form and
existing ones can be strengthened.
2014 Conference Summary Report
1 Contact: Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension, [email protected], 360-867-2153
www.cascadiagrains.com / January 11, 2014 / Tacoma, WA
This conference was presented by Washington State University, Oregon State University, and the USDA Risk Management Agency
Conference Planning Team: Dr. Lucas Patzek – Conference Chair; Director and
Agriculture Extension Faculty, WSU Extension.
Dr. Andrew Corbin – Agriculture Extension Faculty,
WSU Extension.
Dr. Stephen Jones – Director and Crop Science
Professor, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC.
Dr. Patrick Hayes – Professor of Barley Breeding &
Products, Oregon State University.
Dr. Susan Kerr – NW Regional Livestock and Dairy
Extension Specialist, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC.
Chris Mahelona – Risk Management Specialist, USDA
Risk Management Agency.
Martha Aitken – Interim County Director, WSU
Extension.
Chris Benedict – Agriculture Extension Faculty, WSU
Extension.
Rosanne Burke – Conference Project Coordinator; WSU
Extension.
The 2nd annual Cascadia Grains Conference
was held on January 11, 2014 at the STAR
Center in Tacoma, WA. The conference, a
project of Washington State University in
partnership with Oregon State University and the
USDA Risk Management Agency, brought
together 238 participants with the goal of
rebuilding a grain economy west of the Cascade
Mountains in the Pacific Northwest region
through three value-added enterprises: animal
feed, artisan baking and other food uses, as well
as craft brewing and distilling. The one-day
event featured 17 unique sessions taught by 32
Overview
2 Contact: Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension, [email protected], 360-867-2153
www.cascadiagrains.com / January 11, 2014 / Tacoma, WA
specialists covering a range of topics including production methods, supply chain development,
processing and end-use quality factors, marketing, business operation scaling, as well as licensing
and regulations. On average, the sessions were evaluated by attendees as being somewhat to very
informative, or an average score of 4.1 on a scale from 0 (not informative) to 5 (very informative).
Conference participants came from all corners of the Pacific Northwest including
Washington (75% of participants), Oregon (11%), and British Columbia (7%). Nearly 58% of
conference participants were from the following Western Washington counties (in descending order):
King, Thurston, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom County. In addition to the Pacific
Hands-on soba noodle making session with Sonoko Sakai of Common Grains.
Andrea Stanley, owner of Valley Malt, speaking about her experience
developing a traditional malthouse in New England.
Northwest, residents of the following states participated in the conference: Alaska, California,
Colorado, Massachusetts, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Farmers made up the largest
percentage of participants (24%), while consultants and grain processors made up the second and
third largest attendee groups. The processing sector was dominated by maltsters (24%), distillers
(24%), and brewers (22%), although millers, bakers, and feed processors were also in the audience.
Conference attendance in 2014 was 53% greater than in the first year, and 78% of 2014 participants
were new to the conference.
In addition to sharing the latest science, techniques, and developments, the
conference aims to create a space in which new business, policy and research relationships can
form and existing ones can be strengthened. In fact, 57% of participants specified opportunities for
networking as the primary reason for attending the conference. The planning team focused on
integrating as many networking opportunities into the program as possible, including the provision of
three locally-sourced meals, and Best of the Cascades Tasting Tour featuring local craft beers and
spirits, and a Resource Expo featuring regional support organizations, agencies, and universities.
The success of the conference might best be judged by the willingness of the participants to attend
in another year, and 84% of participants stated that they would, while 11% stated “maybe.”
Who Came?
3 Contact: Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension, [email protected], 360-867-2153
www.cascadiagrains.com / January 11, 2014 / Tacoma, WA
Participation
Seed companies 1%
Farm suppliers
2%
Brokers & Distributors
2%
Retailers 8%
Other 12%
Researchers & Educators
13%
Consultants 21%
Farmers 24%
Brewers 4%
Maltsters 4%
Distillers 4% Millers
2%
Bakers 2%
Animal feed 1%
Processors 17%
4 Contact: Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension, [email protected], 360-867-2153
www.cascadiagrains.com / January 11, 2014 / Tacoma, WA
At the core of the conference were 17 sessions taught by 32 instructors representing a broad range
of sectors, from universities to state and federal agencies, non-profit economic development
organizations, as well as farm and food businesses. Sessions were an hour and 20 minutes in
length and were divided into three concurrent tracks and five time-blocks occurring from 9:00 am
until 5:40 pm. Session formats ranged from single speaker presentations to panel discussions,
each moderated by a member the conference planning and steering committees. Additionally, the
conference included a Resource Fair featuring 12 different agencies, organizations and companies,
each of which engaged participants outside of the workshop times through passive displays,
hands-on activities, and take-home materials. The day concluded with a Tasting Tour of regional
craft beers and spirits highlighting 3 breweries, 5 distilleries, as well as a guided tasting panel led
by the Washington Beer Awards.
Program
Top: Richard Scheuerman of Seattle Pacific
University speaking about Puget Sound
Agricultural Origins. Bottom: Mark Nelson
of WSU prepping grassfed and grainfed
beef tasting samples.
Measuring interest in the topics by the number of
attendees in the sessions associated with them, the greatest interest
was in learning how to produce small grains and pseudo-cereals
(alternative grains), malting and brewing quality, and developing
supply chain relationships. Participants were asked which grain crops
interest them most, and their response was: barley (21% of
respondents), rye (15%), wheat (15%), oats (14%), quinoa (11%),
buckwheat (9%), amaranth (8%), and triticale (7%). Thus, 72% of
participants are primarily interested in the traditional small grain crops,
while 28% are primarily interested in alternative grains. When asked
what topics they would you like to learn more about in the future, 42%
of respondents stated nuts-and-bolts grain production related
information, including which varieties to grow, what equipment to use,
and how to control pests. 21% of respondents want more information
about marketing and developing supply chain relationships, and 14%
of respondents want more information about alternative, heritage, or
gluten-free grains. Participants were asked to rank the sessions they
attended on a scale from 1 (Not Informative) to 5 (Very Informative),
and averaged over all 17 sessions, the mean score was 4.1. The three
most highly-ranked sessions were: “Hands-on Soba Noodle-making”
with Sonoko Sakai of Common Grains (4.7), “Bringing the Malthouse
Back: A New England Story” with Andrea Stanley of Valley Malt (4.6),
and “Designing Regional Food/Ag Businesses” with John Gardner of
the Bainbridge Graduate Institute (4.2). The average score for a
session did not fall below 3.5, and only six of the 17 sessions were
rated below 4.
5 Contact: Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension, [email protected], 360-867-2153
www.cascadiagrains.com / January 11, 2014 / Tacoma, WA
The conference agenda is outlined below,
and the full conference program with
presentations can be accessed at the
following website:
http://cascadiagrains.com/events-
registration/past-events/2014-conference/
Bread Lab: Thinking Differently About Baking Quality
Stephen Jones, Washington State University, Mount Vernon Research
Center
Linking the Grain Producer to the Market
Matt Lincecum, Fremont Brewing Co.; Mike Sherlock, Fremont
Mischief; Luke Zigovits, Organic Valley
Bringing the Malthouse Back: A New England Story
Andrea Stanley, Valley Malt
Part 1: Increasing the Regional Production of Small
Grains
Don Bailey, Bailey Compost/Vegetables; Colin Barricklow, Kirsop
Farm; Dan Bartelheimer, Sno-Valley Farms; Sam McCullough, Nash’s
Organic Produce
Part 2: Increasing the Regional Market and
Processing of Small Grains
Jay Gordon, WA Dairy Federation; Patsy Martin, Port of Skagit; J.T.
Wilcox, Washington State Representative
Designing Regional Food/Ag Businesses
John Gardner, Bainbridge Graduate Institute
Effects of Grain and Grass Feeds on Meat Quality
Jan Busboom & Mark Nelson, Washington State University Animal
Sciences
Program, CONT.
Incorporating Local Grains into Poultry Feed
Matthew Aamot, Scratch and Peck Feeds; Jacob Slosberg, University
of British Columbia
Producing Specialty Grains in the Pacific Northwest:
Amaranth, Buckwheat, Quinoa & Spelt
Kevin Murphy, Washington State University
Hands-on Soba Noodle Making
Sonoko Sakai, Common Grains
Grain Varieties and Malting: The Secret to Developing
the New Cascadia Beers
Wayne Carpenter & Mike Doehnel, Skagit Valley Malting; Patrick
Hayes, Oregon State University
Risk Management Options for Small Grains
Jessica Jensen, Jessica Jensen Law; Chris Mahelona, USDA Risk
Management Agency
The Development of the Gluten-Free Market
Joe Casey, Craft Brew Alliance; George DePasquale, Essential Baking
Company
Puget Sound Agricultural Origins and Ode to the
Cowlitz Prairie Threshing Bee
Richard Scheuerman, Seattle Pacific University
Getting Licensed in the Brewing and Distilling
Industry
Farshad Allahdadi, Oregon Liquor Control Commission; Heidi Braley,
Washington Liquor Control Board
Grains in Eco-friendly Crop Rotations
Art Bomke, University of British Columbia; Lucas Patzek & Brook
Brouwer, Washington State University
6 Contact: Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension, [email protected], 360-867-2153
www.cascadiagrains.com / January 11, 2014 / Tacoma, WA
The conference is a project of Washington State University (WSU)
planned in collaboration with Oregon State University (OSU) and the
USDA Risk Management Agency (USDA-RMA). Lucas Patzek, County
Director and Agriculture Extension Faculty with WSU Extension, chairs
the Planning Team. Chair responsibilities include: selecting the date and
location of the conference, supervising the paid project coordinator,
appointing individuals to the Planning Team and Steering Committee,
approving and finalizing the program, managing the budget and soliciting
financial and in-kind support through sponsors
and grants, and evaluating the conference
outcomes. The project coordinator, Rosanne
Burke, works with the chair on fulfilling these
responsibilities. The Planning Team included the
following educators and researchers: Andrew
Corbin, Stephen Jones, Susan Kerr, Martha
Aitken, and Chris Benedict (WSU); Patrick Hayes
(OSU); and Chris Mahelona (USDA-RMA).
Westland Distillery providing tasting samples of their craft spirits at the
Best of the Cascades Tasting Tour.
Top (clockwise order from top): Dr. Patrick Hayes of OSU, Dr. Stephen Jones
of WSU NWREC, and Dr. Lucas Patzek of WSU Extension. Bottom (clockwise
order from top): Matt Lincecum of Fremont Brewing Company, David
Bauermeister of the Northwest Agriculture Business Center, and Luke
Zigovits of CROPP Cooperative, Organic Valley.
The Steering Committee – composed of individuals who work in the private sector
or for economic development organizations – voluntarily advise the Planning Team in the
planning of the conference to bring a timely, real-world perspective to the program. Through
Planning
monthly planning meetings, the Steering Committee provides input on the
program topics and speakers, brings in resources to support the
conference through financial and in-kind sponsorships, promotes the
conference through different outlets, and advises in the selection of
scholarship recipients. The Steering Committee included the following
individuals: David Bauermeister (Northwest Agriculture Business Center),
George DePasquale (Essential Baking Company), Dick Larman (Lewis
Economic Development Council), Matt Lincecum (Fremont Brewing
Company), George Pearce (Wilco-Winfield LLC),
Mike Sherlock & Patti Bishop (Fremont Mischief
Distillery), and Luke Zigovits (CROPP
Cooperative, Organic Valley).
7 Contact: Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension, [email protected], 360-867-2153
www.cascadiagrains.com / January 11, 2014 / Tacoma, WA
The 2014 Cascadia Grains Conference was proudly supported by Pierce County, Fremont Brewing
Company, Bob’s Red Mill, and many other companies and organizations listed below who
sponsored at one of six sponsorship levels, each with different associated benefits. The conference
was also partially supported by a BioAG Outreach/Extension grant from the WSU Center for
Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The total budget for the conference was $36,179, with 36% of the dollars coming from
registration fees, 28% from WSU Extension support, 28% from sponsorships, program ad sales, and
resource booth fees, and 8% from grants. Registration fees were tiered into three categories based
on the timing of payment: early-bird ($75), regular ($95), and day-of ($115). A scholarship
registration rate of $45 was awarded to 14 individuals who submitted an online application and who
were either a beginning farmer or processor, or a student. A work-share rate of $25 was awarded to
6 individuals who provided A/V support, or who helped with conference set-up and take-down.
Financials