Friends of North Willamette
Research and Extension Center
2nd Annual Harvest Dinner
Friday, September 20, 2013
Thanks to our Friends!
We appreciate all those interested in NWREC, what we
do, and the difference we make in the community. It is
important say “thanks” for your support each year!
OSU College of Agricultural Sciences Dean,
Dan Arp, shares important progress during the
past year and looks ahead to the future.
Several local stakeholders each spoke briefly
about the importance of work done at NWREC
and by OSU to support their industries.
Thank you to:
Eric Pond, blueberry grower
Matt Unger, strawberry grower and chair of
Oregon Strawberry Commission
• Polly Owen, Executive Director of the Oregon
Hazelnut Commission
• Lance Lyon, Nursery Consultant
• Mike Iverson, vegetable grower
•
•
Community Friends…
sharing with us this year
Vegetable grower, Mike Iverson,
and member of NWREC’s Advisory
Council, spoke to the attendees
about the importance Of NWREC’s
research for his industry.
Kris Flintcroft, with the Aurora
Colony Handspinners Guild,
attended the Friends Harvest
Harvest Dinner. The Guild
participated in this year’s NWREC
Community Open House and has
been interested in the work we
have been doing with flax.
Retired NWREC Superintendent,
Del Hemphill, enjoyed the evening
with his Friends.
OSU College of Ag Sciences Dean
Dan Arp visits with Polly Owen,
Executive Director of the Oregon
Hazelnut Commission.
Ben Williams with the Friends of
French Prairie, a local land use
organization supporting agriculture
In the region, joined our Friends of
the North Willamette Research and
Extension Center event.
And, to Very Special Friends…
Joe Casale, longtime vegetable
farmer from Aurora, with wife Gerry,
were recently recognized as OSU
Diamond Pioneers in Agriculture
for their outstanding leadership in
farming in the state and their support of Oregon
State University. The Casales are helping to establish
the NWREC Vegetable and Specialty Crop Extension
Agent Endowment. Congratulations, Joe and Gerry!
Local Elected Officials joined us, too
Greg Leo, Chair of the French Prairie
Forum, is flanked by Clackamas County
Commissioner and NWREC Advisory
Council member, Jim Bernard, and
State Representative Julie Parrish from
West Linn.
Patti Milne, Marion County
Commissioner and member of
NWREC’s Advisory Council,
with husband Stan, attended
the Harvest Dinner.
Aurora Mayor Bill Graupp
and his wife, Jackie,
participated as local
city elected officials.
Salem area State Representative
Kevin Cameron—and proud OSU
Alumni—joined the 2nd Annual
Friends of NWREC Harvest Dinner.
Not pictured: Brad Witt, State Representative from Columbia and Washington County areas.
Thanks to NWREC’s Faculty joining us
and helping make this dinner possible
NWREC Berry Research Leader Bernadine Strik
and Wei Yang, NWREC Berry Extension Agent.
Metro Extension Small Farms Agent,
Nick Andrews, introduced to the crowd.
Robin Rosetta, NWREC Nursery IPM Extension
Agent (center), demonstrating technology
even at the Harvest Dinner!
Present but not pictured:
• Luisa Santamaria, Extension Nursery
Pathologist & Bilingual and Educator
• Chip Bubl, Columbia County Ag Agent,
providing part time support for
commercial vegetable growers
• Shelley Hughes, NWREC Office Manager
2013 Friends of NWREC Harvest Dinner
A Taste of OSU
featuring foods connected to NWREC, Oregon State
University, and our Friends
The Appetizers
Crostini appetizer, with Indigo Rose Tomatoes
and Basil Pesto, featured OSU’s popular new
purple high anti-oxidant tomato variety—grown
at NWREC in Small Farms Extension Agent Nick
Andrew’s Degree Day research project—and basil
from Frank Battilega’s Big B Farm, Aurora.
Appetizer Spicy Brown Sugar
Caramelized Hazelnuts with the
nuts provided by the Oregon
Hazelnut Marketing Board.
OSU’s new Beaver Classic alpine-style specialty hard
Cheese, is a student project teaching the process of cheese
making—from manufacturing to marketing—based in the
dairy science labs on campus. You need to try this ! Compliments
of OSU College of Agricultural Sciences.
Salads and Entrées
Oven roasted beet salad featured red
and golden beets provided by Montecucco
Farms, Canby, and Aurora Farms, Aurora.
White bean and radish salad combined
Aurora Farms’ radishes , Bob’s Red
Mill white beans, and garlic from Casale
Farms—a great combination!
Dean Dan Arp and the College of
Agricultural Sciences provided support
to the Friends of NWREC Harvest Dinner
with the purchase of protein—Carlton
Farms Pork Tenderloin and Draper Valley
Roasting Chickens—sourced from NickyUSA.
Spinach salad included Aurora Farms spinach,
NWREC blackberries from Berry Research Leader
Bernadine Strik’s research trials, and Oregon
roasted hazelnuts.
The Feast Continues…
Dinner guests enjoying a wonderful array
of foods—all with connections to OSU and
our friends.
Grilled zucchini and green beans –both from
Montecucco Farms in Canby—combined with
olive roasted tomatoes from Big B Farms in
Aurora to form another good reason to “eat
your veggies!”
Chef Michael Gillespie carving the
birds.
Sweet spiced butternut squash and parsnips
(both sourced from Big B Farms, Aurora) joined in
this winter roast with apples, fresh thyme & honey.
A beautiful plate—all foods prepared
By Bon Appetite Catering located at
George Fox University, Newberg
A fan favorite: Kohlrabi (Aurora Farms, Aurora)
and Yukon Gold Potato Mash (Big B Farms, Aurora)
plus green onions (Aurora Farms)—just ask Bondi!
Don’t Forget Dessert!
Blueberry Croustade prepared with Elliott blueberries from NWREC’s Bernadine Strik’s
research production trials. NWREC is considered one of the premiere berry research centers
in the world—thanks to Bernadine’s leadership.
The Peanut butter/chocolate cheesecake lollipops were a great
combination—but, unfortunately, we can’t claim any connection
to NWREC or OSU on this one. Just for fun!
A special thank you to Bon Appetite Catering: Catering Manager Wendy Meinhardt (left; back);
Chef Michael Gillespie (not pictured); and their staff for preparing and serving our Friends of NWREC
Taste of OSU Harvest Dinner.
What a great evening…thanks to
everyone attending. We hope to
see you next year!