CBDL Announces Trustees

The Columbia Basin Development League has elected two new trustees to serve in 2017.

Chip Dobson of Mattawa and Shawn O’Brien of Moses Lake will join the board January 1^st.  Chip Dobson took over his family’s farm, Rosebud Vineyards, with his wife Kathy in 2014.  The property is 500+ acres of mostly wine grapes with some apples and row crops.  Dobson volunteers for the local fire department and the Wahluke Enrichment Organization. Dobson is stepping into Ron Fode’s seat on the Board and his term will expire in 2017.

Shawn O’Brien has worked for the City of Moses Lake Engineering Division for over 24 years.  He is a member of the Moses Lake Rotary Club and is the past President of Moses Lake AAU Basketball. He and his wife, Laura Lea, have three children.  O’Brien is stepping into an open Board seat and his term will expire in 2019.  The Columbia Basin Development League supports the Columbia Basin Project and future development, protecting its water rights and educating the public on the renewable resource and multiple-purpose benefits of the Project.

Trustees re-elected to three year terms include:

Orman Johnson, Connell -- Johnson is president of Johnson Agriprises, a diversified farming operation in Adams County. The farm has been in operation since 1906. Johnson also serves on the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District Board and is the current CBDL Board Chair.

Jeff Schibel, Odessa -- Schibel is a 4^th generation farmer and has been farming outside of Odessa for over 30 years. In addition to serving as a CBDL Trustee and Executive Committee Officer, he also serves on boards for the Washington State Oilseeds Commission and Lincoln County Conservation District.

Alice Parker, Royal City -- Parker is owner of P& P Farms. She and her husband were one of the first families to break ground in Royal Slope. Parker has served on the Grant County Economic Development Council since 2013 and has been involved with CBDL for over 20 years. She served as CBDL executive secretary from 1992-2010.

Matt Hawley, Pasco -- Hawley works for Lamb Weston/ConAgra Foods’ farming enterprises and has responsibilities surrounding different facets of corporate water right interests.

Clark Kagele, Odessa -- Kagele is a lifetime resident of the Odessa with 40+ years of experience as a deep well irrigated farmer with dryland operations in Lincoln, Grant, and Adams Counties. He is a past CBDL Chair and a member of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and Lions Club International.

Reid Phillips, Ritzville -- Philips is a lifetime resident of Adams County and is a former irrigated farmer who grew wheat, potatoes, beans, and a vineyard. He is currently a dry land wheat producer. He has been a CBDL member since 1981 and has served as Chair twice.

Dale Pomeroy, Warden -- Pomeroy has farmed in the Warden and Othello Communities since 1970. He is a Port of Warden Commissioner (Chairman) and is also on the Board for the Warden Development League and Grant County Economic Development Council (past President).

Eli Stahl, Ritzville -- Stahl is treasurer of Stahl farms which produces wheat, beans, peas, and potatoes. He has also provided electrical engineering work for the farm.

Mark Stedman, Lincoln County -- Stedman served students, parents, and teachers as a teacher and administrator for 39 years. He is completing his first term as Lincoln County Commissioner. Much of his time is spent working on water issues in the Odessa Subarea.

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