Dent Elected To SARL Board Of Directors

Moses Lake Republican Tom Dent has been elected to the board of directors of the State Agriculture and Rural Leaders origination.  The group focuses on cooperation, leadership and educational opportunities for leaders who are passionate about Ag and the rural community, not just across the U.S., but North America.

“Other legislators on how they deal with issues in Texas, or Alabama, or Ontario, or Manitoba, so I think it’s great relationship stuff,” Dent said.

He added being part of SARL is wonderful news for the 13^th district since so much of Central Washington’s economy is directly tied to the agriculture industry.  Dent said  he’s looking forward to working on getting the story of Ag out and addressing the rural/urban divide, which he said doesn’t just exist in Washington, but everywhere.

“You know, agriculture and food production is more than just food production, it’s a way of life.  And for the same time money and effort that we put in to what we do, if we were to go into something else, you know, we’re going to make two or three times the money.  But we like our way of life, we like the rural way of life, it’s what we want to live, it’s how we want to raise our children, it’s the backbone and foundation of America.”

Dent has been part of SARL for four years, and even ran for the Board of Directors position last year but lost.  As far as the year ahead, SARL Topics include crop protection, wildfire suppression, food safety and labeling, growing Ag through trade and technology, workforce and job training, water quality and water rights.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com