Mission and Vision
Mission: Utilizing the broad experience of local farmers and ranchers, the Yakima Klickitat Farm Association seeks to enhance agriculture by informing, assisting, and influencing local, state, and federal governments to expand and promote agriculture as a viable and beneficial industry in our area.
Vision: A healthy farm economy free of excessive regulation, ready to serve our public with safe and desirable food and a predictable supply chain for our products.
Leadership
Board Officers
| President | Mark Herke, Yakima |
| First Vice President | Dave West, Centerville |
| Second Vice President | Eric Olson, Selah |
| Third Vice President | Dave Cowan, Grandview |
| Secretary | Lisa Herke, Yakima |
| Treasurer | Susan Cowan, Grandview |
Board Members
John Ashbaugh, Selah
David Barta, Goldendale
Pete Faxon, Selah
Sam Hull, Yakima
Steve Knight, Naches
Eugene Lange, Grandview
Brett Monson, Yakima
Cindy Reed, Yakima
Justin Waddington, Harrah
Clint Wilson, Moxee
Sustainability
Advocacy
Innovation
History
The Yakima County Farm Bureau was incorporated in 1953. The incorporation consolidated several local farm bureau associations in Yakima County. The primary purpose was to create a county-wide organization for the advancement and improvement of agricultural, livestock, commercial, manufacturing and general interests for the benefit of farmers and of farming in Yakima County and any other areas called for.
The Yakima County Farm Bureau remained affiliated with the Washington State Farm Bureau Federation and the American Farm Bureau until 2024, when the Washington State Farm Bureau arbitrarily terminated our membership with them (Sept. 2024).
At our October 2024 County annual meeting our local members voted to amend our Articles and By-laws as well as to re-name our organization the Yakima Klickitat Farm Association to allow us to continue to serve local farmers and ranchers.
Our core mission has not changed. We have a long history of robust advocacy work on behalf of farmers and ranchers – and we have expanded our efforts by contracting with a very experienced ag lobbyist for the 2025 legislative session. Also we are continuing to support agriculture-oriented youth programs.
Further, we have always valued input from the farmers and ranchers in our counties. This grassroots approach has not and will not change.
