02/07/06 Clearing House annual meeting

This afternoon at one at Wenatchee's Red Lion Inn, the Washington Growers Clearing House holds its annual meeting. KELLY: It's our annual business meeting so there are some information about the Clearing House as an organization, where it's been in the last year, and financial reports. But as Dan Kelly of the Clearing House notes, the highlight of the annual event is usually the keynote speaker. But for the 2006 Annual Meeting, Kelly says the organization has been really fortunate to land this year's key note speaker. Dr. Lowell Catlett is a consultant and catalyst who will present the topic "Tomorrow's Agriculture: Six Trends You Don't Want To Miss". KELLY: He's been a consultant to the Department of Agriculture, Interior, Defense, and Labor, and Fortune 500 companies, so we're very very fortunate to have someone of his caliber come to discuss some issues related to our industry. The reason for Dr. Catlett's appearance today is a joint partnership of perishable commodity groups securing a U.S.D.A. Risk Management Agency Risk Education grant to pay for Catlett's visits in the Northwest. KELLY: We are in partnership with the Tri-State potato growers, and Washington Potato Commission is managing the overall grant. Kelly says Catlett has already spoken before the Idaho and Oregon Potato Commission's respectively. And after today's speech, Catlett will finish his tour Wednesday speaking at the Washington Potato Commission's annual meeting.