This year s Annual Harvest Dinner marked the 5 th year for NWREC hosting this traditional fall celebration of research, Extension and collaboration efforts. The festivities were held on the north lawn of the Center and attended by 175.
Harvest Dinner guests enjoyed a fantastic farm-to-plate dinner prepared this year by the Research Chefs at Oregon State University s Food Innovation Center in Portland.
Food Innovation Center s lead Research Chef, Jason Ball, created the menu for the 2016 Harvest Dinner. Caprese Salad featuring tomatoes from the NWREC Vegetable Variety Trials.
Menu and Food prepared by OSU s Food Innovation Center appetizers, salads, sides, and dessert Dan Wilson, SuDan Farms spit roasted lamb Gary Bush barbequed chicken Appetizers OSU Beaver Classic Cheese Board Sampler: The Original Smoked Cheddar Pinot Cheddar Cider Cheddar Potato Crackers Vegetable Crudité Salads and Sides Caprese Salad Mixed Green Salad Autumn Vegetable Roast Potato-Celery Root Mash Corn Spoonbread Meat Entrée Spit Roasted Lamb Barbequed Chicken Dessert Oregon Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches Chocolate Brownies with Hazelnuts
Festival decorator baskets featuring Peruvian choclo corn from NWREC s vegetable variety trials this year. The savory corn was featured in the Harvest Dinner s cheese spoonbread too.
Made with milk from the OSU Dairy Herd and cheese made by the Food Science and Technology students at OSU. The cheese sampler board was a huge hit, as always, showcasing the first public appearance of the brand new pinot-soaked and hard apple cider-soaked cheddars with, of course, pinot noir wine and cider coming from the Fermentation Sciences students at OSU!
New Associate Dean in the College of Agricultural Sciences, Joyce Loper, visiting with NWREC Advisory Council member and Oregon Strawberry Commission Chair, Matt Unger from Cornelius.
Yamhill County Commissioner, Mary Starret (left), is joined by Yamhill County Commissioner Stan Primozich and his wife (next left), and Polk County Commissioner Craig Pope and wife (top of photo) at table sponsored by Marion, Yamhill and Polk Counties.
OSU Extension Berry Specialist, Bernadine Strik (left) and husband, Neil Bell, visiting with OSU Extension Regional Administrator, Derek Godwin (right).
Oregon Seed Council Executive Director, Roger Beyer (left), shares time with College of Agricultural Sciences Dean, Dan Arp, and Dan s wife, Wanda.
NWREC faculty Joe DeFrancesco (left), Wei Yang (center) and Chal Landgren (right) enjoy time together at the Harvest Dinner.
OSU s Family and Community Health Extension Agent in Clackamas County, Kelly Streit (center), mobilized five of her Family Food Educator volunteers to assist with the set up for the Harvest Dinner, manage the registration, assist with the food preparation and serving, and ensured that the event was a success. The Harvest Dinner wouldn t have been possible without their excellent help!
NWREC Advisory Council member Tom Winterrowd (right) and small acreage farmer south of Canby with OSU Extension Family Food Educator and catering specialist, Diane Ruff, celebrating a great evening.
Joe DeFrancesco s last day on the job was September 30th the same day of the Harvest Dinner. Joe was recognized for his 30 years of service to OSU and reflected on his career during the program following dinner. Happy Retirement Joe!
Luisa Santamaria, NWREC s Nursery Pathologist and Bilingual Educator, is recognized for her promotion and tenure at Oregon State University this past spring and her recent appointment to the State of Oregon Board of Agriculture. Congratulations Luisa!
Dr. Lloyd Nackley is introduced to the Harvest Dinner attendees as NWREC s new Nursery Production and Management faculty member. The Harvest Dinner was Lloyd s first official day on the job. He and his family have relocated from the University of California-Davis. Welcome Lloyd!
The Harvest Dinner concluded with comments by Scott Reed, Director of the OSU Extension Service, and Dan Arp, Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences. Scott and Dan acknowledged the important role of the university to address critical needs and problems in agriculture and the significance of our collaborators, supporters, and the organizations that work with us and help make all of this happen. They thanked the state legislators and county commissioners for their financial support in the 2015 Legislature and at the local level in counties around the state.
Celebrating the end of the harvest season, reflecting on the past year of activities and accomplishments, looking ahead, and thanking those who make all of this possible. The list of table sponsors grew significantly this year up 50%. $12,750 was raised to support the event and pay for the entire cost of the dinner, including all of the rental equipment, to make it happen. We graciously thank the businesses, organizations and agencies who helped make the 2016 Harvest Dinner a huge success! Please see the entire list on the next slide. In addition, we thank Willamette Valley Vineyards for providing the wine, the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences providing the OSU cheeses, OSU s Metro Small Farms Extension program and Big B Farm for supplying the vegetable items from their fields at NWREC, Ruby Jewel for the ice cream sandwiches, and The Weather Cafe for the coffee bar. We are very blessed to have the support of so many! Thanks to all of these businesses and organizations for making this a memorable meal and evening.
Oregon Department of Agriculture ($2,500) Platinum Sponsor Marion, Polk and Yamhill Extension Service Districts ($2,000) Diamond Sponsor Clackamas Extension Service District ($2,000) Diamond Sponsor Oregon Hazelnut Commission ($1,000) Diamond Sponsor Oregon Blueberry Industry ($1,000) Diamond Sponsor NW Transplants ($750) Gold Sponsor OSU College of Agricultural Sciences ($500) Silver Sponsor OSU Extension Service Administration ($500) Silver Sponsor Pratum Coop ($500) Silver Sponsor Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District ($500) Silver Sponsor Norpac ($500) Silver Sponsor Wilbur Ellis Company ($500) Silver Sponsor Willamette Valley Vineyards ($500) Silver Sponsor NW Farm Credit Services ($250) Bronze Sponsor The Weather Café ($250) Bronze Sponsor The Nursery Connection ($250) Bronze Sponsor J. Frank Schmidt Charitable Trust ($250) Bronze Sponsor