SPF Announces New Officers, Recognizes Retiring and New Board Members

The Board of Directors of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland (SPF) elected officers, recognized two retiring board members for their service and welcomed two new members at its February meeting.New President Bob Hart most recently served as SPF's Vice President and chaired its Land Protection Committee. Bob also chairs the Office of Farmland Preservation Task Force, an 18-member group appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire that provides statewide guidance for farmland preservation efforts in Washington State. A former Skagit County Commissioner, Bob is a producer of vegetable crops and nursery stock and owner of La Conner Flats. He joined the SPF board in 2004.Vice President is Darrin Morrison, co-owner of Morrison Farms in Mount Vernon. Darrin has served on the SPF board since 2005. Treasurer Peggy Flynn owns Flynn and Associates in Anacortes and is in her fourth year on the SPF board and second term as treasurer. John Roozen, who joined the SPF board in 1991, will continue as Secretary. He is Vice President of Operations for Washington Bulb Company, Mount Vernon.Alan Mesman, co-owner of Mesman Dairy, an organic dairy farm in La Conner, served as SPF's President for the past four years. He has been a board member since 2000.Two retiring SPF board members were recognized for their combined 19 years of service: Mac Madenwald, a retired orthopedic surgeon from Anacortes, and Bud Egbers, retired farmer and founder of Skagit Valley Trucking, from Mount Vernon.Joining the board are Tim Knue, Mount Vernon, and Sandy Swartos, Anacortes. Tim retired in 2008 after teaching 27 years at Mount Vernon High School. An agriculture educator, he is a former state of Washington Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year. Sandy is an owner of Steam Interactive, providing sales and marketing and graphic design services."We are fortunate to have such an awesome board of directors guiding the critical work of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland," said Allen Rozema, SPF Executive Director. "It is a privilege to work with all of them and I appreciate the talents they bring to help fulfill our mission."We thank Mac and Bud for their wonderful contributions over the years and look forward to keeping them involved with SPF. A special thanks goes to Alan Mesman for his commitment and leadership as president over the past four years."###Founded in 1989 by farming families, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland’s (SPF) mission is to ensure the economic viability of Skagit County agriculture and its required infrastructure through farmland protection, advocacy, research, education, and public awareness.