Lamont Grain Growers to merge with Ritzville

Lamont Grain Growers will officially become part of Ritzville Warehouse Co. July 1. The merger follows approximately five years of consideration.

“We were one of the smallest grain companies left in the state,” said Jim Fuhrman, general manager since 2001.

Members of Lamont Grain Growers Feb. 1 returned a vote of 93 percent in favor of the merger.

Lamont used to have 30 producers, but is now down to 18. They have 130 members including landowners who are spread all over the nation and the world.

As farms have gotten bigger, membership in the company has declined. Although small, Lamont Grain Gr...