White farm recognized for 60 years of tours

Gil White of Lamont, right, receives an award for 60 years of crop tours on his family’s farm from Steve Van Vleet, left, regional extension specialist of agriculture and natural resources at the WSU extension office in Colfax and tour organizer, during a July 6 crop tour. The White farm has participated in the crop tours since 1957, two years after Gil’s parents, Curtis and Lorraine, were married. Gil’s grandfather, Roy Cook, and Curtis began letting the WSU wheat breeders use a small portion of the farm to plant test plots of new wheat varieties; a practice the family has continued for 60 years. Curtis passed away in May.

Between Gil and his neighbors, “numerous” of the test varieties have been planted as crop after the crop tours.

“It benefits both the wheat breeders and the farmers,” Gil said of the test plots and crop tours.