Palouse area to host grain confab for first time

Pullman and Moscow with host the Inland Northwest Artisan Grains Conference for the first time ever in July.

Aba Kiser, project manager for WSU Food Systems, said since 2013 the conference has been held on the west side of Washington.

She said Cascadia Grains, the organization who puts on the conference, saw an increase of interest in evolving grain technology on the east side of the state. They decided to hold a pilot conference, and the event sold out with 100 attendees.

Kiser also said Cascadia Grains has a partnership with the University of Idaho.

The two-day conference will include educational sessions and field trips.

“We are hoping for a mix of farmers, brokers, lawmakers and WSU researchers,” Kiser said.

The educational sessions will be July 12 at the University of Idaho Commons. Some topics include the processing, production and business of grains. Tickets for access to all Friday events cost $65.

Experiential learning sessions will be July 13 and will include tours of Paradise Creek Brewery and Joseph’s Grainery in Colfax. The sessions will begin at the WSU Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center in Pullman.

All field trips and experiential learning sessions cost $50 that includes lunch and transportation.

Scholarships will be available for those who need it, Kiser said.

Participants also can partake in the plant breeding process by touring the WSU Western Wheat Quality Lab. A home brewing step-by-step workshop is also slated that will use local grains.

“We have a lot going on,” Kiser said. “We will continue to update the website.”

Those interested in attending can register at the Cascadia Grains website.