Governor Kotek Visits Sherman, Wheeler, Gilliam Counties on One Oregon Tour
Governor Kotek and the First Lady stop in Wasco, Moro, Fossil, Condon, and Arlington
This week, Governor Tina Kotek and First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson visited communities in Sherman, Wheeler, and Gilliam counties on stops 27, 28, and 29 of the One Oregon Listening Tour.
“From precision agriculture in dry land farming to local problem-solving to tackle complex challenges in housing and education, there is exciting work being done in Oregon’s frontier counties,” Governor Kotek said. “Local communities across Sherman, Wheeler, and Gilliam counties are deeply invested in the prosperity of the region. These conversations are integral to gaining a stronger understanding of how the state can be a better partner in the years to come.”
The First Couple started their trip in Sherman County with a visit to Smith Farms, a family-owned wheat farm, and then a tour of Sherman County School. At Smith Farms, they learned about the advanced technology being used for precision agriculture and discussed the challenges of this year’s poor rainfall. At Sherman County School, the county’s K through 12 campus, they met with student leaders, visited the FFA, shop and science classrooms, and observed some first graders.
After lunch with local leaders in Wasco at the Dirty Cowgirl Saloon, they headed to Wheeler County. First stop was the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument to meet with National Park Service staff and others to discuss the unique research and educational value of the monument. Next, in Fossil, they sat down with community leaders at Asher Community Health Care to learn about the health care, emergency response, elder care, and workforce housing needs in the area. They rounded out the day with a dinner with local leaders in Condon in Gilliam County.
After staying the night at the iconic Hotel Condon, the Governor and First Lady visited some stores on Main Street and then participated in a roundtable conversation about early childhood education at the Condon Early Learning Center. They then headed north to Arlington to tour the Columbia Ridge Landfill, the largest landfill in the Northwest and the largest employer in the county and to have lunch with local leaders to discuss the city’s economic development plans.
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“From precision agriculture in dry land farming to local problem-solving to tackle complex challenges in housing and education, there is exciting work being done in Oregon’s frontier counties,” Governor Kotek said. “Local communities across Sherman, Wheeler, and Gilliam counties are deeply invested in the prosperity of the region. These conversations are integral to gaining a stronger understanding of how the state can be a better partner in the years to come.”
The First Couple started their trip in Sherman County with a visit to Smith Farms, a family-owned wheat farm, and then a tour of Sherman County School. At Smith Farms, they learned about the advanced technology being used for precision agriculture and discussed the challenges of this year’s poor rainfall. At Sherman County School, the county’s K through 12 campus, they met with student leaders, visited the FFA, shop and science classrooms, and observed some first graders.
After lunch with local leaders in Wasco at the Dirty Cowgirl Saloon, they headed to Wheeler County. First stop was the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument to meet with National Park Service staff and others to discuss the unique research and educational value of the monument. Next, in Fossil, they sat down with community leaders at Asher Community Health Care to learn about the health care, emergency response, elder care, and workforce housing needs in the area. They rounded out the day with a dinner with local leaders in Condon in Gilliam County.
After staying the night at the iconic Hotel Condon, the Governor and First Lady visited some stores on Main Street and then participated in a roundtable conversation about early childhood education at the Condon Early Learning Center. They then headed north to Arlington to tour the Columbia Ridge Landfill, the largest landfill in the Northwest and the largest employer in the county and to have lunch with local leaders to discuss the city’s economic development plans.
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