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Wade Orval Hopkins — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Wade Orval Hopkins Wade Orval Hopkins was born on July 4, 2025, to parents Della Goff and Brandon Hopkins of Colville, Wash. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces at birth. He has two brothers, Adrian, 22, and Donavon, 18, and three sisters, Elliana, 15, Lori, 12, and Aspen, 5. His maternal grandmother is Ginni Torres, and his paternal grandparents are James Hopkins Jr., and Melissa Hopkins of Evans, Wash. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Bruin Silas Ashley — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Bruin Silas Ashley Bruin Silas Ashley was born on June 18, 2025, to parents Gracie and Takota Ashley of Colville, Wash. He weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces at birth. He has one sister, Cedar, 15 months. His maternal grandmother is Joellen Keating-Maestas of Colville, Wash., and his paternal grandmother is Lori Ashley of Colville, Wash. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Northport Boys Basketball Finishes as NE 1B North Champions - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Northport Boys Basketball Finishes as NE 1B North Champions January 28, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Northport's Pete Beardslee celebrates crossing the 2,000-point career mark for the Mustangs against Selkirk on Jan. 20. Photo by Sally Smith. The Northport boys basketball team finished as the NE 1B North regular season champions after a strong run through league play last week, picking up three convincing victories to fend off Republic in the league standings. The Mustangs kicked off the week with an 80-70 win over the visiting Selkirk Rangers on Jan. 20. Northport took their abilities on the road with an 8465 win over the Inchelium Hornets in a marquee league matchup on Friday, Jan. 23. The Mustangs jumped out early, leading 43-23 at halftime, and never relinquished control despite a high-scoring effort from Inchelium. Pete Beardslee delivered a dominant performance for Northport, pouring in 37 points on 11 made field goals and an 11-for-13 showing at the free-throw line. The Mustangs knocked down 10 3-pointers as a team, with Tommy Young hitting four and Cameron Mawdsley adding two 3-pointers. Mawdsley finished with 16 points, while Young chipped in 14 points. Inchelium was led by Derek Perez, who scored 38 points and connected on eight 3-pointers, accounting for more than half of the Hornets’ offense. Northport kept up their winning streak with a dominant 74-34 road win on Saturday, Jan. 24, over the Nespelem Warriors. With the trio of victories, the Northport Mustangs improved to 15-5 overall and 11-1 in league play with the postseason up next. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Out of the Past: 02/04/2026 - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Out of the Past: 02/04/2026 February 4, 2026 By: Stevens County Historical Society Artist rendition of the new school building 1926. Photo courtesy Stevens County Historical Society. 100 Years Ago— Voters of Colville School District No. 5 will vote today on the question of issuing $55,000 in bonds for the purpose of erecting a new school building. Bids for the building of the new Hunters High School were opened Monday by the high school board which met for that purpose. The lowest bid was by W.L. Weld of Spokane whose bid was $14,975 for a building of brick with a 10-inch wall containing a 2-inch air space. The Old Timers Dance Club is giving a gingham and overall dance at the Old Fellows Hall tonight. Admission is by invitation only. 75 Years Ago— Capt. Gilbert I. Lane of Colville, son of Warren Lane, was given the bronze star medal by Brig. Gen. Leroy H. Watson, post commander of Fort Lewis, in ceremonies at the Fort last Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Warren Lane were in attendance to see Capt. Lane receive the medal for gallant service during WWII. The medal was awarded for contributing to a marked degree in the capture of the Munda Airfield in the South Pacific during the summer of 1943. Clarence Hill, Stevens County’s champion cherry pie baker, will head for Seattle this week to try for state championship pie baking honors in a contest there. 50 Years Ago— “Hatfields & McCoys” – There was only one McCoy in Colville and no Hatfields. But last week that changed when two Hatfields moved to town. And more surprising is their similarity. Both families are from the Midwest; both bought homes from Otto Rainer; both homes are next to each other; both went the same day and purchased carpeting from Egger Furniture for their new home; both are of similar age and both have children of similar age. Mr. and Mrs. Eric Hatfield are from Newburg, Ind. Dr. and Mrs. Lon Hatfield will be opening a general family practice here this spring. For the incoming Hatfields, Colville’s only McCoys, Mr. and Mrs. Bob McCoy, live in the Park Village Apartments, owned by Otto Rainer. 25 Years Ago— In an effort to align the state boundaries of Washington less arbitrarily, State Senator (R) Bob Morton, Orient, and Sen. Bob McClaslin, (R) Spokane, both from eastern Washington, are proposing legislation to split the state of Washington into eastern and western halves. Following a public hearing and testimony from Colville residents last Tuesday, the Colville city council approved a new contract with Waste Management, a national company contracted by the city for solid waste disposal. 10 Years Ago— Local mountain snowpack measurements have been released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Colville Field Office for the Feb. 1 reporting date. Snow water content in the mountain snowpack ranged from slightly below average to above average. Compared to last year, the snowpack is in much better condition. Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area is seeking input on the draft Black Locust Removal Action Plan concerning the removal and control of black locust trees from within the park. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Medical Lake Pulls Away From Colville - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Medical Lake Pulls Away From Colville February 11, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen Gabe Smith poured in a game-high 36 points, including seven 3-pointers, as Medical Lake Cardinals pulled away for an 86-59 NEA League win over the visiting Colville Crimson Hawks on Feb. 3. Smith’s hot shooting headlined a balanced Cardinals attack that saw Hudson Gilbert add 20 points with four triples. Medical Lake built momentum early and steadily widened the gap, leading 22-19 after one quarter before outscoring Colville 21-10 in the second to take a 43-29 halftime advantage. Colville was led by Brock Benson, who finished with 17 points. The Crimson Hawks got 11 points from Quintin Huggins and eight points from Jet Bateman. The Cardinals finished with 12 made 3-pointers on the night, compared to Colville’s five. Medical Lake improved to 13-7 overall, and 4-1 in NEA League play with the win. Colville fell to 9-10 overall and 1-4 in league action. The Hawks played Riverside on Tuesday, Feb. 10; results were not available at press time. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Submit a free community event for inclusion on the Statesman-Examiner events calendar. Submit a Local Event Share your upcoming event with the Statesman-Examiner community. Choose a free community listing or upgrade to a Featured Event for enhanced visibility and promotional placement. Contact Information First name Last name Email Phone Event Details Event Title Event Date(s) Example: "Nov 7, 2025" or "Nov 7-9, 2025" Event Time(s) Example: "1:00 - 2:00 PM, Starts at 5 PM" 2025" Location/Venue name Example: "Colville Fairgrounds" Address of Event Event Contact Example: "Call Claudia at 509-555-1234 for more information" I agree to the Statesman-Examiner's terms and conditions I confirm that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. Submit Event An error occurred. Try again later Your content has been submitted

Everett Alan Billings — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Everett Alan Billings Everett Alan Billings was born Aug. 12, 2025, to parents Musette Billings and James M. Billings III of Colville, Wash. He weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces at birth and has two brothers, James, age 11, and Oliver, age 7. His maternal grandparents are Wendy Hull of Houston, Texas, and Urs Machler of Istanbul, Turkey. His paternal grandparents are James Billings Jr. of Old Waverly, Texas, and Rebecca New of Hilco, Texas. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Hunter Eugene Beaufils — a community announcement published by the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville and Stevens County. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Births Hunter Eugene Beaufils Hunter Eugene Beaufils was born on June 18, 2025, to parents Bobby Hubbs and Andrew Beaufils of Colville, Wash. He weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces at birth. He has two brothers, Akoda, 16, and Harley, 13, and one sister, Ahnaley, 11. His maternal grandparents are Regenia Hubbs of Springdale, Wash., and Paul Hubbs of Loon Lake, Wash. His paternal grandparents are LaDina Beaufils of Colville, Wash., and Michael Beaufils, deceased. Previous Next LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Northport Girls Drop Matchups to Selkirk, Inchelium - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Northport Girls Drop Matchups to Selkirk, Inchelium January 28, 2026 By: Brandon Hansen The Northport girls basketball team had a challenging week in NE 1B North play, falling at home to Selkirk before coming up short on the road against Inchelium. Northport opened the week with a 49-37 loss to the visiting Selkirk Rangers on Jan. 20. The Mustangs were tied 8-8 after the first quarter but struggled offensively in the second, scoring just three points as Selkirk built a 22-11 halftime lead. Selkirk (12-5 overall, 8-3 league) was led by Millie Rice, who scored 18 points and knocked down four 3-pointers. Northport (10-6, 5-6) made a push in the third quarter, outscoring Selkirk 17-14, but was unable to close the gap in the final period. Kate Beardslee led the Mustangs with 14 points, including a 6-for-9 effort from the free-throw line. Ruthie Hebarling added nine points, while Persephanie Ste. Marie chipped in seven points. Northport returned to action Friday, Jan. 23, with a 55-42 road loss to the Inchelium Hornets. The Hornets built a 31-17 halftime lead and relied on hot shooting from beyond the arc to maintain control. Ronni Seymour scored 21 points for Inchelium (10-6, 6-5), connecting on five 3-pointers as the Hornets finished with nine shots from long range. Northport was led by Beardslee, who poured in 19 points, going 10-for-14 at the free-throw line, while Ella Stark added 17 points. Following the regular season, the Northport Mustangs sit at 10-7 overall and 5-7 in NE 1B play. Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

NEW Hunger Coalition Gets Fresh - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES NEW Hunger Coalition Gets Fresh July 2, 2025 By: Meredith Carroll NEW Hunger Coalition Executive Director Stephani Smith sorting through seeds to distribute. Photo provided by Meredith Carroll. The Northeast Washington (NEW) Hunger Coalition will be awarded the Fresh Results Award for their Grow Your Own Row program on Friday, July 11. The nonprofit organization that serves food pantries and community partners in Stevens, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties, is focused on advocacy and education for food pantry efforts as well as building emergency food systems in rural areas. “The goal of the Grow Your Own Row program is to teach and equip clients so that they may grow their own food,” said Stephani Smith, NEW Hunger Coalition’s executive director. “We take plant starts provided by local growers. People will get seeds, starts, instructions, soil, and trowels. The idea is to equip people with a vegetable garden at no cost.” The Grow Your Own Row program partners with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in teaching people how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. The pilot program began in 2023 and saw an enrollment of 298 participants; that number increased to 429 in 2025. Smith, who used to own Stephani’s Oak Street Grill restaurant in Colville, has been the director of NEW Hunger Coalition for the past three years. She said her job includes writing grants, coordinating volunteers, and ensuring the programs are running smoothly. NEW Hunger Coalition is a part of Providence of northeast Washington and maintains the Farm to Food Pantry program, which transports nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables to the counties and the Donate A Row/Gleaning program, which assists home gardeners with planting extra produce to donate to the food pantries. “We are at risk of losing money for this program due to cuts in federal funding,” Smith said. “There is not a lot of state funding available. We rely on donations. For example, North 40 donates seeds to the program.” Smith also writes letters and does community drives. “I look on Facebook for free [planter] pots. All of our seeds are donated. We get seeds that are still viable but not legal to sell, due to their being at the end of their useful life.” The Fresh Results Award will be presented at the NEW Hunger Coalition monthly meeting, which includes a luncheon and an educational update. “The Washington Food Coalition will provide a $1,000 check to support us next year,” said Smith. “The Grow Your Own Row program is always looking for volunteers, especially those that are experienced gardeners to help at the classes. We have a Grow Your Own Row Committee that plans and rolls out the program. A lot of excellent volunteers make this program a reality.” For more information, contact Smith at 509-690-2460 or Dianna Michaels, the committee chair, at 509-680-2679, or visit the NEW Hunger Coalition at their website, newhungercoalition.org . Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Veterans’ Pride Band Performs for Firefighters at Northeast Washington Fairgrounds - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Veterans’ Pride Band Performs for Firefighters at Northeast Washington Fairgrounds September 10, 2025 By: Staff Report Photo courtesy Marvin O’Hearn. The Veterans' Pride band, of American Legion 146, performed a concert Sept. 8, for firefighters at the Northeast Washington Fairgrounds. According to post commander Marvin O’Hearn, the Veterans' Pride band aims to help disabled veterans through music, and they had the idea of sharing their music with firefighters. “We received rave reviews from the firefighters and have been asked to play again in the future,” O’Hearn said. “We just can't explain the joy we feel when we see the smiles on the faces of the people we perform for.” Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES

Stevens County Farms and Ranches Look Ahead to 2026 Season - local reporting from the Statesman-Examiner serving Colville, Stevens County, and Northeast Washington. LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES Stevens County Farms and Ranches Look Ahead to 2026 Season January 7, 2026 By: Meredith Carroll Mama and calf on the River’s Edge Ranch. Photo by Jennifer Sather. As northeast Washington transitions into the new year, local farmers say they are working hard to stay prepared for what has become an unpredictable winter. While some people may enjoy the winter’s mild temperatures and lack of snow, local farmers and ranchers have expressed mixed feelings. Factors that also include the economy and political issues have farmers and ranchers coming up with creative ways to remain in business. For the past two years, the Statesman - Examiner has been checking in periodically with a variety of local farmers and ranchers as they navigate their way through the trials that nature and regulations throw their way. This article features the perspectives of a husband and wife-owned ranch and an organic farmer. Jennifer and Ian Sather own River’s Edge Ranch, located less than two miles outside Chewelah. The ranch raises goats, lamb, poultry, grass-fed beef, specialty meats, and Berkshire cross pork; they also produce eggs, meat bundles, wool, Tallow body products, and seasonal produce. They also harvest occasional seasonal veggies. According to Jennifer Sather, coyotes are the biggest problem the ranch is facing. “This time of year, predators are out there looking for something to eat,” she said. “We use livestock guardian dogs that keep the coyotes at bay, but they have a large area to cover. We’ve lost chickens and a lamb. Some of our animals tend to move into areas where the dogs can’t always protect them.” According to the Department of Natural Resources, mild winters can have an effect on the vulnerability of livestock to predators. In milder winters with higher temperatures and less extreme precipitation, natural prey (such as deer, rabbit, small mammals) become larger and healthier, and therefore more capable of escaping predators. As natural prey become less accessible to predators, these predators resort to scouting out vulnerable livestock that are trapped by fencing and enclosures. “The increase in predators also affects our herd’s health,” said Sather. “We had a bear return to the ranch. It didn’t kill any animals. But the cows’ behavior changes, and the pressure affects their weight, their calves’ weight, and their productivity.” The mild winter has also resulted in unseasonably damp, muddy conditions. “It’s a challenge for feeding. But also, if we don’t get snowpack, it will jeopardize our crops next season. It’s miserable to work in the wet mud. We’re not used to it. But on the bright side, at least we don’t need stock water heaters.” Moving into the new year, farmers and ranchers continue to work through increased inflation, low crop prices, and federal funding cuts. “Things are hard for everybody,” said Sather. “There’s been a lot of volatility. When cattle prices were high, many ranchers sold at auction, which reduced local meat availability. When prices tanked, we chose to hold on. It was a strategic decision – if we sold live, we’d have nothing to sell locally. It’s more work, but we understand why some ranchers make that choice.” One emerging trend for consumers is to shop local; farmers' markets are also becoming a more appealing solution. “We attended the Colville Farmers Market more often in 2025,” Sather said. “People want to know where their food comes from and what they’re really getting. Big box stores are turning people off, and when we’re present and accessible, folks can get to know us, understand our products, and trust that everything is locally sourced. That connection has made a real economic difference for us.” Upon entering the new year, River’s Edge Ranch plans to offer a selection of new products alongside their current selection of meats and eggs, such as pet food and treats. “We have an egg handler license, which allows us to sell at the farmers' markets,” Sather said. “We’re also selling tallow and pet treats at the Columbia Creamery and Milk House Market. We’re adding locations for people who can’t drive the distance to our farm or can’t make it to the farmers' markets.” River’s Edge Ranch is located at 2246 Walking Horse Way in Chewelah. For more information, visit rivers-edge-ranch.com . John Progar is the owner of Meadowlark Farms, a small operation located on three acres outside of Rice. Progar said he is proud to grow organically, choosing not to use herbicides, certain types of sprays, and bug killers. “I adhere to organic growing principles, honoring quality, commitment, and concern. I do have some hired help, but I’ve pretty much been by myself for the past three years.” With the unseasonable warm winter, Progar said he has jumped at the opportunity to complete projects that he normally wouldn’t be able to get to because of the cold. “I’m getting a lot done,” he said. “I’m repairing fences. Once they are buried in snow, it’s hard to do. I’m doing farm cleanup projects, getting the tractor out to build, and repairing the chipper. Now is the only time I have to do these things. We get to clean the greenhouses and the fields and plant cover crops. “And also, I will finalize my seed orders. This is also a time of reflection for me. I get to look at what went right and what I can do better. The mild winter is great for me right now.” He added, “But the climate’s been changing. The mild winters, the extremely hot summers, all have a negative effect on us.” According to the National Institutes of Health, the warmer winters and even hotter summers pose an unprecedented threat to agroecosystems. The effect on crops could include loss of soil organic matter and micronutrients, as well as a significant drop in production. “The warmer winters also cause an increase in the insect population,” Progar said. “Earwigs, caterpillars, and especially aphids. They eat the crap out of our veggies. Farmers are constantly upping the ante regarding pest control. But since I grow organically, I don’t use a lot of pesticides. Because of that, I have crop losses, decreased yields, and increased labor costs because we have to clean the crops.” But even with these challenges, Progar said he considers 2025 to have been a good year. “The farmers' markets were great this year. It was a nice season. We have a supportive community, and we were busy to the last day. I had carrots, onions, and greens. I did a one-day event at the Ag Center as part of the craft show, and in November, I did an event at the Crossroads Event Center. I was harvesting until mid-November.” As January unfolds, Progar said he looks forward to settling into the plant business. “I’ll order pots, soil, and gardening items. It’s a lot of planning. I’ve expanded my business into selling plants in the spring. I have a growing interest in flowers, too. After 17 years in the business, I know what people want.” Progar, just like other local farmers and ranchers, says he is struggling to work through increased inflation, low crop prices, and federal funding cuts. “Colville is a poor community,” he said. “I contract with the Hunger Coalition in order to distribute food to people in need. I also partner with Senior WIC (Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program), EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer), and Market Match. Not only does it affect those who directly benefit from these services, it also affects farmers and me directly. I sell my surplus to these services at a reduced price. So those in need will not be able to access it, and I lose the income from selling my surplus. “These have been nice programs. We haven’t yet seen how these cuts will be made. We’ll see next year. It’s a real changing political climate. The current administration is clearly cutting back in these areas. A lot of farms will be affected by these cuts.” According to the United States Department of Agriculture, farm labor costs have increased 47% since 2020. “Things are getting expensive,” Progar said. “There are higher prices in everything: seeds, soil, fertilizer. It’s not cheap to farm. Also, it’s hard to find products made in America. So, I have to buy some things overseas, and I have to pay the tariffs. “But the biggest challenge is how few people want to go into farming anymore. People aren’t willing or capable. There’s just not a lot of labor here in this rural area. The larger farms have been hit by immigration issues. Family farms are going away. Young people don’t want the lifestyle.” Meadowlark Farm can be reached at 517-414-0399 or at meadowlarkorganic@gmail.com . Previous Article Next Article LOCAL NEWS GOVERNMENT BUSINESS SPORTS ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FARM & RANCH GREAT OUTDOORS PROFILES OUT OF THE PAST LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLASSIFIEDS ANNOUNCEMENTS EVENTS CALENDAR OBITUARIES