The Cascadia Grains Conference is a project of WSU Food Systemswith the generous support of contributing donors and agencies.

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Revitalizing a local grain economy in the Cascadia Region

2018 Summary Report

The 6th annual Cascadia Grains Conference was held on January 19th & 20th, 2018 in Olympia, WA. Bringing together over 400 participants to strengthen the regional grain economy in the Cascadia Region, the goal of this conference is to convene and connect growers, processors, brokers, investors, andpolicy-makers across the value chain.

This event provides a platform for the latest science, techniques, research, market opportunities and hands-on learning aimed at cultivating an economically viable network for locally-sourced and value-added grain products.

Laura Lewis, WSU Food Systems Program Leader & Cascadia Grains Conference Chair, greets a sold out crowd with an interactive live-poll during the Saturday Conference January 20th, 2018.

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The Cascadia Grains Conference is structured as a two day event

HANDS-ONBAKING: Whole grain breakfast pastries

PRODUCTIONEQUIPMENT:Post-harvest handling & storage

2018 FRIDAY FIELD TRIPS

2018 SATURDAY CONFERENCE

RESOURCE EXPO

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

EDUCATIONALSESSIONS

TASTING TOUR

The main conference on Saturday featured 16 unique workshops and panels as well as two hands-on baking classes taught by 53 specialists from around the region. Workshop topics included grain production methods, supply chain development, processing and end-use quality factors, marketing and branding, as well as developing the region’s infrastructure through milling.

On average, the sessions scored 4.3 on a scale from 0 (not informative) to 5 (very informative).

All Friday options sold out and were highly rated by participants.

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BREWING & DISTILLING: Behind the scenes tour and taste

GRAINS TASTING: Heritage grain tasting and pairing

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2018 CONFERENCE18 educational sessions, taught by 53 speakers, including two hands-on baking classes

Grain Interests - Traditional vs. Specialty

Traditional Grains 74% Specialty Grains 27%

WheatOats

TriticaleRye Buckwheat

AmaranthQuinoa

Other

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Over 400 participants represented a wide variety of organizations, including universities, non-profits, economic development organizations, grain processors, as well as farm and food businesses. Session formats ranged from single speaker presentations to panel discussions, each moderated by a member of the conference Steering Committee. Additionally, the conference included a Resource Expo with 16 different agencies engaging participants throughout the day with passive displays, hands-on activities, resources, program sign ups, and take-home materials. The day concluded with the Best of the Cascades Tasting Tour highlighting 5 craft breweries and 3 distilleries from around the region.

Based on participant feedback ideas for future sessions include nutritional value, historical contexts, and flavor profiles specifically within malt and malting grains. Requests were also made for a formal networking session and a “Beginners Track” to serve those new to the regional grain movement. Moving forward the Conference hopes to capitalize on the growing interest in baking by adding more sessions and topics in this area.

17 of the 18 session rated above 4.0 out of 5.0 4.9

4.6 4.6 4.64.5

4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4

Intellectual Property

I Can Grow Specialty

Grains, Now What?

Regional Grain Network

Distilling Using Local

Public Private Partnerships

Starting Up and Scaling Up

Production Recommendations

WSU Bread Lab Update

Transitioning to Organic

Naked Barley Tasting

1

5

Based on participation, the most popular sessions were related to Production Recommendations, Regional Networks, Brewing and Distilling Local, and Small Business Branding. Participants were asked to rank the sessions they attended on a scale from 1 (Not Informative) to 5 (Very Informative), and the average overall 18 sessions was 4.3 (+.61 over 2017).

TOP RATED SESSIONS

Participants were asked which grain crops interest them the most.

Interest in traditional grains vs. specialty grains: 73% of survey respondents are primarily interested in traditional small grain crops while 27% are interested in specialty grain crops including millet, spelt, sorghum, and emmer.

GRAIN INTERESTS

“Building a Regional Grain Network” at the 2018 Conference. From left to right: David Bauermeister of Northwest Agriculture Business Center, Laura Lewis of WSU Food Systems, Mai Nguyen of California Grain Campaign, June Russell of NYC Greenmarkets Regional Grain Project.

Barley

21% 18% 15% 12% 8% 11% 8% 5% 3%

Conference participants came from all corners of the Pacific Northwest including Washington (71%), Oregon (12%), California (5%), Idaho (3%)and British Columbia (1%). We saw a large jump in 2018 in both regional and out of state participation, pointing to the growing momentum in the local grain movement both regionally (71% from West of the Cascades, +29% over 2017) and nationally (8% from other states, +3% over 2017).

3

Education or professional develop-ment or to understand the sector

Networking Learn infrastruc-ture or how to support the grain industry

Learn specifically about baking

Be inspired

24% 22% 9% 6% 4%

Learn about business and marketing

Learn about Milling/Pro-cessing and Handling

Learn about specialty grains

Learn specifically about malt, brewing, or malting barley

Learn how to grow grain in Cascadia

3% 3% 2% 1% 1%

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“WSU Bread Lab Report” during the 2018 CGC. Pictured: Steve Lyon of the WSU Bread Lab

REGIONAL ATTENDANCE

In addition to sharing the latest science, techniques, and developments, the Conference aims to create a space in which new business, policy and research relationships can form and existing ones can be strengthened. In fact 24% of participants responded that educational/professional development and to understand the sector is their primary reason for attending the Conference.

REASON FOR COMING

WA OR IDCAOTHER

12%

3%5%5%

Participants from Western Washington Counties:· Thurston 24%· King 17% · Skagit 5% · Pierce 3% · Jefferson 2% · Snohomish 2% · Whatcom >1%Participants from Eastern Washington Counties:· Whitman 4%· Adams 3%· Chelan 2%· Spokane 2%

71%

BC

1%

2018 ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION

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Over the last six years the Saturday Conference attendance has more than doubled. One clear success of the Conference is the high demand for the event and the continued interest among new participants (64% of attendees were new to the Conference in 2018).

OVERALL ATTENDANCE

The Steering Committee intentionally created a schedule and program that integrated as many networking opportunities as possible, including un-programmed time during three locally-sourced meals, the Best of the Cascades Tasting Tour featuring local craft beers and spirits, and an all-day Resource Expo with regional organizations and agencies that support the local grain-shed.

PROGRAM PLANNING

156 23

8 290 29

3

261 30

9

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

The success of the Conference may be judged by the enthusiasm of the participants during the Conference, as well as their willingness to attend the Conference again with 82% of survey respondents stating that they would.

Edouardo Jordan from Junebaby/Salare and William Myers from Joseph’s Grainery, enjoying a session at the 2018 Cascadia Grains Conference

30%

17%

8%

36%

1% AREA OF EXPERTISE

“ ”After five years of building upon success to wider audiences, the Cascadia Grains Conference has positioned itself as one of the leading events of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. The gathering provides an enriching array of field trips, workshops, and presentations that showcase the vital work of researchers, growers, processors, and marketers in this growing economic sector. I have greatly benefited from hearing perspectives shared by leaders in these fields related to restoration of heritage grains for niche markets and sustainable crop production. -Richard Scheuerman (Palouse Heritage)

Participant Occupations:

Processor Types:

Distillers

Brewers

Bakers

Millers

Maltsters

13%

33%

7%

31%

16%

Producers made up the largest percentage of reporting participants this year (30%). Followed by Processors at 21% (Distillers: 2%, Brewers: 5%, Maltsters: 3%, Bakers: 14%, Millers: 7%), and 17% Support Organizations (Researchers: 7%, Broker/Distributors:1%, Non-profits/Educational Institutions 5%, Consultants:3%, Media: 1%).

Farmer/Rancher

Processors

Research/Educators/Students

Other/Not Identified

Retailers & Seed Companies

Support Orgs.

21%

Attendees received surveys in their Welcome Packets as well as via email post conference. 82% of reporting participants on Saturday said they plan on attending next year.

“ ”Partnering with and attending the Cascadia Grains Conference has been a great platform for Skagit Valley Malting to not only share our story, but to learn from other industry professionals and meet new potential customers. From bakers and brewers, to scientists and professors, to our local farmers, we are all part of this greater Northwest grain economy, and finding those common bonds has had a nice impact on the health and sustainability of Skagit Valley Malting. - Adam Foy (Skagit Valley Malting)

20%1Education, professional development, or to better understand the sector

6%2Research on local resources for grain

9%3Expand their operation

3%4Directly apply knowledge to their existing operation

10%5Change their buying habits to support local grains

2%6Order new seed

10%7Develop resources for the a localized grain economy

16%8Pursue a further educational opportunity

Top: Brigid Meints, Lara Helgerson and Lane Selman during “Naked Barley Production and Tasting”Middle (Right to Left): Heidi Vanslyke and Ryan Moore of Camas Country Mill, Kevin Morse of Cairnspring Mills posing on the CGC Red CarpetBottom: Mel Darbyshire of Grand Central Baking teaching “Hands-on Baking Naked Barley Baking Class”

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3 Things You Will Do In the Next 6 Months

2018 IMPACTS & OUTCOMES

2018 CASCADIA GRAINS STEERING COMMITTEE:David Bauermeister, Northwest Agriculture Business Center

Jeff Bowe, Olympia Lacey Tumwater Visitor and Convention Bureau

Stephen Bramwell, WSU Thurston County Director

Brook Brouwer, WSU San Juan County Director

Jeremy Bunch, Shepherd’s Grain

Rose Burke, Former Cascadia Grains Conference Coordinator

Ann Cook, City of Tumwater

Mel Darbyshire, Grand Central Baking

George DePasquale, Essential Baking Company

John Doan, City of Tumwater

Scott Fisk, Oregon State University

Girish Ganjyal, WSU/UI School of Food Science

Laura Helgerson, Oregon State University

James Henderson, Hummingbird Wholesale

Aba Kiser, WSU Food Systems Project Manager

Laura Lewis, WSU Food Systems Program Leader

Matt Lincecum, Fremont Brewing Company

Steve Lyon, WSU Bread Lab

Kevin Murphy, WSU Sustainable Seed Systems

Sara Nelson, Fremont Brewing Company

Mai Nguyen, California Grain Campaign

Celia Nightingale, Thurston EDC/Center for Business & Innovation Center

Justin O’Dea, WSU Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania County

Phoebe Plank, Community Grains Conference

Noel Rubadue, South Puget Sound Community College

Lane Selman, Culinary Breeding Network

Nicole Witham, WSU Food Systems Program Coordinator

The Cascadia Grains Conference is presented by WSU Food Systems Program (FSP).

26@cascadiagrains #cgc2018 #cascadiagrains

The Steering Committee was composed of individuals who work in the public and private sectors or for economic development organizations. Through monthly planning meetings, the Steering Committee provides input on the program topics and speakers, brings in resources to support the Conference through financial and in-kind sponsorships, promotes the Conference regionally, and participates in the Conference as support staff, speakers or facilitators.

Laura Lewis, Director of WSU FSP and Cascadia Grains Conference Chair

Brooke Saari, WSU CSANR and Cascadia Grains Administrative Support

Nicole Witham, WSU FSP Coordinator and Cascadia Grains Marketing and Graphics

Aba Kiser, WSU FSP Project Manager and Cascadia Grains Event Organizer

... and special SHOUT OUT to Lane Selman of the Culinary Breeding Network for coordinating all of the meal catering & hands-on baking workshops!

2018 PLANNING

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The total budget for the Conference was nearly $50,000, with around 50% from registration fees, 36% of the dollars coming from donations, 13% from grants, and 2% from Resource Expo and Tasting Tour fees.

All four of our 2018 Friday Field Trips sold out. The registration for these extra classes ranged from $25 (Equipment Track) to $90 (Historical Tasting), which helped pay for the bus transportation for the Brewing and Distilling Tour, baking instructors, and equipment for the hands-on baking classes, as well as catering costs.

Registration fees for the Saturday Conference were tiered into three categories based on the timing of payment: early-bird ($95), regular ($110), and day-of ($135).

Two tiers of scholarships of $45 and $25 were awarded to 62 individuals who submitted an online application. The Conference was delighted to have such a strong team of volunteers to set up and break down, staff registration, help with baking class clean up and more.

The Conference cost nearly $45,000 to put together. Staff salaries, speaker travel reimbursement, catering, and venue rental were the top expenses. Excellent in-kind partnerships, such as gifted coffee service by Batdorf and Bronson, and venue services by the South Puget Sound Community College helped to keep expenses down. The profit from the 2018 conference will go toward venue rental and staff salaries to start the planning for the 2019 event.

The 2018 Cascadia Grains Conference was proudly presented WSU Food Systems with support from Fremont Brewing, Old Stove Brewing, Shepherd’s Grain and many other organizations listed below.

2018 FUNDING & DONORS

2018 FIELD TRIPS & SATUSES-SIONS

The Conference Agenda is outlined below and the full Conference Program with links to presentations can be accessed under 2018 Program on the Cascadia Grains Conference website: www.cascadiagrains.comThe Bread Lab Update: New Varieties & Research UpdateFacilitated by: Brook Brouwer - WSU San Juan CountySpeakers: Steve Lyon - WSU Bread Lab

Brewing With Specialty GrainsFacilitated by: Sara Nelson - Fremont BrewingSpeakers: Ben Acord - Evasion Brewing, Pat Jansen - Matchless Brewing, Jason Stoltz - Top Rung, Brian Thiel & Jason Yerger - Ghostfish

Building a Regional Grain NetworkFacilitated by: Nicole Witham - WSU Food SystemsSpeakers: David Bauermeister - NABC, Laura Lewis - WSU Food Systems, Mai Nguyen - California Grain Campaign, June Russell - GrowNYC

Distilling Local - PNW TerroirFacilitated by: Brooke Saari - WSUSpeakers: John Bourdon - Sandstone Distillery, Tom Collins - WSU Viticulture and Enology, Jason Parker - Copperworks Distilling Co.

Economics of What to GrowSpeakers: Jeremy Bunch - Shepherd’s Grain, James Henderson - Hummingbird Wholesale

FRIDAY Hands-On Baking Class: Breakfast PastrySpeakers: Andrew Ross - OSU, Annie Moss - Seastar Bakery

FRIDAY Hands-On Brewing and Distilling TourFeaturing: Historic Tumwater Brewery, Matchless Brewing, Triceratops Breweries, and Sandstone Distilling

FRIDAY Hands-On Equipment Field TripSpeakers: Nicole Witham - WSU Food Systems, Colin Barricklow - Kirsop Farm, Stephen Bramwell - WSU Thurston County, Marcie Cleaver - SSCFLT, Dallin Houston - Farmer, Evan Mulvaney - Hidden River Farms, Brian Thompson - Farmer, Brook Brouwer - WSU San Juan County

FRIDAY Hands-On Historical TastingSpeakers: Kelly Mclaughlin - SPSCC Catering, Rob Salvino - Damsel and Hopper Bakery, Richard Scheuerman - Palouse Heritage, Don Trosper - Tumwater Historical Society

Growing Oats in the Pacific NorthwestFacilitated by: Dr. Louisa Winkler - Independent Agricultural Research ConsultantSpeakers: Dave Hedlin - Hedlin Family FarmsDr. Kathy Klos - Research Geneticist

Hands-On Baking Class: Naked BarleyTeachers: Mel Darbyshire - Grand Central Bakery, Dillon Debauche - Little T American Bakery

Hands-On Baking Class: Whole Grains and Sweet Treats Teacher: Wendy Scherer - Tom Douglas Restaurants

I Can Grow Specialty Grains, Now What? Facilitated by: Tom Hunton - Camas Country MillsSpeakers: Justin O’Dea - WSU Clark County, John Shovien - Lundberg Family Farms, Seth Small - Small’s Family Farm

Intellectual Property and Legal Issues in Specialty Grain MarketsFacilitated by: Brook Brouwer - WSU San Juan CountySpeakers: Patrick Hayes - OSU, James Myers - OSU

Malting: The New Flavor FrontierFacilitated by: Adam Foy - Skagit Valley MaltingSpeakers: Scott Fisk - OSU, Dave Hedlin - Hedlin Family Farms, James Wahl - MJW Grain, Joel Williamson - LINC Foods

Naked Barley Production and TastingFacilitated by: Lane Selman - Culinary Breeding NetworkSpeakers: Mel Darbyshire - Grand Central Bakery, Dillon DeBauche - Little T American Bakery, Pat Hayes - OSU, Brigid Meints - OSU, Andrew Ross - OSU

Production Recommendations for Specialty Grain FarmingFacilitated by: Justin O’Dea - WSU Clark CountySpeakers: Brook Brouwer - WSU San Juan County, Scott Fisk - OSU Barley Project, Steve Lyon - WSU Bread Lab

Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborative Success StoriesFacilitated by: Noel Rubadue - SPSCCSpeakers: John Doan - City of Tumwater, Steve Omdal - Port of Skagit Commissioner, June Russell - GrowNYC

Small Business Branding & Direct Marketing ApproachesFacilitated by: Marcy Ostrom - WSU Food SystemsSpeakers: Adrian Hale - The Community Table, Amy Halloran - The New Bread Basket, Seth Small - Small’s Family Farm

Starting Up and Scaling Up: Creative Capital SourcingFacilitated by: Celia Nightingale - Center for Business & InnovationSpeakers: Amy Pearl - Hatch Innovation, Maggie Reilly - Craft3, Joe Wallin - Carney Bradley Spellman

Transitioning to OrganicFacilitated by: Jeremy Bunch - Shepherd’s GrainSpeakers: Brenda Book - WSDA Organic Program, Ben Bowell - Oregon Tilth, Dave Hedlin - Hedlin Family Farms

You Are What They Eat: Growing Grain For LivestockFacilitated by: Dr. Louisa Winkler - Independent Agricultural Research ConsultantSpeakers: Colin Barricklow - Kirsop Farm, Nick Jones - Jones Family Farms

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2018 FIELD TRIPS & SATURDAY SESSIONS

OLYMPIA, WA

THESAVE DATE

JAN. 18-19, 2019

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B E CO M E ADONOR!

Contact: Aba Kiser, Conference Coordinator

cascadia.grains@wsu.edu360-379-5610 ext 211

THE FOOD SYSTEMS TEAM:Is a committed group of WSU faculty, staff, and partners. Together we promote research, implement change, and provide unparalleled educational opportunities for farmers, communities, and consumers.

Supporting thriving Washington farms, ecosystems, and food economies to provide communities with equitable access to healthy, sustainable, and regionally produced foods.

SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES

EQUITABLE ACCESS

ENERGY & WASTE REDUCTION

PROCESSING & DISTRIBUTION

POLICY &REGULATION

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

FARMLAND & RESOURCE CONSERVATION

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FOOD SYSTEMS FOCUS AREAS

FOOD SYSTEMS

CASCADIA GRAINS CONFERENCE IS PRESENTED BY WSU FOOD SYSTEMSAnd brings together farmers, bakers, brewers, distillers, brokers, investors, researchers and others in an effort to enhance the local food economy by sharing the latest science, techniques, and developments for niche-grains in the Cascadia region. Holding a space for new business, policy, and research relationships to form and existing ones to be strengthened.

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Revitalizing a local grain economy in the

Cascadia Region

This conference wouldn’t be

possible without the support of

donors like you.