By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald

Is there a dairy operator out there somewhere who would be interested in moving their business to Harney County?

Harney County Economic Development Coordinator Mark Maliwauki thinks there is — it’s just a matter of finding them.

At the June 4 meeting of the Harney County Court, Maliwauki presented an update on a dairy project recruitment plan, along with Jerry Gardner, Oregon Department of Agriculture who participated via phone.

Gardner reviewed with the court the actions already taken in the recruitment processes. These included attending the Tulare World AG Expo in February, and beginning to make contact with leads obtained there. Gardner said he had talked to representatives from Darigold, Horizon, Organic Valley and the NW Dairy Association. All of the conversations led him to the same conclusions: there is interest in this area from dairies, but the problem lies in finding a facility willing to purchase the milk and process it. “It’s the chicken and the egg,” said Gardner. “No source, no processor. No processor, no dairies.”

Maliwauki told the court that the efforts to recruit will continue, with an emphasis to be placed on educating dairies on the area. Advertising campaigns would focus on easing concerns and incorrect perceptions relating to feed supplies, fuel costs and remote location.

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In other Harney County Court business, Judge Steve Grasty told the other commissioners that there would probably have to be a budget resolution made in order for the Harney County Fair budget to work out.

Grasty said that the fair board was looking at possible solutions to cut expenses, but once wages were paid in June, there would only be approximately $15,000 left. The budget was planned to start the new fiscal year, July 1, with $36,000.

“We have never had a fund in this condition,” said Grasty.

Discussion as to how the deficit could be corrected was held.

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Fred Flippence of the Harney County Library Foundation presented a first-quarter investment funds report for the Claire McGill Luce Endowment Fund.
Flippence also informed the court that a new library director, Cheryl Hancock, had been hired. Hancock was the assistant library director at the library in Prineville. She has been hired to fill Jolyn Wynn’s position. Wynn will retire on June 30.

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Title III projects were approved for funding. Training and Employment Consortium received $38,760 for the Oregon Youth Conservation Corp (OYCC); and Burns High Agriculture Program received $11,000 for the Forestry & Natural Resources Education Internship Partnership.