Another voice for agriculture joins State Senate

By Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-9th

OLYMPIA–More often than not for the past quarter-century-plus I’ve been the lone full-time farmer in the Legislature, but that has just changed.

Earlier this week I welcomed Ron Muzzall, the new senator from the 10th Legislative District, which includes all of Island County, the northwest part of Snohomish County and southwest Skagit County. The commissioners from those three counties selected him to succeed the now-retired Barbara Bailey; like her, he is a Republican from the Oak Harbor part of Whidbey Island.

I was happy to learn that Senator Muzzall is managing partner at “3 Sisters Family Farm” on Whidbey Island, where he and his wife and their two daughters produce grass-fed beef and lamb, barley-fed hogs and free-range eggs and fryers for their own family farm market and other island grocers.

Senator Muzzall’s success in agribusiness and leadership within the ag community (such as Skagit Farmers Supply, and the Darigold and Land O’Lakes cooperatives) speaks volumes, and will be good for Washington agriculture from a policy-making standpoint.

Also, I am impressed by his public service and community involvement, which include 20 years with the local fire and rescue and serving as council president at his church. On top of all that, he’s a third-generation graduate of WSU!

I look forward to his meeting the other members of our Senate Republican caucus when we’re together for Assembly Days next month.