2026 Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame dives into Pasco farming history
The Pasco Chamber of Commerce installs titans of local agriculture into the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame at its annual banquet Jan. 15.
The 2026 Hall of Fame dinner begins with a 5:30 p.m., reception and 6:30 p.m. dinner and program. It will be held at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.
The inductees include pioneers who arrived in Pasco in a covered wagon as well as modern advocates who dedicated their professional lives to championing issues for the region’s current and future farmers.
Pioneer Award
The late Lura and Fred Harris are being honored as pioneers who built an enduring legacy along the Columbia River in Pasco.
Fred Harris arrived as a young child with his family via covered wagon. The Harris family set up Diversity Farm at what is now the Port of Pasco’s Big Pasco Industrial Center.
When the federal government “requested” their land for military reasons in 1942, the family moved to the west end of Court Street. A truck hauled their farm house — breakfast reportedly undisturbed on the table — to the new location.
Their children and grandchildren operated Harris Farm until 2019, when the last 40 or so acres were sold for development. Today, it is being transformed into a townhome development called Columbia Shores.
Lura died in 1971. Fred died in 1989 at 100 He lived long enough to see the Interstate 182 bridges constructed along his property and to see them open to traffic.
Agriculture Advisor Award
The award is given to two individuals who have had an impact on advancement and educational programs. The 2026 honorees are Kara Kaelber and the late Mike Meads.
Kaelber has dedicated two decades to promoting agricultural and conservation causes in the Mid-Columbia. Through her leadership, programs such as Wheat Week have reached thousands of grade school students.
Meads, who died in January 2024, shared a passion for supporting youth in agriculture as a 4H leader who was always ready to help organize events any time anyone asked.
He was born in Santa Maria, Calif., but moved to the Northwest as a child, attending school in Hermiston. He joined the Blue Mountain Community College Rodeo Team, leading to his longtime involvement with youth in agriculture.
In addition to serving as a leader for Badger Canyon Livestock 4-H Club he worked for RDO Equipment for more than two decades.
Impact Award
Steve Lancaster and Mike Poulson share the award honoring professionals or farmers for community involvement and advancing the industry through leadership and technology.
Lancaster has been helping family farm operations as a banker for more than 40 years and is a senior vice president focusing on agriculture and commercial loans at Wheatland Bank.
He grew up near Basin City in Franklin County and is a member of the board of the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo.
Poulson transitioned from fifth-generation farmer to advocate in the 1990s after farming in the Connell area.
He lobbies for agricultural interests from Olympia to Washington, D.C., communicating complex and often controversial environmental issues to lawmakers and the public.
He served as vice president to the Washington State Farm Bureau and served as agricultural and natural resources policy director to former U.S. Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane.
Banquet tickets are $75 per person or $525 for a table of eight. Go to pascochamber.org.