Tri-Cities—The biggest agriculture policy event of the year is coming to the Tri-Cities Tuesday, February 26, when Washington Policy Center (WPC) will hold its annual “Farm to Free Market” dinner at the Pasco Red Lion. This year’s event features an exploration of the science supporting the preservation of the lower Snake River dams with keynote speaker Dr. Peter Kareiva.  

Dr. Kareiva is the director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA, and the Pritzker Distinguished Professor in Environment & Sustainability. Prior to UCLA, he was the Chief Scientist and Vice President of The Nature Conservancy and led a NOAA research group at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. 

“Ideological extremists have hijacked much of the debate over how to save Puget Sound orca and salmon,” explained Todd Myers, WPC’s Center for the Environment director. “Science supports the dams and saving both orca and salmon in other ways. Dr. Kareiva’s work shows that those trying to tear down the dams are not acting in the best interests of fish, orca, people or science.”

This is WPC’s third annual Agriculture Policy Dinner. The event brings together hundreds from the agricultural community throughout the state to learn about WPC’s Initiative on Agriculture and discuss key agriculture and farming issues. 

“We want to see as many ag faces at the event as possible,” said Pam Lewison, director of WPC’s Initiative on Agriculture. “Ag policy needs to be guided by the people with the most investment in it: farmers and ranchers.”

What: 3^rd Annual Farm to Free Market Dinner

Date: Tuesday, February 26

Time: 5:30 p.m. reception, 6:30 p.m. dinner

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Peter Kareiva

MEDIA AVAILABILITY with Dr. Kareiva: 6:00pm

Tickets: WashingtonPolicy.org/events/

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