Bucket Brigade Keeps Rolling

Sierra Times Report
Published 03. 4. 03 at 13:25 Sierra Time

3/4/03

Oregon - The Klamath Traveling Bucket took to the road again; traveling to the capital in Salem and Hillsboro, Oregon on February 28th, to meet with state representatives and address the state Future Farmers of America (FFA) Alumni Association.

Bucket Brigade Chairman Bill Ransom presented a Klamath Bucket and a Jarbrige Shovel to Senator Steve Harper (R-Dist 28) and Representative Bill Garrard (R-Dist 56) in the Oregon Governors Ceremonial Office in the capitol on Friday at noon, and received an Oregon State flag in return from Senator Harper.

Governor Kulongoski was invited but unable to attend due to the new Economic Forecast for Oregon that was released early Friday morning, but one of his aids attended and thanked the Bucket Brigade for the Klamath Bucket and Jarbrige Shovel in the Governor's stead.

Kevin Mannix, leader of the Oregon Republican Party also attended, expressing support for the people of the Klamath Basin, as well as the Bucket Brigade.

Senator Harper, Vice Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee and Representative Garrard, Chairman of the Environmental and Land Use Committee, spoke with Ransom for about 30 minutes about Bucket Brigade activities and problems in the Klamath Basin.

Friday evening, Bill Ransom a former FFA member, gave the key note address at Hillsboro High School for the warm and receptive FFA's Alumni Association meeting celebrating 75 years of FFA in Oregon. Using a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Klamath Basin Water Crisis - This Could Happen To You," Ransom stressed the importance of public education regarding the causes, effects, and events in the Klamath Basin in 2001.

Ransom was quoted as saying. "It was really heartwarming to have so many young people here, and to hear their reaction to the program. Many of them do realize that their future in Agriculture is in jeopardy, and are starting to understand how the Endangered Species Act is being manipulated by environmental groups to take away farm and ranch operations just as they have shut down logging."

Approximately 300 past and present FFA members learned about the early history of the Klamath Basin, the Klamath Project, and the Water Crisis of 2001. A second PowerPoint slide show covering the 33 day Klamath to Florida Convoy in support of the Sawgrass Rebellion wrapped up the evenings entertainment. Mr. Ransom received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his presentation.

Accompanying Bill Ransom to Salem and Hillsboro, Oregon were Klamath Bucket Brigade Board members Barbara Hall; Shirley Kerns and her husband Martin Kerns; and Charlotte Rodgers and her husband (past board member) Rick Rodgers. Additional support was supplied by Jacqui Krizo, who video taped the presentation and Pat Ratliff, photographer.