Heather Thomas

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Articles

Veteran, computer programmer shifts to small orchard farming

1 week ago | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas |Joe Beach

Published 10:56 am Monday, April 14, 2025 Joe Culbreth was born and raised on a farm in North Carolina. Farming has always been in his heart, but he spent some time in military service and ended up working with computers. He worked for several companies that needed his expertise. After he retired, he started helping anyone who needed help with computer programming, which has been one of his passions.
Irrigators pivot to LESA to conserve energy, water

Oct 24, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

ARCO, Idaho — An increasing number of farmers in eastern Idaho are revamping their pivot systems and adopting a new variation that helps them save water and energy while benefiting their crops. Jesse Fullmer, team lead in the Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Arco, Idaho, has been helping producers change their pivots. His team covers three counties — Blaine, Butte and the southern portion of Custer County. kAmp AC@5F46C :?
Protecting water sources on a Washington ranch

Oct 24, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

Chuck and Luanne Finley raise cattle on their ranch in the Colville Reservation of northeastern Washington state. During that time, they have worked on ways to keep the streams running through the property clean. Their cattle graze summer pasture allotments on the reservation. kAm“(6 FD65 E@ 92G6 23@FE `d_ 4@HD] (6’G6 5@H?D:K65 E@ g_ 9625[ 3FE H6 DE:== =62D6 2 =2C86 C2?86 F?:E 7C@> E96 qFC62F @7 x?5:2? p772:CD[” {F2??6 D2:5] “(6’G6 5@?6 D6G6C2= AC@;64ED @? @FC C2?86 2?5 @FC @H? A=246[ 2?5 A=2?
Advice for New Land Owners

Sep 5, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

Travis Bloomer, a broker with Whitney Land Company in Oregon, sells farm, ranch, forest, and recreational real estate. He has a lot of background experience with rural property and worked for the Natural Resource Conservation Service for 15 years prior to becoming a real estate agent in 2013. He was the district conservationist for Baker County, and the Snake River Basin rangeland management specialist.
Woodward Canyon Winery: Second in the Walla Walla Valley

Sep 5, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Woodward Canyon Winery was founded in 1981, the second to plant its flag in the Walla Walla Valley. “The vineyards were planted a few years before that,” said Jordan Small, whose parents, Rick and Darcey Small, started the business. kAm%96 H:?6CJ H2D ?2>65 7@C E96 42?J@? H96C6 #:4<’D 72>:=J 72C>65 7@C D6G6C2= 86?6C2E:@?D 2?5 H96C6 (@@5H2C5 r2?J@?
Bitner Vineyards: Giving back to ag community

Sep 5, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

CALDWELL, Idaho — Ron Bitner started planting vineyards — about 14 acres — near Caldwell, Idaho, in 1981. “We still have many of those original vines and some are being certified as old vines since they are more than 40 years old,” he said. kAm%96 :?:E:2= A=2?E:?8D @7 #:6D=:?8 2?5 r92C5@??2J 92G6 8C@H? E@ :?4=F56 r236C?6E $2FG:8?@?[ |6C=@E[ !6E:E '6C5@E[ $JC29 2?5 ':@8?:6C]k^AmkAmx? a__c[ 9:D H:76[ |2CJ[ =67E 96C ;@3 2E E96 r@==686 @7 x529@ p=F>?: s6A2CE>6?E E@ H@C< :?
Woods Creek Nursery: ‘It's a family thing’

Aug 8, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

MONROE, Wash. — Joselito Gil and his father operate this specialty nursery near Seattle. “It began in the 1960s, and my dad and I took it over last year. This is our first year in business,” he said. “We fill a need for shrubs and big trees. Many people come up from Seattle for these.
WOODS CREEK NURSERY: ‘IT’S A FAMILY THING’

Aug 8, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

MONROE, Wash. — Joselito Gil and his father operate this specialty nursery near Seattle. “It began in the 1960s, and my dad and I took it over last year. This is our first year in business,” he said. “We fill a need for shrubs and big trees. Many people come up from Seattle for these.
BIG TREE SUPPLY: NURSERY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

Aug 8, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

SNOHOMISH, Wash. — This unique nursery near Snohomish was purchased by Nancy Penrose in 1999. Called Big Tree Supply, it specializes in — you guessed it — growing and installing large trees. kAm“x’> 92G:?8 >J adE9 2??:G6CD2CJ :? $6AE6>36C[” !6?C@D6 D2:5]k^AmkAm“!6@A=6 42? D6=64E E96:C EC66D 2?5 9:C6 FD E@ A=2?E E96>[” !6?C@D6 D2:5] “(6 92G6 E9C66 24C6D @7 ?FCD6CJ J@F 42?
Circle D Farm: Cold-hardy trees are a specialty

Aug 8, 2024 | capitalpress.com | Heather Thomas

BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — This wholesale tree nursery is on an old homestead near Bonners Ferry in northern Idaho and was an apple orchard in the 1920s. It has good water, deep glacial soils, and continued as an orchard until the farm was transitioned into growing Christmas trees. It was put into nursery stock in the 1950s. kAmp?@E96C @H?6C[ s6??:D r=2C<[ AFE E96 72C> :?E@ 4@?:76C ?FCD6CJ DE@4< :? `hgc] r:C4=6 s u2C> 92D A6C764E 8C@H:?8 4@?5:E:@?D 7@C 92C5J DE@4<[ D2:5 r2DD:6 %2F36C[ H9@ :?