Bloglander

COLFAX — Randy Suess, a 61-year-old family farmer, has finished his last wheat harvest. The tractors are stored in the metal shed, and Suess recently signed the paperwork to lease out the century-old family farm.

“It’s bittersweet — not only because of my own farmland, but we’ve been leasing from other families for three generations, and that was tough to tell them that a member of my family won’t be farming anymore,” Suess said.

U.S. farms are turning unmistakably gray, as younger generations opt for other careers and older farmers remain on the job longer than most American workers. The dearth of younger farmers has worried agricultural experts, who have pushed for incentive programs to encourage family farms to continue their operations.

Washington state has been at the forefront of this effort, spending millions to help beginning farmers — defined as those who have been farming for fewer than 10 years.

“Fifty to 100 years ago, farmers would have kids, and you would have the succession plan set,” said Patrick Lewis, executive director in Whitman County’s Farm Service Agency, which provides support to Palouse farmers. “I don’t know if that’s still the plan.”

State and federal agencies are developing programs to assist young farmers who often struggle with high startup costs, particularly with the recent dip in prices for many staple crops like wheat.
For example, the federal Transition Incentives Program provides two additional rental payments on land enrolled in expiring Conservation Reserve Program contracts, as long as the owner sells or rents the land to a beginning farmer. This program helps younger, aspiring farmers get started in the industry.

The state of Washington has spent $2.2 million on the program within two years, the most spent by any state, said Jonelle Olson, who helps farmers navigate the program. After exhausting the original funds allotted in the 2014 Farm Bill, Washington was offered additional funds for the program this month.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also offers loans to beginning farmers to mitigate the high costs of starting a farm and purchasing equipment. One concern is that older farmers, nearing retirement, are less willing to invest in innovative technologies that can improve U.S. production, experts say.

“A lot of the things we do day-to-day are helping these folks grow and stay in business,” Lewis said. “With so many farmers getting ready to retire, we’ve solidified a lot of these [programs].”

Still, the numbers are telling: Only 8 percent of American farmers are under the age of 35, according to 2012 Census data. The average age of farmers in the U.S. is nearly 59 years. That’s about 17 years older than the average U.S. worker, and about eight years older than the average farmer in 1980.

Experts like Carl Zulauf think these numbers can be deceiving. Zulauf, a professor and agricultural economist at Ohio State University, said the average age of farmers is growing nearly in sync with the U.S. labor force.

The 17-year age gap between U.S. farmers and the general labor force is due to a culmination of reasons: technology that eases the laborious aspects of farming, the sheer size of the baby boomer generation, and a love of farming.

As in all professional fields, experience is key. Zulauf said returning to the family farm may not grant that experience — at least, not initially.

“I always encourage my students to go work for someone else for their own personal growth before they go to their own family farm,” Zulauf said. “It builds their human capital. They are more willing to innovate, see farms in a different light, and be an independent thinker.”

Suess’ only son, Brian, decided against returning to the family farm. Instead, he is living in Spokane where he works as an insurance agent.
Brian grew up in a sun-bleached brick house on the family farm in Colfax, where he helped seed and harvest club wheat throughout his childhood. A half-mile away, his grandparents lived on Suess Road and farmed all their lives until they passed the farm down to Brian’s father.

“Being the last Suess kid around, I knew it was up to me to carry it along — or not, unfortunately,” Brian said.

Although Brian said farming is not his passion, it helped him develop skills that served him in the professional world.

“It was realistically the best experience of my life,” he said. “It taught me that if you want something, you have to work your tail off for it. It’s where I got my work ethic from — from Dad, Grandpa and the farm.”

Randy Suess’ transition out of the farm is nearly complete. He held an auction at his home for more than 500 people where he sold the majority of his farming equipment this month. This included tables covered with century-old farming tools that were used by his parents — everything from dusty hand scythes used to cut wheat to an old metal hand-crank drill.

A longtime friend of Suess — another family farm owner — has decided to lease the 1,350 acres of the Suess’ farmland.

“I’ve known him pretty much my whole life,” Suess said. “They farm like I do. They take care of the place, they take care of the weeds, so I picked them.”

Looking forward, Suess has begun applying to new jobs within the wheat industry.

“I’m on to something new,” Suess said. ♦

This article was provided by Murrow News Service, which is produced by journalism students at the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University.

The difference between black comedy and black tragedy, often, is just a matter of stakes.

That’s one reason why this year’s season of Review is so wonderful. Andy Daly plays Forrest MacNeil, a straight-laced dweeb who sets out to “review” life on a five-star scale.

Last season, Review subsisted on cringe comedy, the hilarity of unintended consequences and the horror of being a man who just can’t say no to a dare, whether to eating 15 pancakes or getting divorced by his wife. But this season, as Review got darker and more cartoonishly goofy, it's become a commentary on something more.

Review can just as easily be read as a deconstruction and mockery of the Walter White/Tony Soprano style of “antihero” show. You know the type of story: Where ostensibly good men, battered by challenges and tempted by opportunity, become evil badasses in the pursuit of greatness.

It might not feel like it's autumn, but by this weekend we'll be living in October. It's true! Better start working on your Halloween costume. But before you get too far down that road, though, check out our event listings and Staff Picks for some fun to do between now and then. 

Here are some highlights of the days ahead: 

Monday, Sept. 28

LIVE BANDS | The Pin plays host to a whopping night of hard rock Monday, featuring Simon Says Die, Ghost Heart, All But Lost, A Cryptic Ending, Method of Conflict and Heart of an Awl. The fun starts at 6:30 pm, and goes late. 

Tuesday, Sept. 29

WORDS | Local author and musician Chris Dreyer heads to Auntie's at 7 pm to celebrate the release of his new tome, The Toilet Was Broken and Other Awful Stories. 

LIVE BANDS | Arizona's Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are sneaky good, delivering rock-solid roots-rock with a bit of a Tex-Mex vibe, a natural given how close they are to the Mexican border when they're at home. They tour a lot, and they're stopping at the Big Dipper Tuesday. Here's a little sample of their sound, from their early days in a band called The Refreshments: 

COMMUNITY | Drop by Spark Center to join a viewing and discussion of The Raising of America, a five-part documentary series about the importance of giving kids a strong start to their health and education. It starts at 6 pm. 

There is joy across the land today as the Seahawks' season-opening two-game losing streak was dispatched with aplomb Sunday, as most of us figured it would be thanks to the team 1. finally playing a home game, and 2. facing a dismal Chicago Bears team that was starting a backup quarterback — and a backup to sad sack Jay Cutler at that. 

I know there was panic among the 12s as everyone fretted over Kam Chancellor's holdout, wondered why new tight end Jimmy Graham wasn't catching TDs every quarter and imagined Russell Wilson's miracle water somehow wasn't working properly. On Sunday, in pitching a 26-0 shutout at the Bears in a game that included the returned Chancellor, and a Graham TD reception, and Wilson doing his typical thing (throwing for 235 yards and a TD, running for 28 more), the Seahawks put everything right with the world, at least for a week. 

Suffice to say, that's not the case on every team. Have you seen what went down at Sunday's Washington Nationals game? 
I don't know who to root for, both Papelbon and Bryce Harper seem like such, um, cool guys. 

But I digress, we were talking about football. Besides getting Graham going with his first TD reception of the season (and seven catches for 83 yards overall), the Seahawks got a pleasant surprise in the running of Thomas Rawls, who dropped 104 yards on the Bears subbing in for a knicked up Beast Mode, who didn't play a whole lot. Oh, and Tyler Lockett returned another kick for a touchdown, making him arguably one of the Seahawks' best offensive weapons, even when he's more than 100 yards away from the end zone: 

Brian Regan was always one of David Letterman's favorite standup acts, making more than 25 stops to the retired talk show host's program over the years, included a spot during Dave's last couple weeks, when every episode was packed with huge guests. 

Now Regan is back on the road performing shows from coast to coast as part of his seemingly never-ending tour, and he'll stop in Spokane at Northern Quest Resort & Casino on Friday, February 13. Tickets are $55, $75 and $95, and go on sale Saturday at 8:30 am through the Northern Quest Box Office (call 509-481-6700)  or website. 

I've seen Regan a couple of times, and even though I generally like my standup comedy with some filth, his clean approach doesn't detract a bit from how funny the dude is. Here's a taste from his last Letterman visit: 

Last night, many gazed upon a coppery supermoon lunar eclipse.
According to NASA, the last supermoon/total lunar eclipse occurred in 1982 and you’ll have to wait until 2033 to see another. (Spokesman-Review)

The Seahawks FINALLY won last night. Washington state rejoices.

Duck needed repairs.
Federal investigators announced the Duck vehicle involved in Thursday’s deadly Aurora Bridge crash was recommended for a safety repair back in 2013, which never happened. A fifth crash victim died Sunday. (Seattle Times)

Shell calls it quits on Alaska drilling.
Just weeks after Shell won approval to fully drill a well in Alaska’s Arctic waters, and spending billions in the process, the company has decided to move on, citing expense, regulations and insufficient amounts of oil and gas.

President Obama blasts Putin ahead of the first formal sit-down the pair have had in two years.
In a speech at the U.N. General Assembly this morning, President Obama had harsh words for Russia regarding Syria and Ukraine. Naturally, Putin got his say on 60 Minutes with Charlie Rose Sunday night. Things are starting off well. 

What a spectacular weekend for local music, before the onslaught of crazy shows next week … Def Leppard, Death Cab For Cutie, Neil Young, Terrain as well as comedy from Todd Barry and John Mulaney. Why can we never spread this stuff out, Spokane?!

TONIGHT, TONIGHT
Mootsy’s is hosting a cancer fund benefit for friend of the Spokane music scene, Polly Birge. The lineup includes Seattle rockers Oil Can as well as thrilling Spokane groups Siamese Suicide, Fun Ladies and Gorilla Rabbit Chicken. The show starts at 9 pm.

Sometimes, one night just isn’t enough. So it’s understandable that for the release of Nixon Rodeo’s third studio album, the Spokane hard rockers are performing Friday and Saturday at the Big Dipper. Nixon Rodeo’s new album, recorded at Amplified Wax, continues the band’s forward momentum — they played the Warped Tour at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn last month. Aptly named Relentless, the record moves between power-pop rock and screamo and lyrically focuses on a theme of never giving up. The four-piece’s album ends with a rousing rendition of “Billie Jean” — and hey, the Michael Jackson cover angle worked for Alien Ant Farm. Friday’s show includes the Backups, the Drone Epidemic and Windowpane and Saturday includes Moretta, Free the Jester and Breakdown Boulevard. The all-ages shows are $15 at the door and start at 7 pm.

SATURDAY
Local rockers Heavy Seventeen are playing their final show Saturday at the Baby Bar. The band has decided to go their separate ways after a recent tragedy in drummer Cody Brooks’ family, but as frontman Matt Lakin put it, they didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.
“We frequented the Baby Bar, that was kind of our stomping ground as a band,” Lakin explains. “We’re looking to have one last party there.”
Film Filmed is Lakin’s newest project, an acoustic duo with his brother, and the band will open the show, along with the Holy Cows. The party begins at 10 pm.

We don’t know if you noticed, but Terrible Buttons’ name has been discretely tucked into the lineup of Saturday’s Plastic Horse Records showcase at the Bartlett. Along with Kent Ueland’s solo project the Holy Broke and his brother Dane’s Seattle-based folk-act And Yet, the Buttons are back in business (for one night only that we know of). Other indie bands on the bill include Wildcat Choir, Bob Crash, Valley Fair and Dewi Sant. The all-ages show is $12 at the door and starts at 7 pm, an hour earlier than most Bartlett shows.

SUNDAY
The recently opened record store Garageland plays host to Spokane’s one and only punk feline act Itchy Kitty this Sunday, continuing the venue’s local Scene Showcase Series. The trio will play tracks from their brand new album, which will also be available in store. The all-ages free show starts at 4 pm. Go and hear these ladies roar! 

So. Speaker of the House John Boehner is stepping down, not just from his Speaker of the House position, but from Congress entirely.

To understand why, you’ve got to understand Boehner’s relationship with guys like Idaho Rep. Raúl Labrador. Over the past five years, the relationship between Labrador and Boehner has been an uneasy, often adversarial one.

Robert Draper’s Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives, highlights Labrador’s first year in Congress, along with other freshmen congressmen:

Just before the vote was scheduled, Raul Labrador was summoned to the Speaker’s office.

Boehner knew that the Tea Party freshman was never one to mince words. So the Speaker cut to the chase: “Are you with me?” he asked.

”I’m sorry, I’m not,” Labrador replied. “This is not a bill I can support. I actually think this is a terrible bill.”

“Well, I need you with me on this,” Boehner pressed.

“I understand. But I can’t vote for it.”

Labrador saw the Speaker’s strength as his weakness: he was fair and believed others would be, too. Boehner had actually told Labrador one time, “I trust Harry Reid.”

Labrador had nearly come unglued. Are you out of your mind? Labrador was a lawyer. By training he had learned it was wise to assume the worst in people. He didn’t trust Reid. He thought Obama was lying to the American people about the government running out of money on August 2.

Then Labrador added, “But I’ve talked to several folks and I know how we can get out of this mess. If you can amend the bill to make it closer to Cut, Cap, and Balance, I think I can get you some votes. I’ve been talking to people all day—I think I can convince maybe ten people.”

Despite Labrador’s tough stances and his occasional obnoxious outbursts in conferences, the Republican leadership and the whip team admired his willingness to work toward a positive outcome.

…

Boehner brought in a legislative assistant. “Allen West would tell you, the bill is basically Cut, Cap, and Balance,” the aide said.

“It’s not even close,” Labrador scoffed. He acknowledged there were political considerations. West’s district is like sixty percent Medicare recipients.” By contrast, Labrador’s constituents were hard-core right wingers, the freshman told the Speaker. They made Labrador seem ideologically tame in comparison. 

In Draper’s book, his clash with leadership comes up multiple times.

As you've probably noticed from the special advertising sections in the Inlander in recent months, the Spokane Arena is celebrating its 20th year as the city's premier indoor sports stadium and largest concert/event venue. The Arena has been celebrating their anniversary all year with big shows from a number of big classic rock and country acts — some of which are still on the horizon — but tonight, they're opening their doors to the public to celebrate their 20th.

Even if you've been to a ton of shows and games at the Arena, tonight's open house offers a totally different look. You can take self-guided tours, get down on the Shock's playing field and toss the ol' pigskin around, check out the Chiefs locker room and also get a rare look at the backstage areas where all your favorite rock stars hang out. There's also cake!

The event will also celebrate the new mural in the arena (pictured above) by artistic duo, brothers Todd and Cain Benson. You might recognize their style from their expansive mural at the Maple Street train overpass near Browne's Addition.

Tonight's event begins at 5 pm and the doors will be open until 8 pm. Here are all the details.

FROM INLANDER.COM:
- A man convicted of murdering an elderly Spokane woman when he was a juvenile was resentenced and now has a chance to serve less than his original life sentence. 
- Did you know Spokane was home to the inventor of the portable baby cage? Oh, you don't know what a baby cage is? Read this. 
- The first outlet for popular California chain Blaze Pizza opened in Spokane Thursday, and is offering free pizza all day Friday to its social media followers. 

U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner to resign under pressure from GOP conservative wing
Reports today indicate Boehner is ready to resign his Ohio congressional seat at the end of October, a move that could lead to more than the usual chaos in Washington, D.C., as the government faces a shutdown if Congress can't get at least a temporary budget put together to keep the government functioning. For years Boehner has had to juggle the radical Tea Party members of the House with the more moderate wing of the GOP as they tried to kill Obamacare and push through a conservative budget. The latest showdown involved many members refusal to pass a budget that includes any money for Planned Parenthood, and the next speaker selected steps into the same difficult dynamic heading into fall. 

Seattle tour bus and duck boat collide, killing four and injuring 12
Four international students were killed when a duck boat — a vehicle that can travel on land and in water, popular for tourism in cities on waterfronts — collided with a bus on the Aurora Street Bridge. Many of the duck boat passengers were students from North Seattle College on a sightseeing tour before classes start on Monday. 

Rolling out the red carpet
China president Xi Jinping is making his first state visit to the White House, where he is expected to be welcomed with a lot of ceremonial bells and whistles, but a colder shoulder from President Obama behind closed doors, due to a mutual distrust between the two countries' leaders as China attempts to expand its presence across Asia and the U.S. tries to counter the power play. 

Smells like nostalgia
Nirvana's breakthrough Nevermind album turned 24 years old Thursday, and the Internet was aflutter with think pieces and statistical breakdowns, like this one from Billboard that shows just what a phenomenon the album was at the time. 

Here's the song that set it off for the band: