Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of Brett Blankenship to the Washington State University Board of Regents, effective Oct. 1. Blankenship resides in Lake Stevens and Washtucna and is an owner and partner in Blankenship Brothers, a family wheat producer.
“The nation’s agricultural sector is poised to take a giant leap forward and assist in carbon sequestration, using our tremendous productivity to solve global climate challenges,” Blankenship said. “This perspective on how agriculture can be part of the solution will serve WSU and promote agriculture in innovative and sustainable ways.”
He served as president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, a federation of the 22 leading wheat-producing states that encompass approximately 85 percent of national production. He was president of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Foundation and is an emergency medical service volunteer.
“Brett’s extensive experience with our state’s agriculture sector and the science that supports Washington’s signature crops makes him a great match for WSU,” Inslee said.
“His work with the growers in negotiating the 2012 farm bill, building coalitions in the agricultural industry and lobbying in a nonpartisan framework gives me great confidence that his appointment to our board will serve both our state and our university very well,” said WSU President Kirk Schulz.
Blankenship received his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University in music and his master’s degree in music performance and literature from the University of Rochester.