Laura Pryor, Condon

In North Central Oregon, a frontier rural county that stretches from the Columbia River southward to rolling hills of grain, has enjoyed remarkable economic development under the leadership of Judge Laura Pryor of Gilliam County.

Judge Pryor has served as the county’s top elected official for many years and has provided a vision and blueprint for modern-day viability of rural Oregon. Her work to stabilize Gilliam County’s economy has been recognized in such places as the State Capitol as an example of what all rural Oregon counties might be able to do.

Growing up on a rural California cattle ranch has given Judge Pryor a good understanding of the needs of agriculture in Gilliam County. But her work and accomplishments go beyond natural resources. She has led the way in modernizing a vast but under-populated county with such things as the Frontier Learning Network– four mobile classrooms with two-way interactive video and instruction. In fact, the class-on-wheels services two other neighboring counties and all the schools along the way.

Judge Pryor has also been instrumental in establishing the Northern Oregon Corrections facility, a four-county regional jail. Recognizing that job creation can come from unusual sources, she spearheaded the Columbia Ridge Recycling and Landfill facility near Arlington, which services both Oregon and Washington.

The judge has championed a number of causes that advance the needs of rural Oregon. She has been involved in the establishment of the Eastern Oregon Rural Alliance, which represents 14 counties east of the Cascades....and has led the way in creating an office of rural policy housed in the Governor’s Office. Laura’s work often takes her to Salem to represent issues important to rural Oregon.

But perhaps the most exciting initiative undertaken by Judge Pryor and others is the Gilliam County Wheat Quality Initiative. The idea turned into reality with the ultimate goal of creating new revenue streams for the county’s wheat growers. The initiative segregates the wheat to preserve its identity and quality. A map of all the county’s wheat fields and a comprehensive database combine with weather stations, test plots, field sampling, and laboratory analysis. Instead of growing as many bushels of wheat as they can, the county’s producers are now stressing a product that provides the qualities that West Coast millers and bakers desire. The initiative to add value to the wheat also benefits the Asian market, so insistent on quality and identity preservation. Judge Pryor has utilized collaboration in helping make this happen, involving several entities such as Oregon State University Extension, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and private investment. Her work and the work of others is helping to keep ag alive in Eastern Oregon.

The judge is going at a brisk pace, but when she can, she tries to relax with her wheat rancher husband Earl. Her leadership and efforts to improve the rural economy in Oregon have brought praise over the years for Judge Laura Pryor

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These are authentic stories from real farmers.  Any editorial content does not necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon or our members.