The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - Melissa Hansen, a participant in Leadership Class 37 of the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation Leadership Program (AgForestry), received the Jack Felgenhauer Leadership Fellowship during the class' graduation in Pasco on May 6, 2016.

The fellowship was established in recognition of the late Jack Felgenhauer's forward-thinking leadership for the wheat industry; his dedicated and tireless promotion to build a successful link between rural and urban communities; and his history of outstanding generosity.

Melissa's leadership is shown through her accomplishments as a highly regarded wheat and pea farmer. Working alongside her husband, she is the co-owner of Norman and Melissa Hansen Farms in Waitsburg.

Melissa's commitment to healthy farms and serving communities is demonstrated through her dedication and countless years of service as past Committee Chair of Dayton Days, former WPAS President, Future Farmers of America (past President/Vice President/Reporter), and past SCC Ag Club President. Hansen has also volunteered at Days of Real Sport and Waitsburg Celebration Days.

The award is presented by the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation, which has developed leaders for healthy farms, forests and communities since 1978 through its AgForestry Leadership Program. The program has more than 1,000 graduates and is funded by generous donors representing individuals and businesses in the natural resource industries from all across the state.