Ag is in her roots…

Director of agriculture has long history in the industry

August 7, 2007

By GREG JOHNSON/Frontiersman

PALMER - A Mat-Su Valley resident with ties to the area's deep agricultural roots has been harvested as the state's new director of agriculture.

Franci Havemeister, a Palmer resident, has been chosen by state Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Irwin to fill the post. Havemeister, 43, was born in Anchorage in 1964, moved to the Mat-Su Valley in 1972 and married into one of the area's pioneer agriculture families.

&#8220I have agriculture in my blood,” Havemeister said Sunday. She began her new job Monday. &#8220I love the industry, I love the lifestyle. … Not everybody is a farmer, but everybody is affected in one way or another by the agriculture industry.”

As director of agriculture, Havemeister has a lot on her plate. Alaska's annual homage to agriculture - the state fair - is around the corner. Also, Gov. Sarah Palin recently appointed an entirely new state agriculture board, which in turn decided to also act as the state's creamery board. The creamery board oversees the state-owned dairy operation of Matanuska Maid.

State officials are attempting to find a fix for the failing dairy, which purchases most of the milk produced by area dairy farmers.

One of those dairy farms is owned by Havemeister's in-laws, Bob and Jean Havemeister. The Havemeister family helped colonize the region in 1935 and began an agriculture lifestyle then that is now working past its third generation.

&#8220I believe there is hope for Mat Maid,” she said. &#8220The current creamery board is very active and very engaged in finding some sort of solution, and I am very confident in their ability.”

While she's optimistic, Havemeister is also aware the state may need to change how the dairy conducts business if it's to survive.

&#8220I believe everything [at Mat Maid] needs to be re-evaluated,” she said. &#8220We need to figure out what needs to be best for the dairy. I am hopefully optimistic.”

Unlike much of the Lower 48, the agriculture industry in Alaska in many ways is still in its infancy, Havemeister said. While most areas in the Lower 48 saw settlers establish strong agriculture-based economies first, that hasn't been the case in Alaska. Other challenges include a short growing season and a cooler climate.

&#8220My main goal going into this is to unite the farmer statewide and put agriculture on the front line of Alaska,” she said.

To do that, Havemeister proposes more public awareness of local agriculture and what it has to offer. Also, it means encouraging more diverse participation and growing niche products.

&#8220There are a lot of things out there we can push farther than we do,” she said. &#8220For example, our blueberries. They have the highest antioxidant levels of any other blueberries in the world.”

Alaska is also a good place to grow potatoes, she said. Because potatoes grown here don't carry diseases, the state should look into creating a more large-scale seed potato program.

While Havemeister began her new job Monday, it won't take her long to bring her work home with her. She will give the welcome speech at the Alaska Ag in the Classroom Educator Institute that begins this morning at Mat-Su College.

Contact Greg Johnson at 352-2268 or greg.johnson-@frontiersman.com.