Farm committees at Whitman trace back to the 1930s, when farm mortgages came into the college’s investment portfolio. The “modern” Whitman Farm Committee took root in 1950, when Whitman President Chester Maxey appointed a group of four local farmers — Henry Copeland, Lester Robison, Ed Tucker and Clarence Braden — to oversee its farm holdings.

The current all-volunteer group acts as a kind of professional management team for Whitman’s extensive farm assets, working on everything from soil conservation to lease agreements. Members tour all 15 Whitman farm properties twice a year.

The committee oversees a combined 22,000 acres of farmland stretching over four counties: Walla Walla, Umatilla, Garfield and Columbia.

David Wyckoff '67 (Chair)
Bob Danforth
Dennis Davin '56
Jack Fredrickson
Jim Hayner
Dwelley Jones Jr. '74
Frank Lamb '62
Don Lieuallen '58
Alex McGregor '71
Walter Minnick '64
Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin '85
Mark Vogler '74
Paul Webb '40
Jerry Zahl

Ex-officio members:
George Bridges, president, Whitman College
Peter Harvey '84, treasurer and chief financial officer, Whitman College
Pete Reid '49, assistant to the president, Whitman College