Given the option to labor in the sugar beet fields of Malheur County, the elder Mr. Saito joined scores of other Japanese-Americans in relocating to the agricultural lands near the Idaho border. His efforts culminated in the incorporation of KLG Farms in 1966. Reid eventually bought out an uncle and joined the operation after spending three and a half years in Japan tutoring English. The year was 1975. But shortly after I returned and got into farming the bottom fell out of the onion and sugar markets.
Times are better now.
The rough lessons gained from farming has given Reid a good perspective on Oregon agriculture. He wants to make sure that agencies know where growers are coming from. He is also impressed with the wide range of fellow board members. It's a big challenge.