Andrew's straw goes to Alaska Iditorod

ARLINGTON — Andrew Albert grows hay, barley and wheat on 480 acres of land across the Stillaguamish River Valley and he sent three containers full of straw from his 2008 harvest to Alaska last week for the Iditorod.

"Straw is the bi-product from wheat and barley," explained the 2002 graduate of Arlington High School, owner of Andrew's Hay.

After harvesting the grains, ,he sold the barley to Wolfkill Feed and Fertilizer in Stanwood for use as cow feed and the wheat went to Wilbur Ellis in Skagit County. Ellis exports wheat around the globe, Albert said.

Albert's mother, Cindy Albert said the people in charge of getting straw for the event got Albert's uncle's name, Elwyn Crutcher, from a list of certified straw growers.

"My uncle didn't have enough straw so they got the rest from me," Andrew Albert said he filled two containers and his uncle filled one.

They benefited from a shortage of hay and straw nationally.

Andrew said he uses the 90 acres that he and his dad, Paul Albert, own, and they rent or lease almost 400 acres around the area.

"My uncle is trying to retire, so I am using a lot of the land that he has used in the past," Albert said Feb. 5, after filling one container on Jan. 31, a second container on Ground Hogs Day, and a third one Feb. 3.

Some of the straw came from the Albert's farm on 59th Avenue near Smokey Point Concrete; some grew west of I-5 at exit 210, and Albert's uncle grows his crops on 120 acres on the flats near Stanwood.

Andrew got help loading the hay from some college students who work for him as needed.

"I hope they like the product and will return for more next year," Albert said the straw will be used for bedding down the dogs.

"After it arrives in Alaska they will fly it out to the various stops along the Iditorod route," he said.