Tyler Price elected as WAEF’s next Chairman

Tyler Price was elected this week as chairman of the WAEF Board of Directors.

Tyler is a fourth-generation tree fruit grower and the CEO of Price Cold Storage & Packing Co. in Yakima. He brings deep industry roots and a wealth of strategic leadership experience to the role. Before returning to the family business, Tyler helped shape the global product strategy for Nike and Apple. He holds a business degree from the University of Washington and an MBA from Stanford University. In addition to leading Price Cold Storage, he serves on the University of Washington’s Consulting & Business Development Center board and was most recently the vice chairman of WAEF and has served on the board since 2020.

“We are honored to welcome Tyler as chairman,” said WAEF outgoing chairman Rolando Martin. “His blend of strategic thinking, industry knowledge and passion for supporting students makes him an ideal leader.”

WAEF also extends heartfelt thanks to outgoing chairman Rolando for his dedicated leadership over the past year. A Prosser native, Rolando is an area manager at Washington Fruit & Produce and holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Food Systems and a masters of Horticultural Science from Washington State University. Rolando was first elected to the WAEF board of directors in 2018 and has served in multiple volunteer roles with foundation. He was recognized for his steady leadership and unwavering passion for the foundation’s mission. Rolando will continue as an officer of the foundation.

Also elected at this meeting were officers and committee chairmen for the coming year.

2025-26 Officers

Tyler Price, Chairman

Nate Fulton, Vice-Chairman

Robin Hansen, Secretary

Ben Jensen, Treasurer

Rolando Martin, Immediate Past Chairman

2025-26 Committee Leadership

Irene Birdsall – Investment Committee

Kailan Dunn – Resource Development Committee

Emily Bautista- Herdt – Scholarship Committee

Emily Bautista-Herdt – Student Success Committee

Nate Fulton – Strategic Planning Committee

Ben Jensen, Treasurer – Finance Committee

Many thanks to the board of directors and other volunteers that provide leadership and support to WAEF!