Meet Laura...
Laura’s family has been farming in the area since 1858 when her great-great grandfather Jonathan Pettyjohn first homesteaded in Prescott. She and her family have been extremely proud of this heritage and have always valued the importance of family and have been ingrained with a passion for the land.
Laura is the second of 4 children born to Bill and Nancy Grant. Her older sister, Gina Bull is married to Ron and has 3 children: Lindsay, Molly and Grant. Laura’s younger sister Amy Hartford lives with her husband Jerry and two daughters: Lauren and Katie, here in Walla Walla. Laura’s younger brother Jono Grant lives with his wife, Fahima, and soon to be born daughter in Los Angeles. Laura’s family lived in Prescott until she was 5 , when the family made the big move to Walla Walla.
Laura attended Walla Walla Public schools and graduated from Wa-Hi in 1980. She was passionate about figure skating in her young days and later became a ski instructor during her high school years. Spring and summers were filled with pulling rye, driving wheat truck and swimming in the Memorial and Prescott swimming pools. Laura was never flashy and seldom demanded the spot light growing up, but was always thought of as a good listener and sincere friend.
Laura’s senior year in high school she was ready to try her wings and became an exchange student in Australia. Friends and family were impressed with her confidence and ability to take on the unknown with ease at even as a young adult.
Laura returned to attend Walla Walla Community College, which left a lasting impact on her. She transferred to Eastern Washington University where she earned her teaching degree, and has prided herself on continuing to stay at the top of the game professionally. She earned her Master’s degree in 1993, a Library Media endorsement in 1995, a Teaching English as a Second Language endorsement in 2001, and her National Board of Professional Teachers’ certification in 2006. Laura has served on the Prescott School Board and as a Co-President of the PTA in 2007-2008. She has been teaching in the 16th district for 20 years and has loved the extensive relationships she has built with students and their families over the years.
While Laura didn’t live on the farm while growing up, agriculture has been a part of her entire life. She started pulling rye at age 10 and worked her way through college driving wheat truck. In 1997, Bill expanded the land that he farmed into Columbia County and offered Laura’s family an opportunity to join him in the family farming business. It was the chance to do something she had always dreamed of and she came to know the challenges and rewards of farming first hand. The years Laura spent on the farm were some of her most rewarding. Last summer brought a special joy to the family, when her, then 16 year old daughter, Sam, became the 6th generation to work in agriculture as she drove wheat truck with her grandpa, Bill, and his crew.
Laura is currently a fifth-grade elementary teacher at Berney elementary in Walla Walla. She was appointed t the legislature by a bi-partisan majority of county commissions from Franklin, Benton, Walla Walla and Columbia Counties following the death of her father, State Representative Bill Grant who served in the Legislature for 22-years. She has 3 wonderful daughters, Samantha, now 17, Hope 15 and Maggie 12. Laura is soon to be married to John Wong and their family lives in Walla Walla.
.
