Teah Smith

Teah Smith joined the Commission in 2018 as a Commissioner and also serves as chair of the Apple Crop Protection Committee. 

Teah was born in Malaga, WA and has lived in the valley her entire life, except while off pursuing her education. She graduated from Wenatchee High School and earned a B.S. in Marine Biology with a minor in chemistry in 2008 at WWU and a M.S. in Entomology in 2012 at WSU.

Teah has been working in orchards since the age of twelve. She started out swamping, picking, sorting and packing cherries, peaches and apricots.  In 2003, she went to work at WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (WSU TFREC) in the Entomology lab focusing on key tree fruit pests and beneficial insects.  When she finished her Bachelor’s she returned to WSU TFREC as a full-time employee, until she started her Master’s.  When she completed her master’s degree, she worked for WSU TFREC a while longer and then at the USDA ARS in the Plant Pathology Department.  She now works for Zirkle Fruit Company as an entomologist and agriculture consultant, each year growing in her position with the company.

Teah and her husband Jared reside in Wenatchee with their four-legged child Rascal.  She enjoys spending time with loved ones, weight lifting/working out, hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, photography, and road trips.