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Ericksons’ retirement ends an era

The Columbian
Published: March 24, 2010, 12:00am

It’s difficult to believe that a little more than a half-century ago, when Vinton and Helen Erickson were beginning their farming career, Clark County was a rural place. But it’s true, and that’s one reason Vinton was given a nice, worthwhile tribute last Wednesday evening by well-meaning people. But it wasn’t enough.

Last week, about 75 citizens honored Vinton Erickson at a Barberton Grange meeting in east Vancouver. The honor was sponsored by the Clark County Farm Bureau and included a special resolution signed by all three Clark County Commissioners, and presented by Commissioner Marc Boldt, a blueberry grower. Commissioner Tom Mielke also was present.

It was a surprise to Erickson, who didn’t even know his wife, Helen, would be present until he arrived at the gathering.

Why wasn’t it enough? Two main reasons: First, the honor should have included Helen, a 1949 graduate of Ridgefield High School, and a person who has been fully active on the Erickson farm. Second, retirement from active farming by the Ericksons represents a major transition in agriculture for Clark County.

Vinton was born in 1928 on the family farm in Lake Shore. They farmed for more than half a century on the Lake Shore farm in Felida as well as on land leased in Fruit Valley and Salmon Creek.

During that time, they hired literally thousands of young people to harvest the crops: raspberries, strawberries, pumpkins, pears and grain.

“We gave kids a boost,” Helen said for a story in 2006, “and a little more of a business sense. Some learned the value of saving money. A few who met in the field later married.” Some came into the store (Erickson Farms Store at 10600 N.W. Lake Shore Ave. which closed in 2006).

Helen’s dad, Sam Zimmerly, had a Grade A Holstein dairy farm and raised potatoes at Ridgefield. She married Vinton, also from a rural family and remained with him on his family’s farm.

A different way of life

The Ericksons’ five children (Wendy Stack, Debbie Erickson-Warner, Angie Erickson-Combs,Douglas and Matt) all worked on the family farm. Doug met his wife-to-be, Vickie, while working in the field.

This was a time when cow manure was an acceptable farm fragrance, and the sound of a tractor plowing a farm field at 6 a.m. was an early morning lullaby.

Vinton had made a name for himself in the state and nationally raising Guernsey dairy cattle. He and Helen met when she and her sister worked at First Independent Bank in Ridgefield. Vinton, came home on leave from military service as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, and attended a picnic at the bank. Vinton, by the way, still enjoys skydiving, but as a hobby in tandem jumps. He also pursued his agriculture interests with the Clark County Farm Bureau, serving as president of the organization for a time. Helen, among other interests, helped organize annual reunions of her 1949 graduating class at Ridgefield High School, including one coming up May 16 and 17.

Times have changed. Clark County has urbanized and rural life is in retreat. The land is development land, and people have little or no interest in living a life on the farm.

“We can’t farm anymore,” Helen said.

The 60-acre Erickson family farm, established in 1898, is proposed for development over several years as a “village center.” It is expected to have up to 142 single-family homes, condominiums, commercial and retail businesses. A park with a grassy knoll — a place for community gatherings — will be a feature of the development. In time it, too, will move from a rural setting to urban development.

Helen said the project has been approved, and she and Vinton are waiting for the economy to improve before carrying out the development plans.

This is Clark County’s progression in the 21st Century. The legacy of the Ericksons is the quality and appreciation they brought to rural life, and its enrichment of this county.

Tom Koenninger is editor emeritus of The Columbian. His column of personal opinion appears on Wednesdays. Reach him at koenninger@comcast.net.

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