Gary Garth walked toward his family with his granddaughter, Ellie Garth, 2, riding on his shoulders. They had visited the farm animals.
“Ellie wants to show Grandma the piggies,” he announced before setting his granddaughter gently on the ground.
Smiling, Ellie made a beeline for the picnic lunch.
Rebooted farm
Nearby, Bob Brink watched people enjoying his family’s farm. Brink is the executive director of Pomeroy Living History Farm, a nonprofit public benefit educational museum that is listed on the National Register of Historic Properties. The farm has been in Brink’s wife’s family since E.C. Pomeroy established the farm in 1910. The farmstead encompasses a section — 640 acres, or a square mile. It is managed by multiple generations of E.C. Pomeroy’s family.
The farm includes a log home built in 1920, a working blacksmith shop, barn, herb and vegetable gardens, pastures and woodlot. More than 3,500 school children visit the farm on field trips annually. Open house events such as the Country Life Fair demonstrate daily life on a pre-electrical farm to hundreds more. Last year’s fair drew 1,300 visitors. Brink said he expects this year’s numbers to be higher.
“But it’s not a homemade bow,” she said, turning back to watch Todd work.
Oodles of kids were making hand-dipped candles, braiding strands of baling twine with a 1907 rope braider, pumping water from an old-fashioned pump and waiting a turn to feed the goats, George and Fred.
Volunteer Susie Connor doled out handfuls of grain to children, who placed a flat palm up to the enthusiastic goats. Emilia Donaldson, 2, was celebrating her birthday at the farm and seemed just as excited to feed the goats as the goats were to be fed.
“Cow! Cow!” Emilia exclaimed.
At that moment George the goat climbed up onto the wood fence to get closer to the action — and the grain.
If You Go
• What: Pomeroy Farm Country Life Fair features kids crafts and activities, blacksmithing and bowmaking demonstrations, hayrides, farm animals, tours of a log farmhouse, a plant and herb sale, vendors with handmade goods, bluegrass music and food vendors.
• When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
• Where: Pomeroy Farm, 20902 N.E. Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt.
• Admission:Free.
• Information: http://www.pomeroyfarm.org
“George is overzealous when it comes to food,” Susie said, laughing.
The Pomeroy Farm’s Country Life Fair continues from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.