Pioneering Snohomish County - Snohomish Conservation District

Pioneering Snohomish County -- Past and Present
1849 - 2002
Ned L. Zaugg, Area Dairy Agent
Washington State University
Cooperative Extension
Julie Wakefield, RVT
A Snohomish County Volunteer Livestock Advisor
To a pioneer, there is no such
thing as "the end of the world" as
they courageously lived in and
learned from the past, sought for
and improved current conditions,
and built firm foundations for a
more sure future for their families
and those who would come after.
Indeed, pioneers and the
pioneering spirit are still among us
-- climb aboard the "haywagon" for
the ride of your life!
Hay harvest
THE COURAGEOUS HOMESTEADERS
Samuel Hancock's first recorded exploration of the Snohomish Valley by a
Caucasian explorer in 1849 let the world know what the American Indians have
known for thousands of years -- the Pacific Northwest is a bounteous paradise. As
a trapper for the Hudson's Bay Company, he settled on Whidbey Island, site of the
first settlements. In fact, he married Susan Crockett, daughter of Samuel B.
Crockett, the pioneer settler of Whidbey Island.
Snohomish area remained the exclusive home of the Indians until 1853 when the
first lumber mill was established at Tulalip by John Gould and Peter Goutre.
However, in 1855 they relinquished the mill to the Indian Reservation that was set
up by Treaty of Point Elliott at Mukilteo, site of an Indian village. 1
The first farmer, Father E. C. Chirouse, established a Catholic mission and school at
Priest Point (Tulalip). Under his guidance, some land was cleared for gardens of
flowers and vegetables. 2
In those early years, there was no differentiation between logger and farmer -- one
had to be a logger before any farming could be done. Prior to 1860 "there were no
surveyed lands, no towns, no stores, no roads [NO TRAFFIC -- Yeah!], no
churches, no schools, “not fifty acres of cultivated land." 3
1

Significant Snohomish area people, places, and events: 4
Robert Jesse Ennis Smallman joined the English Navy. It was while he was in
Canada that he jumped ship and found his way to Fort Casey to work in a lumber
mill. While there, he joined the Army volunteers in 1855. After the Treaty of Point
Elliott, he was part of the group that went up the Snohomish and Snoqualmie Rivers
to build a series of forts. Afterward he homesteaded the current farm site, applying
for the 160-acre homestead grant in 1865 -- granted in 1875. He returned to
England and married Louisa. They returned to the Tualco Valley. It was in 1874,
according to his great granddaughter, Margaret Schmidt, he lost a leg as a result of
an accident. After his death in 1903, his homestead was divided between his
daughters, Adelia and Elizabeth -- Adelia Smallman married Henry Frohning.
The original homestead includes the Frohning's, Miedema's, Schmidt’s, Eagins, and
some of Rich Lake's land. Henry’s son, Elmer, took over the farm at Henry’s death
in 1932. Son, Tim, in 1983 married Sandy Snow, 5 th generation ancestor of
pioneer Arial Welcome and Margaret Buffington Foye, who homesteaded 160
acres granted April 25, 1877 by President Rutherford B. Hayes.
1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, signed at Mukilteo, exchanged Indian lands for
"money, schooling, medical care, and reservations selected for them by the
United States government." Monroe1860-1910p.1
"Robert Smallman, Frank Dolan and Henry McClurg had been among the
volunteers who traveled the Snohomish and Snoqualmie rivers to establish
small makeshift forts after the Treaty of Point Elliott.” They established their
homesteads on the land they found." Monroe1860-1910p.2
1859 SnoAgp2 Homesteads were filed at present site of the city of Snohomish by E.C.
Ferguson, Neil Barnes, and E.T. Cady. Everett and Marysville were
homesteaded by Dennis Brigham and Edward Kramer.
1860 Snohomish City was known at first as Cadyville
1861 January 14: Snohomish County was created; originally part of Island and
Skagit areas. Named after the Snohomish Indians.
1862 (April) First recorded sale of cattle (John Hays to George Allen, "One yoke of
stags, seven years old." $150)
8 FIRST DAIRY COW -- named Rose, owned by John N. Low and given to
his daughter, Mrs. Mary L. Sinclair.
1864 (Sept) First recorded feed sale (George Walker to Willson & Company,
"about fifteen tons of oat hay, at $30 per ton, to be baled and delivered on
the bank of the Snohomish River, convenient to loading on scow") 5
2

1867
6 First recorded agricultural hardship ("William H. Wale mortgaged the hay on
his claim at the forks of the Snoqualmie and the Skykomish for $300 to W.B.
Sinclair, the interest being 2 percent a month.")
First doctor, Dr. H. A. Smith, established the first orchard at his home which
was built on an island at the mouth of the Snohomish River. Even though he
put dikes up around the orchard the River overflowed the dike and ruined the
orchard. Dr. Smith moved to a Seattle area called Smith's Cove.
1868
1871
7 First stores, Frost and Fowler at Mukilteo; Sinclair and Clendenning at
Snohomish City. (April 4, 1868) George Walker sold "Walker's Store" to
Matt B. Fowler of Mukilteo
for $500. Preston
Brothers Store at the
mouth of the River; "P.C.
Preston sold his interest
to his brother, G.W.
Preston, the claim and
store, together with some
neat cattle, bringing
$1,500."
8 "Inventory of stock
owned by Mary L. Sinclair
and names by which they
are known to the family."
23 animals, including
Daisy, Dolly, Muley,
Sprettel, all descendants
of "Rose"
9 First "Land Patents" titles
given for homesteaded lands. The list of those whose patents were waiting
in the Olympia land office was printed in the February 1876 Star.
Allen, Chas N Bohan, Edwin L Butter, Joseph Cedergreen, C.M.
Cedergreen, J.A.C. Davis, John Dothitt, Volney Doty, Charles
Doyle, Patrick Duval, F.M. Elwell, G.O. (heirs of) Field, P.J.
Follansbee, Jas.G. Getchell, J.E. Gilbreath, John Hinman, C.E.
Hogan, Stephen Hurriman, Chas. Ireland, T. Johnson,
Andrew
Kyle, George F. Leighton, D.E. Levery, George Little, John
Lockwood, T.B. Lord, Mitchell Low, Charles J. McClurg, Henry
McGuire, James H. McLaughlin, J.J. McMillan, James Mills, Henry
Mittlestadt, SF Monterichard, L Oliver, Edward Olney, HJ
Parker, Robert Peer, Isaac Reeves, William H. Reid, Philip
Reiley, John C. Richardson, F. Riley, James Seabury, George
Smallman, R.J.E. Stafford, B.I. Stretch, Benjamin Taylor, Charles 3
Tester, William Walker, George Whiteley, Sam Wight, Mark T.
Young, James

1874 10 First agricultural fair
1876 11 Third agricultural fair, admission $0.25
(Premium winners were: Dairy = Mrs. C. Harvey, W.H. Ward, Mrs. M.L.
Sinclair, Amos Hurst, Fannie Low, Fanny Oliver)
First newspaper in Snohomish.
1877 12 Fourth agricultural fair: highest prize=$5 in the cattle dept. Cattle breeds:
Devon, Jersey, Ayrshire. Best butter maker: Mrs. John Richards.
43 D.O. Pearson and his wife, Clara J. Stanwood Pearson, moved to
Centerville, Washington from their home on Whidbey Island and built the first
general store. As
Postmaster, he renamed the
town Stanwood, in honor of
Clara. He also became the
first mayor. In 1977, their
home, built in 1890, was
placed on the National and
State Registers of Historic
Places. It now is part of the
Stanwood Area History
Museum.
1878
13 Acres under cultivation between Elwell's Camp & Snoqualmie Falls=730.
Acres of diked tide marshland under cultivation on the Snohomish
River=100. Acres under dike=400; Houses=271; Families=167; Population
= 1,042 ["677 white males (448 over 21), 341 white females, 17 Chinese, 7
African blood; Indians were not counted"]
1883 14 Firm beginnings of the dairy industry in Snohomish County: "In January,
the Nellie brought 30 head of stock (among which were 27 milch cows) up
the river for J.B. Roberts, who was located at LaGrande marsh, five miles
east of Snohomish, and a second shipment of 25 head of cattle soon
followed. William Bishop of Chimacum went extensively into dairying in the
same vicinity."
Hops, first introduced from Oregon in 1860 by Jacob R. Meeker of Sumner,
became an important crop in Snohomish County. One of the largest
producers of hops was Charles Harriman of Tualco. Upon getting
$0.38/pound, he built a warehouse together with a miniature railroad from
4

1890
each of the farm buildings to the river. The Yakima Indians hiked over the
mountains to pick the crop for $1/box.
43 1889 Agricultural statistics for Snohomish, Skagit, and Island Counties:
Snohomish Skagit Island
Farms 406 330 93
Acres 53,393 50,371 22,248
Acres/Farm 132 153 239
Hay - Acres
Tons
5,325
13,733
4,071
10,536
2,085
3,256
Hops - Acres
Pounds
66
105,507
79
116,449
8
16,000
Oats - Acres
Bushels
1,193
96,813
8,295
648,467
799
35,968
Milk - gallons
CWT’s
577,436
49,660
436,095
37,504
154,967
13,327
Butter (lbs.) 115,769 74,484 43,488
Cheese (lbs.) 150 593 0
Eggs (dozens) 68,897 53,617 21,716
Horses 869 1150 450
Sheep 2935 1224 1571
Oxen 253 145 22
“Milch” Cows 1632 1139 530
Potatoes - Acres
Tons
321
67,071
267
39,010
372
60,222
Apples – Trees
4,589 10,240 11,426
Bushels
Prunes/Plums – Trees
Bushels
7,124
2,563
6,288
14,011
1,484
713
19,834
798
966
1890
43 Eggs sold for $.94 each or $4.50/dozen. Rolls of butter (1#) sold for
$.50/roll. (In 2001, regular price for eggs is $1.39/dozen. Butter price is
regularly $2.29/pound.)
1891 Seattle and Montana Railroad stopped at the newly constructed Stanwood
Train Station on October 12, 1891. It operated for 80 years with the last train
stopping on May 1, 1971. The name of the railroad has changed through
time, with it becoming known as the Great Northern Railroad and currently
the Burlington Northern Railroad.
Prevailing prices: Straw=$3.50/ton; Oats=$19.50/ton; Hay=$5.00/ton.
1894 15 First creamery was founded in May by Mr. Alexander and built at
Snohomish. He offered $0.85/cwt for the 150 gallons of milk he received;
5

plant capacity was 600 gallons, however it was not successful. Prior
shipments were sent to Seattle creameries via the Seattle, Lake Shore and
Eastern Railroad at $0.80/cwt. The equipment was sold and moved in May
1895 to the Stanwood Cooperative Creamery which began in June 1895.
1895 16 In February, the Monroe Creamery was built at a cost of $5,000 with Allen
McMaster as manager. He also started a cheese factory the same year in
Snohomish. The Creamery burned in 1899 but was rebuilt.
In March, the Raborn Ranch was established near Everett. The largest
creamery in the State, the Norman Creamery in Silvana, burned.
43 In April, the Stanwood Cooperative Creamery Association was formed with
E.P. Hansen and A.J. Brue the leading advocates; the elected officials were
C. Joergensen as president, E. Juel as Treasurer and Business Manager,
and O.J. Finley as Secretary. The equipment came from the failed
Snohomish Creamery in May with startup in June producing 250# butter/day.
Milk for the plant came
from Silvana's Norman
Creamery after it
burned in March of
1895. John Woll was
hired as the
buttermaker. It was
said of his butter, "Best
butter west of the
mountains." The plant
was still in operation in
1917, as reported in a
published financial
statement.
43 In 1927, A.G.
Clark, purchased the old creamery from John Brue. Clark operated a 600-
acre farm on Camano Island on which he raised 500 goats (400 mature). He
processed the milk from his farm plus goat milk he received from M.P.
Eggers of North Bend, and Miss Paige from Olympia.
43 The plant was sold in 1932 to Dairyland Cheese Company owned by
George Monson. John Folden from Florence, bought ½ interest in the
company. His son, Ivor Folden, was to learn the cheese making business
from cheese maker, Ed Wolfe, who was from Hamilton.
1896 17 The Sultan Creamery began production in January. However, as of March
1896 the total production for the County was listed at 25,352 #, 15,000 of it
6

1896
being produced by the Stanwood Cooperative Creamery and 10,000 # being
produced in Monroe.
40 The following is an article from the Haller City Times, November 7, 1896,
Volume 8, No. 2. (Haller City was north of Arlington on the banks of the
Stillaguamish River just below where the north and south forks join.)
"A Creamery Wanted by the People
of Arlington
and farmers of this vicinity.
Over 300 Cows Within Reach.
Farmers Would Keep Double
the Number if they had
Market for Milk
Having spent a few days interviewing the
farmers who are located within a radius of five
miles of Arlington, I found them very anxious
for a creamery to be located at this place; and
I think if some of our enterprising citizens
would take hold of this matter, they would
have no trouble in getting the farmers to help
in such an enterprise. I have taken a list of
the farmers who own cows and the number
owned by each, as follows:
G.A. Rea 5
Christ Mayer 11
Henry Sinn 5
M. McCauley 7
J.W. Jackson 12
Mrs. Enselman 5
Thees Kackman 6
Carl Thompson 11
Peter Funk 3
Jasper Sill 3
Mr. Linstrom 3
P. Richie 3
H.C. Hunter 7
Geo. Moore 2
Peter McEwan 5
G.A. Esterbrook 2
Jens Thompson 20
H. Rodermund 6
Hans Thompson 9
August Lammers 8
Ole Husby 6
John Larson 4
L. Lorenzen 2
P.L. Wallace 5
Robt. Britton 6
R. Kinnear 4
Chas. Barr 5
Carl Ostrand 6
Robert Bannister 4
Nels Oberg 2
Ben Schloman 2
John Schloman 4
C.J. Murphy 3
Carl Knudson 2
Lee Rogers 4
Joe Smith 2
Marion Gooding 2
Jas. Heaven 4
Joe Kroger 6
Tom McMahon 2
Sammuel Bannister 3
L. Mose 6
Mr. Greon 7
Mr. Banton 3
Ira G. Preston 2
Mr. Tolf 2
Wm. Spearhase (Paper torn)
Frank Zickmund (Paper torn)
D.S. Baker
(Paper torn)
Sam Brazelton (Paper torn)
Mrs. Dodge 4
John Hamilton 3
Hiram Monty 3
H. McKilligan 2
Total 314
I was informed by most of these farmers that
they would double the amount of milch cows
they have at the present time if a butter factory
was established at this place. From the
knowledge I have of the country surrounding
Arlington, I know of nothing that would pay the
7

farmers, and the people of Arlington better
than a first class creamery.
A Citizen"
1900
18 Farm values 1900-1925
YEAR FARMS FARM VALUE TOTAL ACRES FARMABLE ACRES
1900 1,024 $ 3,379,000 97,507 23,371
1910 1,813 $13,346,000 118,328 34,126
1920 3,095 $27,607,000 151,584 53,410
1925 4,740 $33,279,000 168,528
1901
19 Arlington Cooperative Creamery organized.
43 Selling prices:
Straw=$3.50/ton;
Oats=$19.50/ton; and
Hay=$5.00/ton.
1903
1907
46 Kellogg Marsh
Grange was the first
of 18 granges
organized in
Snohomish County
(February 27, 1903).
Although membership
Threshing Crew
has waned since
1980, Snohomish County still had 2,600 members in 1998.
43 The price paid by the Stanwood Cooperative Creamery to the dairymen for
their milk was $0.3403/pound of butter or $1.36/cwt.
1908
43 Oats were selling for $25/ton.
John Major, Stanwood
1909
43 The Pacific Coast Condensed Milk
Company was built on Saratoga Street just
west of the current Twin City Foods Plant. It
operated there until a new plant was built in
East Stanwood and started operations on
July 14, 1914. Milk from Carl A. Satra’s
dairy was the first hauled to the new plant. It
was a 35,000 ft 2 milk plant, employed 100
people, and had a capacity of 200,000#
milk/day from 7,000 cows. It’s gleamingwhite
concrete 103’ smokestack stood
proudly over the community until April 1986
when it was demolished due to cracks in the
8

concrete. The Carnation Milk Company purchased the plant in 1915-1916.
It was sold in July 1932 to the Bozeman Canning Company of Mt. Vernon,
who converted it to a pea factory in 1933. The phrase, “Peas that please”,
was prominently printed on the north wall of the building. Since that time,
other owners of the building have been Pict Sweet Foods of Mt. Vernon,
Stokely Van Camp, Inc. of Mindianapolis, Indiana, and others including the
present, North Star Cold Storage.
1914
27 The name, “Darigold”, was coined by C.P. Constantine, co-founder of
Botsford, Constantine, & Gardner Agency. In his book, “Advertising in
Action,” he mentions “attending several meetings of a group of dairymen who
were organizing a cooperative in 1914. He gave them the name ‘Darigold’
and later was paid $500 for his efforts.”
47 However, there is another conflicting report of the origin of the name. In the
book, “The Darigold Story, The History of a Dairy Cooperative in the Pacific
Northwest” by Archie Satterfield, published by Darigold, Inc. in 1993, the
name, “Darigold”, did not emerge until 1925. As a result of a contest at the
United Dairymen’s Association picnic in June 1925, the name “Darigold”
“…was suggested by a woman whose name unfortunately has been lost.”
1916 30 County Agricultural Agent position established in cooperation with
Snohomish County, "the State College and United States Department of
Agriculture to begin July 15, 1916. The county appropriated, therefore, the
sum of $900.00 for salary of the officer and $1200.00 per year allowance for
expenses connected with the running of the office."
Chester T. Farr, County Agent (1916-1918)
O.E. Gibson, Dairy Field Agent (1918)
W.D. Love, County Agent (1919-1921)
Arnold Z. Smith, County Agent ( 32 December 1, 1922-1957)
John Westergreen, County Agent (1958)
Al Estep, County Agent (1958-1962)
Don Claypool, County Agent (1963)
Jack Crawford, County Agent (1964-March1967)
Dick Mathews, County Agent (March 1967-November 1990)
Counties=Snohomish, later including Skagit and Island
Ned Zaugg, NW Area Dairy Agent (July 1993-present)
Counties=Snohomish, Skagit, Island, King, Clallam, Jefferson
30 August: Agent Farr reported, "There was in existence, when I came into
the county, a Cow Testing Association in the district of Snohomish with some
383 cows regularly on test. During the week of August 26, with Mr. O.E.
Gibson, Dairy Field Agent, we organized the Stillaguamish Cow Testing
Association at Arlington with 560 cows…During the week of August 31, the
9

1917
Stanwood Cooperative Cow Testing Association was formed with 530 cows
and 25 members…"
43 January 2-February 9: Washington State College Winter School Cheese
Making Class; No tuition, but books cost $10-$15.
21 June 16: Snohomish County Dairymen's Association organized at East
Stanwood. The association and bylaws were fashioned after the Skagit
County Dairymen's Association. Membership consisted of paying $10/cow.
Elected to the Board of Trustees were, Gilbert Quale, Island County; John
Lee, Stanwood, Norman District; William G. Grimm, Arlington District; Ed
Holcomb, Snohomish District; and J.D. Guilteau, Monroe District.
21 October 25: First annual meeting of the Association met at the Everett
Commercial Club and elected John Lee, president; E.A. Holcomb, vicepresident;
Gilbert Quale, Secretary-Treasurer; with Iver Thomle and William
G. Grimm as trustees. "At this time, Association members owned 4,000
cows out of a total of 17,000 in Snohomish County."
22 "While the main meeting was in progress, the Jersey breeders of the
county organized the Snohomish County Jersey Breeder's Association.
William G. Grimm elected president; Jeffry Hilton, vice-president; H. Coy,
sec-treas.; D.F. Sexton, trustee and Donald McRae, trustee."
1918 23 January 31: William G. Grimm, Arlington, was elected president of the
Snohomish County Dairymen's Association. 28 Shortly afterward, he was also
hired as the Association manager.
22 November 1 Arlington Times reported producer milk income at $2.60/cwt
during September, but according to the Government Food Control Board,
they should have received $3.00/cwt -- a continuous source of contention.
"… 31 The Stanwood Association, which was formed last year, was unable to
go forward on account of not being able to get a man to do the work.” The
Stillaguamish Association continued through the year. There were six
hundred cows in this association. “The high school at Snohomish being
placed on the Smith-Hughes basis, the agricultural teacher in charge was
supplied with herd books and barn books, and has eight boys making tests
on 12 herds, comprising approximately three hundred cows." 41 The Vo-Ag
instructor was M. Richardson. Earle Bailey, one of the charter members of
the Snohomish organization was also one of the high school students.
1919 23 Fears of stream pollution from wastewater from the proposed Canyon Milk
Products Company in Arlington were expressed to the developers, the
Bradner Company. "Those whose land the creek crosses are, George
Murphy, Mr. Olsen, Mr. Handley, Carsten Thomsen, Anton Kraetz, Carl
10

Thompson, R. Hoidal, John Danielson and Jacob Hafner."
24 Unable to secure the waivers from the landowners bordering the stream to
be affected by the wastewaters from the proposed Canyon Milk Products
Company, the company received support and approval for a proposed
connection with the city's sewer system.
31 "The dairy industry is the most important agricultural activity in Snohomish
County. At the present time there are in the neighborhood of 16,000 milking
cows in this county…"
1920 20 Snohomish County's dairy
industry ranked 2 nd in the State
and consisted of 4 large
condensing plants, 8 creameries,
and 6 ice cream plants producing
products valued at $2,946,574.
The total dairy herd of 27,544
dairy cattle is valued at
$2,300,000, with each cow
producing over 6,000
#M/cow/year, one of the
highest in the nation.
Extension Agent, W.D. Love in Granite Falls
25 March 4: The Snohomish County Dairymen's Association, which controls
about 80% of the milk production of the county, purchased the condensing
plant being erected in Arlington and Snohomish by the Canyon Milk Products
Company.
26 The milk price dropped precipitously by $0.25/cwt to $2.25/cwt --
"oversupply of finished products is blamed."
1921 26 The Snohomish Condensery reopened January 26 th after being closed
since December 19, 1920 due to poor markets.
55 ”The Snohomish County Holstein
Association organized in January
1921. In June they held a field
tour…and visited the farms of seven
leading breeders in the county.”
They sent a herd to the State Fair in
Yakima and won second place for
county herd.
11

55 In March the Guernsey Breeders Association held a judging, feeding and
testing demonstration day at Valley Gem Farms.
55 ”The first Dairy Calf
Club in Snohomish
County was organized
October the 1 st , 1921 at
East Stanwood. The
ten members in the
club, eight boys and
two girls, purchased
three purebred
Guernsey heifers--one
open and two bred, and
seven purebred
Holstein heifers, none
of them bred all of them
coming from herds with high producing individuals. The finances for this club
for the purchase of these calves were furnished by the First National Bank of
Stanwood through the efforts of cashier A.D. Hall…” After several name
changes, it is now known as the Hope 4’s 4-H Dairy Club and includes youth
from the Stanwood area all the way to Oso east of Arlington.
Mechanical milking machines were just being developed and adopted by the dairy
industry. The first milk parlors were called flat barns with side-by-side stanchions.
1922
42 In December, "County Agent Arnold Z. Smith presided over the merger of
the Stillaquamish and Snohomish associations as the Snohomish County
CTA. Members of this association were Bailey, Dan Barker, Percy Austin,
Martin Triosti, Ed Holcomb, Percy Hillis and a Mr. Burnham."
County Agent Smith, recorded, "…One of the big problems which the
Extension Service is facing is the one brought about by the rapid
development of agricultural lands. The problem of, 'What is the best way to
get this stump land into cultivation' is asked on every hand…" Author's
note: Now over 80 years later, just the opposite is the problem. The
public agenda is to restore lands to their native habitat, requiring
waterway landowners to restore stumps in streams and establish
specific riparian habitats taking land out of cultivation through buffer
strips along both sides of all waterways (ditches, streams, rivers, etc.).
1922
1924
52 Silvana Calf Club, organized October 9 th .
54 Snohomish County Purebred Sire Campaign 1924 was an all-out attempt
at culling all the “scrub” cows and bulls from county herds. Dairymen were
12

organized into Bull Clubs that shared ownership and use of “proven”
purebred bulls. In a Hearld newspaper story February 16, 1924, the first
club, Swan’s Trail Club,
organized the previous
week and bought their
first bull, a Guernsey
purchased from Ebey
Island’s J. Peterson.
The Club consisted of
25 dairymen with 51
cows. A.E. Amundson,
the Club’s president,
Eban & Vivian Major, Stanwood
cared for the bull. Each
member paid $0.50 per
month for the care of
the bull.
Joining in the campaign was Carnation Milk Products Company, owner of
Carnation Stock Farms. Their full page add in the Stanwood newspaper, is
the following: “In 1907, the Iowa Agricultural College bought, in the backwoods
of Arkansas, a poor herd of native, scrub cows, whose average yield
was only 3660 pounds milk per year. First heifers from these scrubs, sired
by a purebred bull, averaged 64% increase in milk yield. Breeding these
heifers to another purebred bull, gave granddaughters of the original scrubs
averaging 8,401 pounds, or 2 1/3 times as much. Figure out the profit!” The
add went on, “Carnation Stock Farms are offering in this campaign, a
number of high class young sires, of the same bloodline which produced
Segis Pietertje Prospect, World’s Greatest Milk Cow, who made 37,381
pounds of milk in one year…”
1925
43 Cream Rose Butter and Cream Rose Ice Cream was a popular brand of
being marketed at that time. It was a product of the Rugg Bros. Creamery of
East Stanwood. Oscar Rugg also owned the Home Meat Market. His
brother, Isaac A. Rugg, owned the Meadowmoor Dairy in Everett.
53 “Milk-For-Health Week” in Everett City and Snohomish County as
proclaimed by Everett Mayor J. H. Smith. Speakers went to schools
throughout the County to speak to, survey, weight and measure each child in
the classes. The process was repeated in April 1926 to determine the
effectiveness of the campaign. Over 25,000 people were reached in the
one-week campaign. Average weight gain was 7.2% with almost 1/4 th
increasing to average-age weight. Songs were sung during the promotion in
the schools – the following is one of four sung: (Tune is: “Row Your Boat”.)
“Drink, drink, drink more milk. Morning, noon, and night. Healthier, wiser,
13

and better you’ll be, And so increase your might.”
1927 33 Cost of production = $2.02/cwt of 3.8% BF milk
1928
42 Snohomish County CTA changed its name to Snohomish County Herd
Improvement Association. 34 Testing fees = $2.50 per cow.
29 Entrance into the retail city milk distribution business was made when the
United Dairymen's Association purchased three Everett dairies and
consolidated them with the Pioneer Alpine Dairy. Annual milk distribution
capabilities were 10 million pounds with the construction of the Consolidated
Products Company at 635 Elliott Avenue West in Seattle.
1929
1932
42 Snohomish County Herd Improvement Association changed its name to
Snohomish County Dairy Herd Improvement Association.
45 “Suggestions for Improving the Dairy” as recorded in the annual DHIA
report, contain some ageless principles that still apply 70 years later:
1. Grow plenty of good legume hay such as alfalfa, clover, or vetch.
2. Provide an abundance of succulent feed every month of the year.
3. Improve pastures by: Rotation grazing, fertilization, and use of better
pasture mixtures.
4. Keep only as much stock as the place will grow roughage for.
5. Keep cost accounts on each cow in the herd. (The Snohomish County
Dairy Herd Improvement Association is organized to do this for you.)
6. Feed each cow according to her production.
7. Weed out the cows that do not pay market prices for feed consumed.
8. Keep a good pure bred sire from high producing ancestry, and use a
proven sire or son of a proven sire whenever possible.
9. Construct a “Safety First” bull pen for all gentle bulls.
10. Raise the best heifers even when milk is high.
Artificial Insemination using fresh bull semen, was begun in the late 1930’s.
1943 35 First DHIA herd of cows to produce an average of over 600 pounds of
butterfat; (W. Delaney's 14 Jerseys=11,974#M with 628.3#BF).
The Holstein cow becomes the major breed, eventually, by the 1990’s, comprised
almost 95% of all dairy breeds. The adaptable and durable Jersey breed has made
a strong comeback with component pricing and cheese-yield pricing giving more
value to protein content than butterfat level.
1949 36 Marshland and French Slough Flood Control Districts, each comprising
about 5,000 acres, were formed to correct some of the their flood problems.
14

On-farm bulk milk tanks were substituted for the 10-gallon cans that held their place
in history for almost 80 years.
Pipeline milking systems were a logical companion to the bulk tank. The glass
receivers were eventually replaced by stainless steel components throughout the
milking system. The first systems were installed above the stanchions.
1951 37 Farms = 7,000; Dairy cows = 25,000; Milk production = 18,750,000
gallons (161,250,000 lbs.); Value of agricultural products: Dairy =
$7,225,500; Poultry = $3,750,000; Horticulture = $3,000,000; Field Crops =
$2,875,000; and Misc. = $975,000.
43 Med-O-Milk built a cannery in East Stanwood just south of the Pict Sweet
plant (now North Star Cold Storage). Dr. Roy B. Graves perfected the
process for long-term storage of canned milk after his retirement from 25
years of working for USDA in Indiana. The $200,000 plant’s gala opening
was attended by a hosts of nationwide personnel. However, the operation
was short lived due to a lack of successful product marketing. Today, it is
home of the Stanwood Professional Center.
Bull semen was mixed with a milk-based glycerin solution, frozen in glass ampules,
and stored and shipped in liquid nitrogen, replacing the fresh semen that was stored
and shipped in large glass vials. The Pennsylvania State University’s John
Almquist, A.I. pioneer, developed the freezing process as well as adding the
antibiotics Penicillin and Streptomycin for control of reproductive diseases.
1955 38 Snohomish County Dairy Wives organized March 17, 1955. County Agent,
A.Z. Smith, helped the 27 women organize their association with Mrs. Ray
Smith, president; Mrs. Edwin Stocker, vice-president; Mrs. Dorothy
Madson, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. Albert Steffen, delegate at large, and
district delegates Mrs. Garvik Olsen, Mrs. Robert Bosse and Mrs. John Klein;
Mrs. Peter Henning, membership chairman; Mrs. Xavier Bueler, program
chairman; and Mrs. John Hawkins, legislative chairman.
The “June Dairy Month” theme was inspired by this group in 1958 and has
been one of the most successful dairy industry promotions in the nation.
Other promotions included, a doorbell ringing contest to award dairy prizes to
households with at least 5 dairy products in their refrigerators; charitable
contributions and service to the Christmas House, rest homes, and hospitals;
Dairy Family of the Year Open House and Luncheon; Dairy Princess Contest
and Public Education Program; a scholarship program; and “The Purple
Cow” booth. It has been a perennial favorite for fairgoers at the Evergreen
Fair since about 1962. A “Purple Cow” is a delectable treat made with
blackberry ice cream, blackberry syrup and “7-Up”. A permanent Purple
Cow building was built in 1987. Mary Lou Lane, a charter member, is still a
15

driving force in the organization.
First Snohomish County Dairy Princess was
Marcia Gamble, later to become Mrs. Marcia
Raymond. After graduation from WSU, she
interned at Harborview Medical Center and
the University of Washington. After working
in hospitals throughout the area, she served
as Snohomish County Home Agent (1970-
75). She and her husband and three children
moved to the Yakima Valley in 1975 where
she continued her work as a dietician in
schools (Toppenish, Mt. Adams and Prosser).
After 40 years of full time work she retired in
the fall of 1997. Marcia continues her active
volunteer role in community development
projects, currently developing a 14,000 ft 2
performing arts center.
Snohomish County Dairy Princess since 1955 are:
1956 - 57 Marcia Gamble
1978 - 79 Leona Sinnema
1957 - 58 Beverly Twing
1979 - 80 Heidi Lanting
1958 - 59 Donna Madsen
1980 - 81 Karen Lanting
1959 - 60 Carol Douglas
1981 - 82 Jeanette Klein
1960 - 61 Sandra Zingmark
1982 - 83 Heidi Small
1961 - 62 Judiann Sesby
1983 - 84 Jill Boyden
1962 - 63 Mary Lou Bueler
1984 - 85 Lea Misich
1963 - 64 Patricia Crabbs
1985 - 86 Teresa Britton
1964 – 65 Linnea Bartelheimer
1986 - 87 Susan Lanting
1964 - 65 Janet Henning
1987 - 88 Marci Wheeler
1965 - 66 Marian Lovgreen
1988 - 89 Lara Groeneveld
1966 - 67 Susanne Hultgren
1989 - 90 Krista Stangeland
1967 - 68 Joanne Hultgren
1990 - 91 Rusti Harvey
1968 - 69 Sandy Nelson
1991 - 92 Lisa Vos
1969 - 70 Debbie Klein
1992 - 93 Karen Rod
1970 - 71 Verna Steiner
1993 - 94 Shelby Smith
1971 - 72 Joanne Lane
1994 - 95 Anne Beuler
1972 - 73 Debbie Lane
1994 - 95 Stacie Stockton
1973 - 74 Karen Jensen
1995 - 96 Annie Bishop
1974 - 75 Carol Staswick
1996 - 97 Amber McLaughlin
1975 - 76 Kimberly Lane
1997 - 98 Julie Lanting
1975 - 76 Lois Klein
1998 - 99 Melissa Rusch
1976 - 77 Vicki Beetchenow
1999 - 00 Becky Vandenbrink
1977 - 78 Ruth Grewe
2000 - 01 Allison Hurst
1978 - 79 Lisa Craven
2001 - 02 Rachel Zylstra
16

2001 - 02 LeAnne Poier
2002 - 03 Josie Hansen
1956 39 Factory and surplus milk for October 1956 yielded a price of $2.90/cwt.
1957 Arnold Z. Smith, County Agent since December 1, 1922, retired in 1957.
Born in 1892 and raised in Colfax, WA, he graduated from Washington State
College in 1914. After teaching agronomy at the New Mexico College of
Agriculture at Las Cruces, two years as a Vo-Ag teacher in Mesa, Arizona,
and three years as a County Agent in Carlsbad, New Mexico and Nogales,
Arizona, he came to Snohomish County. His 36 years of service excellence
were felt in cow and bull testing programs, forage crops and pasture
management, berry growers and vegetable crop development, youth work
included over 1200 with 4-H dairy projects, and building the Marysville
Agricultural Center for County Fair exhibits. After retirement, he continued
active in the urban and rural communities as farm writer for the Everett Daily
Herald. He died May 9, 1961.
1958 Dairy Family of the Year program of hosting the public for tours and lunch on
a dairy. The highly successful 40-year program was terminated in 1998 due
to citizen law suits being filed against dairies in Yakima and Snohomish
Counties. Liability and business risks became too great to host the public on
dairies. Two were selected the first year. Other families to host this
promotional event were:
1958 Bill Williams, Stanwood
1958 John Hansen, Monroe
1960 Bill Kosters, Monroe
1961 Earle & Cliff Bailey, Snohomish
1962 Albert & Don Steffen, Monroe
1963 Howard Rod, Stanwood
1965 Clarence Klein, Arlington
1966 Everett Glover, Lake Stevens
1967 R.E. Bartelheimer, Snohomish
1968 George Grimm, Arlington
1969 Pete Poortinga, Marysville
1970 Case Lanting, Arlington
1971 Sid Staswick, Snohomish
1972 Strotz Brothers, Arlington
1973 Frank Bueler, Snohomish
1974 Cliff Henning, Stanwood
1975 Duncan & Dick Barr, Monroe
1976 Darrell Ricci, Snohomish
1977 Oran Fjarlie, Stanwood
1978 Craven Brothers, Snohomish
1979 Elmer Klein, Arlington
1980 Bob & Hans Ulrich, Snohomish
1981 Grant Jensen, Arlington
1982 Stan Faber, Arlington
1983 Joe Youngren, Stanwood
1985 Jack Struiksma, Stanwood
1987 Wiard Groeneveld, Monroe
1988 Albert & Rick Witcher, Arlington
1989 Elmer & Tim Frohning, Monroe
1992 Andy & Jim Werkhoven, Monroe
1994 Karl & Marjorie Bishop, Stanwood
1995 Steve & Jane Warner, Snohomish
1996 Ted Oien Family, Stanwood
1997 Ben & Carol Krause, Snohomish
Ben & Carol Krause’s Corn Maze, Snohomish
1997 Dairy Family of the Year
National promotion logo, “Got Milk”
17

1959 Al Larson started testing for Snohomish County DHIA. Al was named the
outstanding DHIA Supervisor in Washington three times. He was the first in
Washington to offer the California Mastitis Test. Al, born and raised in
Ballard and Edmunds, served in the Army during WWII, and operated a sand
and gravel business for 10 years in partnership with two brothers. His
untimely death in August 1980 left a huge void in the dairy industry and the
hearts of the multitudes who loved him.
Snohomish County Cow Testing Association was organized August 20 th . By
December 1959, there were 89 herds with 4226 cows. The CTA was in
business providing alternative testing needs for the dairymen until 1997.
The raised-platform milking parlor started replacing the flat barn as the preferred
type. The first had walk-through stalls on either side of the milker’s pit. About 1960,
the Herringbone style was introduced and quickly became the most common type
that continues to this day. (Length varied from a double 4 to double 50’s or more.)
Other types that enjoyed short popularity during the 1970’s-1980’s included the
side-open stall and side-open Turnstyle, with variations of the herringbone called the
Parabone and Trigon. The raised Parallel parlor, developed here in Washington,
has replaced the herringbone in the largest herds. The current wave is the Rotary
platform parlor. Time will tell whether these mechanical giants will endure…there
are none in Snohomish County, yet. In early 2000, the first U.S.-operational Dutch
Robotic Milking System was built in Wisconsin with six other installations in current
operation (they utilize the side-open stall configuration).
1960 In the Fall of 1960, Adolph Oien
of Stanwood, built the world’s
first freestall barn containing 50
free stalls -- 4’X8’ with an 8”
curb. The idea came after
observing a cow nestled safely
and comfortably on some hay
between the hay rack and a
shed door. The savings on
bedding and barn cleaning time
were substantially less; cows
were much cleaner and suffered fewer injuries than in conventional loose
housing. Sons, Ted and Dick, remember the steady flow of visitors from all
over the nation, as well as from England, all coming to see first-hand the
revolutionary invention. By 1963, there were over 100 freestall barns in New
York State, and by Fall of 1963, the British Isles had 560 herds in freestall
barns. It quickly become the standard dairy herd housing type throughout
the world except in hot arid locations.
1961 Marysville Livestock Auction opened October 24 th with 700 cows sold.
18

1965
43 Only 61 dairymen in Snohomish County continue to ship their milk in 10-
gallon cans.
1966 50 th anniversary of DHIA in Snohomish County, the following quote is from
an article printed March 9 th in the Snohomish County Tribune. The article
gave statistics about how the average cow has changed over those 50
years. The change over those first 50 years was +7,279 #M and +239 #BF.
"Barring the unforeseen, Snohomish County's composite cow seems
destined for even greater things. She's an amazing creature and no doubt
will make her 30,000 pounds some day--if the valley doesn't industrialize or
the well go dry." 42
Author's note: The "composite" or average cow has not quite reached the
30,000 pound mark, however, thousands of her herdmates have. The
highest producing cow for the year 2000 was: Snohomish area's Darlington
Farms #3, cow 397 who produced during her 305-day lactation at 2 years 2
months of age 49,750 #M, 1626 #BF, and 1437 #P. Thomas Farms
surpassed the 32,000 pound barrier in 2000 and continues the climb. The
1966 statement still holds true, and may be even more in jeopardy based on
today's urban sprawl and the naïve anti-agriculture public policies.
Dairy herd management took a major step forward during the late 60’s through the
70’s as herds increased in size, started feeding nutrient-balanced rations, grouped
cows by production level, installed clean-in-place milking systems along with
automatic detaching milking machines and backflush cleaning. Significant
increases in milk production were realized with 3X milking and intensified feeding
programs made more effective by computerized ration balancing tools.
1975 Although Northwest
Washington has
experienced flooding
each year, the Flood of
1975 was particularly
devastating, especially
for Snohomish County.
Quoting from the 1975
DHIA Annual Report,
“Three County DHIA
herds, Walt Bartelheimer
(listed as Al Simons),
Dan Bartelheimer, and
Ulrich Brothers, were
destroyed by the record floods in the Snohomish Valley in December. Other
herds that were destroyed included Bill Tester’s and Vernie Berglin’s. In total
19

some 1200 dairy cattle of all ages were drowned. The major cause of the
severe losses was due to the sudden collapse of the French Creek Pumping
Station.” 48 Revised figures reported in the Snohomish County Tribune 49 and
reprinted in the 1976 Annual DHIA Report, lists the losses at, 1500 dairy
cattle, 27 horses at Raflyn Farms which included 20 white Lippizans, 50 30
hogs, and 10,000 chickens. A later story, “Lippizans rowed to safety”,
indicated 30 horses lost with only two Lippizan stallions surviving. No
estimates were given on the number of beef cattle lost in the valley.
“Area Dairymen and the
Agricultural community rallied
behind dairymen who suffered the
complete loss of their herds. The
Snohomish County and
Washington State Dairymen’s
Federation coordinated a
statewide effort to obtain donations
to get the affected dairymen back
in business.”
“Within 5 months after the flood the flood relief coordinating committee had
distributed over 250 head of dairy
cattle (mostly cows and bred heifers),
240 tons of hay, and about $43,000 in
cash to the flood victims. Donations
came from many organizations and
individuals from all corners of the
state. Many hay growers in the
Columbia Basin area donated hay. In
addition, about 20…cattle were
Barr children hauling hay
donated by dairymen in Oregon and
California.” 48
1979 The annual WSU Dairy Day expanded to become the 2-day Northwest Dairy
Shortcourse, and featured topics on nutrition, feeds, udder health, milk
marketing, facility design, and expansion. The Shortcourse branched out to
include Oregon for a few years until 1994, then, in 2001, it partnered with
Oregon and Idaho to become the Tri-State Northwest Dairy Shortcourse.
Topics in 2002 included presentations on environmental mastitis, fresh cow
management, crossbreeding, freestall management, odor regulations and
management plans, methane digesters, photo-period management, and use
of futures and hedging to minimize financial risk.
1980 Northwest Dairy and Farm Equipment Show held at the Evergreen Fair
Grounds in Monroe has grown to be the largest dairy and farm equipment
20

show in the northwest U.S. and southern Canada. The name was changed
in 2001 to Northwest Farm and Equipment Show to reflect the declining dairy
industry and the expanding sophistication of the farming community.
1983
51 Snohomish County ranked first nationally starting with February’s records
for milk production/cow for major counties with over 10,000 cows on official
DHIA test. Snohomish County’s 17,913 #M and 648 #BF excelled
California’s Fresno County by almost 400 #M and 3 #BF. Washington also
lead the nation in #M/cow for all cows starting with the month of February.
The Snohomish County Dairy Shrine was established to promote and
preserve the heritage of the County’s dairy industry. Their stated purpose,
“To record and display significant events concerning the dairy industry and to
honor individuals who have made a major contribution to the dairy industry.”
Each year, one or more deceased pioneer individuals and a living individual
are inducted into the Dairy Shrine Hall of Fame as Pioneers or Honored
Guests.
Snohomish County Dairy Shrine Hall of Fame Pioneers & Honored Guests 58
1984 Pioneers
Joseph Carlton Knott
William Grimm
Herman Steffen
1984 Honored Guest
Clifford Earle Bailey
1985 Pioneer
Adolph Oien
1985 Honored Guest
Dr. Leo K. Bustad
1986 Pioneers
Charles H. Grewe
John E. Wrage
Monroe HS 1914; Washington State College dairy
herdsman, educator/Extension Director, 1926-1958.
Dairyman; Founder/President/Manager of Snohomish
County Dairy Association, 1918-1946.
First registered Holstein breeder; Dairyman’s Assn.
director; Governor’s Distinguished Service Award.
National FFA winner/leader; Local, state, & national
dairy leader; community and state legislative leader.
Inventor of the original “free stall” in 1960; international
visitors quickly adopted his design.
Born in Stanwood; graduate WSU/UW; distinguished
educator, author, and Dean of WSU’s Vet School.
Co-founders of Valley Gem Guernsey Herd; Innovative
dairy businessmen/industry leaders 1900’s – 1960’s.
21

1986 Honored Guest
Donald A. Steffen
Lifelong Monroe Holstein breeder; industry and grange
leader; outstanding youth development supporters.
1987 Pioneer
William Fredrick Penney Director/President/Manager of Snohomish County
Dairyman’s Assn. and Northwest Dairymen’s Assn.
1987 Honored Guests
Harold E. Warsinske Northwest Vet Clinic co-founder; Embryo Transfer
pioneer/educator; President—Bova International, Inc.
John Bernard Millard Snohomish raised WSU Herdsman and Judging Team Coach;
respected community leader and volunteer.
1988 Pioneer
Earl B. Hope
1988 Honored Guest
Ellen Dodge
1989 Pioneer
Earle A. Bailey
County Agent; organizer of 4-H clubs, including Bicycle
Tree 4-H Dairy Club; developed judging programs
Outstanding promoter of agriculture and leader of Ag
Advisory and Fair Boards, Dairy Women, Dairy Shrine.
Born in Snohomish, 1898; Industry leader and land
steward advocate--“Mr. ASCS in Snohomish County”
1989 Honored Guest
Richard W. Mathews Innovative County Agent 1965-1990; highest producing county
in the nation--1983; started 4-H Quiz Bowl, etc.
1990 Pioneer
Albert Herman Steffen
1990 Honored Guest
George Stocker
1991Pioneer
Arnold Z. Smith
Leader of Holstein associations, DHIA, Snohomish
County Dairyman’s Assn., Grange, etc.
Snohomish born/raised; dairyman and conservationist;
industry, church and community leader
County Agent; organized Bull Clubs; promoted herd
testing; “Mr. Agriculture” also managed ASCS office
1991 Honored Guests
Peter J. Van Soest Snohomish raised; distinguished animal nutrition
researcher, author, educator at Cornell University.
22

Elmer Klein
1992 Pioneer
Carl Hjort
1992 Honored Guest
John Westergreen
1993 Pioneer
Edward W. Soper
1993 Honored Guest
Cliff H. Henning
1994 Pioneer
Charles Everett Taylor
Arlington born/raised; Northwest Dairymen’s Assn.,
DHIA, and Federal Land Bank Boards’ leader.
Veterinarian and co-founder of Northwest Veterinary
Clinic; skilled diagnostician, surgeon, inventor, teacher
County Agent and Northwest Dairymen’s Assn. leader;
educator, organizer, coach, and community builder.
Dairy inspector 1926-1957 (well respected); School
Board member; Farm Bureau president; Church leader
Stanwood born/raised; Jersey breeder/leader/judge;
helped organize NDA; community and church leader.
Dairyman; County Board of School Districts member for
28 years; co-founder of Evergreen State Fair - 1946
1994 Honored Guest
Ellene Randolph Kearney 4-H leader of over 35 years; moving force behind most
Dairy Women and 4-H activities; DHIA Supervisor, etc.
1995 Pioneer
Ruth Smith
1995 Honored Guest
Everett Glover
1996 Pioneer
Duncan Barr
1996 Honored Guest
Sid Staswick
1997 Pioneer
Albert Brekkus
First Snohomish County Dairy Wives organization
president; programs like Dairy Princess & scholarships
Monroe born/raised; over 150 years of service on
multiple dairy, agriculture, and community boards.
Dairy and community leader 1931-1975; respected
dairyman and neighbor
Silvana born/raised; DHIA, Farmers Home Admin. and
community leader; Ag Advisory Board member.
Founder of Silvana Boys Club (Silvana Lads and
Lassies), 1 st Silvana Fair-1947; dairy/community leader
23

1997 Honored Guest
Mary Lou Lane
1998 Pioneer
Clarice Cedergreen
1998 Honored Guest
Peter Henning
Dairy Women’s founding member; developed the
“Purple Cow”, state princess program, & Dairy Shrine
Dairy and crop farmer; built Evergreen frozen food
processing plant in Monroe; community/church leader.
Stanwood born/raised; Jersey breeder/leader; industry
leader; Nuclear physicist; real estate entrepreneur.
1999 Pioneer
Hilmer Sather
Julius Sather
Breeders of first excellent cow—dam of Tenneson’s
world record “Hattie”; community advocates.
1999 Honored Guest
Dick Barr
Monroe born/raised; Dairy Shrine, NW Dairy & Farm
Equipment Show, DHIA, and community leader.
2000 Pioneer
Charles Elmer Entsminger Early Guernsey breeder in Oso; international, national,
& local herds trace their outstanding stock back to his.
2000 Honored Guest
E. Eugene Elefson Northwest Vet Clinic co-founder; Embryo Transfer
pioneer/educator; International ET Society co-founder.
2001 Pioneer
Floyd McKennon
Farmer/Innovator; at 70 he started dairy—“Milk Barns”
used to market his milk; bagged dry manure in 1960’s.
2001 Honored Guest
Frank J. Bueler Snohomish born/raised; dairy/vegetable producer;
dairy, FMA, PCA, and conservation district leader.
2002 Pioneer
Kathy Shoultes Estep
2002 Honored Guest
Liz Wood Anderson
Chehalis born/raised; WA State Fairs Commissioner;
WSU Home Economist; Clark Co/WSU Mother of Year
Stanwood born/raised; WSU Dairy Sci. grad; Onalaska
dairy with husband Bruce; National Dairy Products Brd.
24

1985 Dairy Termination Program had a significant impact on Snohomish County’s
average #M/cow production level. There were 33 herds that went out on the
“Buy-Out”. After the required 5-years out of the business, only 3 returned to
operation, however, Bailey Dairy is the only one that remains.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY DAIRY INDUSTRY
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
YEAR
NUMBER OF DAIRIES
COWS/FARM
Embryo Transfer technology became more successful and feasible for more
rapid genetic improvement of the dairy cattle within herds and across the
industry. Nutritional research developed “Bypass” feeds that were more
effectively digested as they bypassed the ruminant stomach compartments
and passed into the intestines. Thus, micro nutrients such as deficient amino
acids, became crucial in balancing rations for the genetically superior
animals being produced.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY DAIRY STATISTICS 1917-2000
30000
600
Annual #Milk per Cow
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
500
400
300
200
100
Cows per Herd
0
1917 1920 1925 1930 1935 1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
0
#M/cow
Cow s/herd
25

1990 The Snohomish County dairy industry continues it's national prominence with
two herds eclipsing the 1000-pound plateau for butterfat--Dennis and Marvin
Thomas' 603-cow Thomas Farms and Fred Schoenbachler's 103-cow
Sildahl Farms. They were the highest ranking 3X and 2X dairies in
Washington, with Thomas Farms the highest producing herd in the whole
nation. Excellent daily management and animal care has been the
foundation for their extraordinary success, being ranked first in the county
every year but one since 1985. Yet, this is typical of the type of dairy families
nestled in the lush river valleys of Western Washington.
1994 “Posilac 1 Step”, the Monsanto-bioengineered or recombinant form of the
naturally-occurring hormone, bovine somatotropin, was approved by FDA for
use in lactating dairy cows starting November 1994. The feed-partitioning
agent was intramuscularly-injected every two weeks starting the sixth week
of lactation. Milk production increased 10-25% in most all cows and
prolonged higher production levels for extended lactations in problem
breeders. The dairy industry was vehemently split initially whether to allow
dairymen to use the rBST, introduced at $6/dose, because of the negative
public response. The outcry was short-lived as milk quality was not
adversely affected by the product. Dairymen first learned that cow
management and feed rations had to be first rate in order to use it. This is
yet another “tool” for dairymen to use for more efficient production. However,
less than two-thirds of dairies incorporate its use in their business.
1995 The November 1995 flood in the Snohomish valley again stressed that
when the water starts overtopping the dikes immediate action is required.
Unfortunately, again it was a major financial drain suffered by those in the
floods' paths—those around and down stream from the French Creek
Pumping Station which failed in 1975 [Fred & Christine Zylstra on Shorts
School Road), Steve & Jane Warner (Bill Tester), Dr. Bob and Judy
Darlington (Walt Bartelheimer and Ulrich Brothers), Smith Brothers’
Diamond M Farms, and John Misich on the Lowell River Road].
Fortunately, again it was reconfirmed that there is a tremendous sense of
community by many generous and tireless volunteers.
Those who did advance planning prioritized their efforts. Family and
households were first, then replacement animals and lower producing cows.
Highest producing cows were to go last in hopes of avoiding having to move
them. Next to leave was portable feed, equipment, and detachable motors.
Calf hutches were chained together and anchored. Shop tools were stored
in lofts or removed. There were limited numbers of large cattle transports,
therefore, small livestock hauling trailers and make-shift loading facilities
were put into action. Although some animals did not survive the stress and
moving, there wasn’t the devastation that occurred in the 1975 flood. Most
homes in the center of the valley have now added another 15’ to their
26

foundations to raise them above the major flood stage.
1998 After almost 20 years of relatively flat mailbox milk prices, dairymen enjoyed
several months of uncharacteristically high prices—reaching the highest level
in December at $17.34/cwt. However, those prices pummelted by over $6 in
January, dropping the price to those more familiar $11-averages. Exactly
one year later, the price was the lowest in over 25 years at $9.63! Cost of
production averages over $11/cwt, therefore, this was a huge hit, again, all
too familiar to the dairy industry.
Chinook Salmon and the Bull Trout were listed as Endangered Species,
setting off major confrontations initially targeted against agriculture. Only
courageous efforts by many farmers, has the issue appropriately expanded
to include more attention to public, business, and political impacts.
Legislation was enacted, requiring all dairies to be inspected for violations of
the 1972 Clean Water Act. Each dairy was to have a Dairy Nutrient
Management Plan in place by
July 1, 2002 with certification of
compliance by December 31,
2003. Most dairies, requiring
substantially increased
facilities for handling manure
nutrients, could not justify the
expense given the forecast for
continually low milk prices well
into the future, and so they
have chosen to go out
of business. The
largest dairy with over
1300 cows, Diamond
M Farms on the
outskirts of Monroe on
Highway 2, built a new
dairy in Royal City in
Central Washington
and moved both their
Snohomish County
and Kent Valley dairy
herds in September
2001. In the past nine
months, herds have been selling their cows for $1700-2000 each to the huge
dairies being built in Idaho, California, and eastern Oregon. Thus, the real
“Endangered Species” has become the “traditional” family dairy farm.
27

The following table, photo and aerial photos demonstrate the drastic changes in the
last 50 years. Although dairy farming still ranks first in agricultural production in
Snohomish County, it and the families associated with the dairy industry, is the real
endangered specie. Given the worldwide terrorist activities, the greatest impact of
loosing a major food producing industry may be the loss of local food security.
VALUE OF DAIRY INDUSTRY TO SNOHOMISH
COUNTY
Year = 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Number of dairies 2050 650 242 160 111 54
Dairy-owner families 2100 700 275 260 175 86
Milk sales $2,900,000 $9,000,000 $13,189,458 $40,496,027 $45,600,000 $44,146,908
Production per cow (lbs) 6,500 8,600 10,769 11,643 16,550 18,123
Production per farm (cwt) 715 2,876 9,650 12,673 34,755 62,887
Retail Price of Milk ($/gallon) 0.79 0.99 1.19 1.89 2.29 3.69
Producer Receipts ($/gallon) 0.36 0.38 0.47 1.06 1.13 1.02
Farmer's share (% of Retail) 45% 38% 39% 56% 49% 28%
Producer Gross ($/cwt milk) $ 4.14 $ 4.37 $ 5.41 $ 12.29 $ 13.12 $ 11.70
County population 111,580 172,199 265,236 337,720 465,628 606,024
Dairy cows 21,971 22,000 18,876 22,400 23,310 18,738
Cows/farm 11 34 78 140 210 347
Thus, more than half the dairies have closed in the last decade—the trend is
expected to continue given the regulatory maze surrounding the listing of the
Chinook Salmon and the Bull Trout as Endangered Species. Buffer widths, odor
control regulations, livestock-exempt water rights, animal rights inspectors,
and milk marketing innovations will determine survival of the dairies,
especially in the Puget Sound.
Drastic topographical
changes have occurred
and continue at an
alarming rate. The
following 1948 and 1998
aerial photos show just
how significant has been
the changes. Just think
of the farm families that
have been displaced by
the housing and
business
developments…where
are they now
28

The aerial photographs, courtesy of Ryan Bartelheimer at the Snohomish County
Conservation District, compares Monroe in 1948 and 1998.
Similar photographs of Marysville in 1948 and 1998, gives a clear picture of public
priorities.
29

OUR HERITAGE
…remembering our ancestors and their accomplishments.
Passionate memories by those who knew -- Authors' perspective
Dairy families with pioneer roots in Snohomish County were invited to share their
perspectives they remember from the lips of those who experienced or knew those
who made history. Interspersed throughout the following historical highlights are a
few of the precious memories of those who contributed to this effort. The volumes
of historical data recorded cannot provide a complete summary in this document,
however, included is a glimpse of key people, places, and events that shaped the
industry today and the forces impacting change within the industry for tomorrow.
The Stillaguamish Region
In the January 11, 2001 “Old
Timers” meeting at Roy and
Darlene Strotz’ home (21713 27 th
Ave., near Island Crossing
southwest of Arlington), about a
dozen individuals shared the
details of their pioneer roots.
Before the meeting started as
everyone was arriving, George and
Violet Grimm observed Dan and
Ellen Grewe enter the room.
George said to Dan, “Well, who are you” Dan said, “I’m Dan Grewe.” George
responded, “Really!” (The Grimm’s live on Pioneer Highway about 4 miles west of
the Grewe’s home in Arlington.) It was a happy reunion for these retired dairymen
who haven’t seen each other for many years.
Gerald (Jerry) Brekhus of Silvana shared that his Great-grandfather, Sievert,
came up the Pilchuck Creek by canoe in 1874 and farmed on Town Tavern
Road in Silvana. Jerry's father, Albert, farmed from 1937 until his death in
1965 and the Jerry farmed until 1987. He recalled that Peter Henning had
the biggest show herd of Jerseys, transporting them back and forth by train
box car. Once while loading them at Silvana, a train hit the truck hauling the
cows, killing the herdsman and all of the cows, thus ending the showstring
era. Nels Whalen, Rockin' J, located at the S-curve, had the first excellent
cow in Snohomish County. Herman Lorenzen, who had about 30 cows,
planted Alta Fescue grass "and it's still around -- can't get rid of it!"
Dan Grewe recalled that his father, Charles, was born June 20, 1885 in Chicago,
graduated in 1917 from the University of Illinois with a BS in Agriculture,
farmed for a short time in Michigan, served in the Army during WWI. After
the war, he moved to Arlington and was employed as a cow tester. He
30

married Amy Ward in 1920 and had four children.
John Wrage, had been dairying on his own since 1909 -- a 180-acre dairy.
John fenced all 180 acres -- it took 5,000 fence posts (Just think of digging all
those holes!). His herd started testing in 1916, the first year of cow testing in
Snohomish County. In 1916, he bought some foundation stock from the
carload of Registered Guernseys shipped in from Wisconsin for the dairymen
in this region. In 1919, he purchased 2 purebred Guernseys from Chicona
Farms in Chinook, Washington (Jefferson County).
Charles and Amy Grewe formed a partnership with John and Sena Wrage in
1920, and incorporated their dairy as Valley Gem Farms. In their spare time,
Charles and John tested cows in addition to picking up milk from other
dairies…"they were always into something." As a boy, Dan recalls they had
2,500 laying chickens in 1922, however, when Highway 9 came through
town that wiped out the chickens. They also had a Christmas tree farm, and
Dan cut Christmas trees and sold them for $0.02/tree in 1937. The Valley
Gem Guernseys were famous for quality and production, being exhibited
extensively at fairs in the 20’s and 30’s plus setting many production records.
Charles died in 1965 following John’s death in 1961.
Dan farmed from 1938 until 1980. He recalls getting only $0.08/quart in
those early years and was still bottling their own milk after WWII. He gave
the tree farm with 70 years of growth to his son, Roy. Roy sold all the
timber, purchased a farm in Wisconsin, and moved the herd in 1994 – he is
now milking 180 cows there.
Ellen Hessen Grewe is the daughter of Danish entrepreneur Werner Eugene
Hessen. He and partner, Elmer Skotdahl, established West Coast Dairy,
(SE corner of Pacific Avenue and Cedar Street…now, Everett Public Works).
In the 1930’s, he took out a
mortgage to keep the dairy
going. He had mortgage
insurance so that when he died
his family was able to keep the
house and the farm. Her father
died when she was only 2
years of age. (At the meeting
held in Roy and Darlene Strotz
home on 1/11/01, as Ellen told
her story, Everett Glover said
he had met her father, then proceeded in telling her of his special memories
of him -- this evoked a tearful happy feeling for Ellen.) She married Dan in
1959. She commented that, "the only way to keep a dairy afloat today is to
be out of debt."
31

Franklyn Hanson shared that his ancestors came from Norway and settled in North
Dakota. Being raised in North Dakota, naturally "I walked 1 and 3/4 miles to
a one-room school and it was up hill both ways!" His mother raised chickens
and sold them in town for cash -- the eggs went to the store for groceries.
From the dairy animals, she also sold the cream for cash. A happy memory
was seeing the Tom Mix western movies for 10 cents. He remembers the
Dust Bowl of 1934. In 1935 the family moved to Arlington where they rented
a place from Mrs. Oliver for 10 weeks. They then rented a farm in Silvana for
a year where they had 6 cows. He went to school through 8 th grade in
Silvana and high school in Stanwood. He hauled milk for the Boe Brothers,
now Kwant Dairy, for 5 years. In 1945 there were 340 shippers in the valley.
(In 2002, there are 13 dairies from Stanwood to Silvana.) He also worked
for 8 years filling silos. Typical for all dairies, he milked his cows by hand and
left the filled milk cans next to the road in a water trough used to keep the
milk cool. The last payment on the farm was made in June 2000. He and
Bernice had 3 sons (no grandchildren) and their son, Trygve, continues to
milk about 35 cows. Environmental issues raise questions for him about the
future of dairy farming next to the river.
Bernice Strever Hanson was born on Camano Island. Her grandfather, Karl
Rude, had a small dairy by what is now a lumberyard. Her brother built an
airport at the end of the road near where all her relatives lived. As a
teenager, she went out with Dan Grewe's brother, Fred. She said, "He was
very nice," but her mother had other ideas and told her to meet a blond
Norwegian Lutheran farmer…that turned out to be Franklyn. Their minister is
Don Brekhus, Jerry's brother. She stated that, "dairy life is a good life and
a good living." She never learned to milk because "Franklyn laughed at me
because I couldn't strip a cow."
Everett Glover was born in 1914 on what is now Walt DeJong's farm. Their farm
was surrounded by Molar's to the north, Roade's to the south, and Cherry
Valley Farm, owned by Nelson's, on the King County side. His father was
born in Marblemount and
his mother was born in
Sweden. In 1916 they
had 26 acres across from
Pilchuck High School, then
in 1917 they moved to
Guy Homestead in
Marysville by Schultz
School (51 st and 136 th ).
He recalls that the names
of the first 4-H Clubs were,
Cedarhome's Club,
32

Stanwood Calf Club, and Silvana Lads & Lassies -- Jerry Brekhus was a
member starting in 1945. In 1936, the FFA Chapter bought seed potatoes to
raise money for the Dairy Judging Team. His folks tested in 1919 and 1920
mentioning that Blaine Nelson and Harold Lockhart were also on test. He
mentioned that Grewe's Valley Gem Farm was one of the first farms on
test. He reminisced about the dairies in the area, mentioning Mungers
Farm, Swartzmiller, Grady Noland, George Wendell, Bill Lund, Ed
Meyer, who sold to Cooper's (Mr. Cooper recently passed away), and Bob
Syksma (who lives next to the grange and also operates the parlor during
the fair). They bought the farm in Lake Stevens (Highway 92 and 61 st --
Glover's Road) and on January 16, 1939 they milked their first cows on that
farm. When he put in the biggest milk tank in the area, his father said, "he
paid twice as much for that tank as I did for everything on my farm including
furniture, etc. and I just barely made a living -- that's all he is going to do with
that tank is just make a living." (Charles Espe had the first bulk tank.)
Everett remembers that there were 2,000 dairymen in the County in 1948,
with 1,438 of them shipping to Darigold. They farmed for 54 years. He
served on many organizations' board of directors, including the State FFA
Board for 18 years. In 1950 at age 36, he married Carolyn. They moved to
Camano Island in 1993.
Carolyn Gibson Glover was born in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Her father was a
car dealer while her grandfather had a small farm -- she helped on that farm.
While at Oregon State University, she met Everett. After getting married,
she milked for many years -- doing much on the farm because "Everett was
always going to some board meeting." She liked having a family and they
raised 6 children, stating, "It's a good life to raise a family."
Roy Strotz was born upstairs in the Silvana house they are now living in -- also
raising his family in the home. His father came up the river by boat to
homestead. For every acre he cleared he was allotted an additional acre.
They also built a little house by the river (a person named Klein rented it) -- it
was later moved to its present location. There was a time when, along with a
brother and sister, he
moved to eastern
Washington where they
had a wheat farm. After
returning, he married
Darlene and purchased
their herd of Guernseys
from the Grewe's -- the milk
was marketed through
Carnation. They have the
original CTA records. They
sold their dairy animals in
33

the 1986 Dairy “Buy-Out” Program. They still live on the original property
running their own on-site feed and farm store.
Darlene Underwood Strotz was born in Everett and raised in the area called Sisco
Heights. Her family raised chickens. Darlene met Roy while they were in
high school. They enjoyed showing at the fair and still volunteer a
considerable amount of time planning, supervising, and assisting at various
fairs. A successful life in the dairy industry and now in a retail agricultural
business has been a blessing to the community. Their community service is
legendary as they continue their efforts to sustain and strengthen it. They
celebrated their 40 th wedding anniversary in December 2000.
George Grimm's path into the dairy industry was paved by his mother's father,
Thomas Jensen, who immigrated from Germany in 1869. 44 ”He spent
several years doing carpentry work in Louisiana and Iowa before going to
San Francisco.” He also worked in a sugar beet factory in Greely, Colorado.
In 1878, he came up the Stillaquamish River by canoe, paddled by the
Indians he hired for that purpose. Thomas filed a 160-acre homestead claim
in Silvana. Spring and summers were spent working his claim, and during
the winters he returned to San Francisco to earn money by doing carpentry
work. There he met and married Johanna. They had two daughters, Dora
and Martha. The Jensen Family and a neighbor each donated ¼ acre of
land for a school and helped build it. 44 A few years later a second school was
built, and their daughters became the first eighth grade graduates of the
Island School in 1904. Community-spirited Jensen was active in the
cooperative movement to solve the agricultural marketing problems, “serving
as president of the board of both the Silvana and Arlington cooperative
stores. He helped found the Arlington Creamery Association and served as
president during the early 1900’s.” 44
William Grimm, nicknamed "WG", was born in Kirchen, Germany, raised in
Utica, New York and became a geologist by trade. In 1904, on his way to
Alaska in the search of gold, he stopped in Seattle. He answered an
advertisement from an employment office for a farmhand. He hiked from
Seattle up to the Jensen homestead in Silvana. 44 Within two years he leased
the north 80 acres from Thomas.
And in 1907, WG married Dora
and moved into the original Jensen
small frame house. He often
worked on Sundays at a hog fuel
plant for extra money. In 1910, he
purchased “the 80 acres he had
been leasing and built a large dairy
barn, horse barn, pig shed,
chicken house and other outbuildings.
His dairy barn was
34

equipped with one of the first milking machines in the county.”
“Inspired by his father-in-law’s efforts, Grimm helped found the Snohomish
County Dairymen’s Association and was elected to be its first president.”
(Eventually it became known as Darigold, and now the cooperative is
named Northwest Dairy Association as it markets milk products as
WestFarm Foods with Darigold as a brand name.*) He was asked to serve
as it’s manager and did so from
1920 to 1946 44 During war
times, farmers were encouraged
to increase their herds to
produce more milk. However,
after the war and due to the
surplus milk, they couldn't sell
their milk. George remembers
that "WG" organized the dairies
and started a creamery -- Peas
and Turner Creamery was in
Arlington and Town Tavern Creamery was in Silvana. Also, he served as
the general manager of Pioneer United Dairymen's Association located at
26 th and Broadway in Everett (now a hobby shop).
*The following description is from the Northwest Dairy Association website:
”WestFarm Foods produces a full line of dairy-based and other products
for the consumer, commodity and specialty markets. With plants located in
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California, the company serves Western,
national, and international markets, depending on product type.
WestFarm Foods is one of Washington's largest privately held companies.
With annual dairy and related products sales exceeding $1.1 billion,
WestFarm Foods is prominent amongst the largest dairy products
companies in the nation.“
George was born in Andrew Strotz's house. As a youth, he was interested
in becoming a pilot. He
accomplished that goal by
obtaining his license on
November 7, 1941. He worked at
Boeing and was in the Naval Air
Corp for 6 years. He met his first
wife, Arlene, on a blind date.
They decided to go back to the
farm and farmed for 33 years until
1981 when they turned the farm
over to their son, Bob, who
farmed until 1999. Five years after Arlene died, George met Violet -- yes,
35

you guessed it, on a blind date during a Model T Club Tour in 1992. They
were married soon afterward and now living happily ever after.
Violet Thon Grimm was born on a dairy farm in Spokane. She often went out on
deliveries during the "Great Depression" era. It was in 1932 that she went
with her mother and 2 siblings, jumping onto a freight train to get to Seattle to
live with her father…"those were hard times." She happily married George in
1993.
The Snohomish Region
Tim and Sandi Frohning were destined to bring the rich heritages of two pioneer
families into one. Sandy describes the international flavor of the area as,
“You have the Swiss and the Dutch and then you have the Pioneers.” (Truly,
Snohomish County and the dairy industry has been greatly blessed by the
rich cultural heritage of the native populations and so many other
nationalities who found Northwest Washington a great place to raise a family,
earn a living, and leave a legacy of integrity, thrift, and ingenuity.)
Tim is the great grandson of Robert Jesse Ennis and Louisa Smallman
who homesteaded a 160-acre site that was granted by President Ulysses S.
Grant in 1875. One of their daughters, Adelia Smallman married Henry
Frohning. Henry died in 1932 and his son, Elmer, took over the farm in
1939. Son, Tim, joined the dairy in 1979 and fell victim to the charms of the
neighbor’s daughter, Sandi Snow, marrying her in 1983. Sandy tells how it
all developed from the Frohning’s farming 10 acres of the Snow’s land and
that she had been taking lemonade out to Tim in the field since she was 12
years of age. “Tim complained about mole hills in the field, and then about
the [dogs digging] spots in the fields.
When the dogs were gone, he went back
to complaining about the mole hills.”
(Believe it or not, the one time a wonderful
romantic “mountain” was made out of a
mole hill!)
Sandi, a 5 th generation ancestor of
pioneer Arial Welcome and Margaret
Buffington Foye, who cleared and
homesteaded a 160-acre site that was
granted April 25, 1877 by President
Rutherford B. Hayes. One of their sons,
Albert, married Margaret Burns. They
had 5 daughters. Sandy’s grandmother,
Margaret Foye, married Ray Smith and
they moved to Seattle area where she was
a teacher. In 1934, they moved back to
36

the farm and had a dairy for 3 years…”Grandfather was a sportsman, a
hunter, and a ‘dirt’ farmer, preferring to work the soil rather than the cows.”
They started the first strawberry farm in the Tualco Valley in 1937. Sandy’s
mother, Joan Margaret Smith Snow, became the 6 th generation with a
“Margaret” in the family…Tim and Sandy’s boys (Matt, Danny, Timmy Lee,
and Doug) break the string. Another of Arial’s sons, James, married Bessie
Peterson and had 10 children, two of which still live on James’ original
homestead—Norma Foye Wells and Glen Foye; nephew Ken also lives
on the land. Glen sold his dairy in 1977 and now raises beef cattle.
Don and Elma Steffen continue the “oldest continually operating registered
Holstein herd in the state.” 56 Don’s grandfather, Herman, was born in
Germany in 1870 and after many stops along the way, arrived in Monroe on
January 27, 1900 with
his wife, Lena Sick,
and their two children.
The Monroe Monitor
recorded, “Herman
Steffen has bought
Fred Walker’s ranch
of seventy-five acres,
including stock,
machinery, and
everything except
household goods.
The price paid was
$1,700.” 56 Clearing
land was a continuous
necessity. Their
income came mostly from selling butter, potatoes, and an occasional steer.
“Also, every year there were several weeks’ work with a team hauling gravel
on the roads. The pay was
four dollars a day for ten
hours of work by team and
driver, who, incidentally,
had to help shovel gravel
onto the wagon. The
shovellers were paid two
dollars for ten hours.”
57
What a thought-provoking
contrast to today’s jobs,
wages, and an individual’s
contributions to society!
37

As a result of the Carnation Milk Company building a condensery in
Monroe in 1907, Herman decided he needed to buy some higher
producing cows. He found some on the William Bishop dairy in
Chimacum, Washington, south of Port Townsend. It took two days in
1908 to travel there where he bought “three head; a bull, Jefferson King
DeKol, two heifers, Belle Susie DeKol Inka and Jewel of Chimacum.” He
paid $300 for them. 57 “He ferried them across [the] Puget Sound and
hiked with them from Mukilteo to the farm.” 56 Anyone want to retrace his
steps today! Now, that would make headlines with photo on the internet!
Don’s father, Albert, graduated from Monroe High School in 1912,
married in 1918, built the house in 1922 that Don was born in and lives in
today. Albert bought the dairy in 1942 and continued through 1963 at
which time, Don and Elma purchased the dairy. In 1989, they sold 50
head to a dairy in British Columbia and gave the other 9 to two daughters
and their husbands who are in the dairy business. They continue to raise
heifers and remain very active in registered Holstein activities, Snohomish
County Dairy Shrine, and volunteering at fairs.
Special memories shared by Don were those of working for Duncan Barr,
of Duncan and Harold Barr while on their way to school hauling milk to the
milk stand next to Steffen’s swimming hole, and singing “You are My
Sunshine” with Elmer Frohning and a few others at the Grange Hall
during an FFA program, stating, “It wasn’t too good, but we were loud!”
Don recalls that during war years machinery was rationed. So, the
Steffen’s put in for a hay loader and a side delivery rake and so did the
Ohlsen’s. “We got the rake, and they got the loader,” so we worked
together for a long time…farmers in the area borrowed from one another
returning vehicles with gas. No money ever changed hands and I never
heard a cross word from anyone.” Also, “families didn’t go very far in
those days…I was 12 before going into Sultan for the first time!”
Dick and Rita Barr operated
their dairy until 1997 on
the farm purchased by
his grandfather, George,
in 1918. His father,
Duncan, graduated from
Monroe High School in
1928 and his mother
came from southern
Oregon by covered
wagon to Whidbey
Island. Duncan milked
cows for Pete Van Soest
and Gus Unselman in
38

the Snohomish area before moving back to the family farm in 1933 when
Dick was 6 months old. Dick and his three brothers each attained the
State Farmer Degree in FFA, but Dick is the only one to stay on the farm.
He and Rita married in 1955, raised seven children, and continue to live
on Ben Howard Road. Dick recalls that the road got its name from a
family who lived there and operated a berry farm during the 20’s and
30’s…there was also a small school on the farm named the Ben Howard.
Also, there was no electricity over the hill to their farm until 1946 and the
telephone lines did not extend there until 1951. The Barr farm of 140
acres is now down to 35-40 acres and being sold to a neighbor…Dick
continues to work the farm for the neighbor, making hay and “enjoying
running his new equipment.”
Wiard and Jean Smith Groeneveld operate a dairy on Fern Bluff Road near
Sultan and across the Skykomish River from the Barr and Steffen farms.
Wiard’s great grandfather, Meno, came from Germany in 1869 and settled in
the German settlements west of Waterloo in Grundy County, Iowa. When
his grandfather was 8, Meno died from heat exhaustion, so Wiard’s
grandfather was sent back to Germany to be raised by an uncle. He and his
siblings went to school in both Germany and America, switching every few
years between his uncle’s home in Germany and his mother’s home in
Iowa…he crossed the ocean 16 times. He married in Germany and came to
America for the final time in 1930. During the Great Depression, all seven
farms in Iowa were lost. They decided to move west onto tide lands he had
purchased in Stanwood in 1911. Wiard’s parents, Henry and Helen, bought
2 farms in Sultan and moved there in 1938. Wiard and Jean were married in
1962, farmed with Henry for 11 years before purchasing the farm. They
have raised three children, and their son, Chris is purchased the farm in
January 2001. In September 2001, Chris married Anna Hereth, daughter
of Snohomish dairy farmers Mark and Lynne Hereth, bringing two fabulous
families together to continue the County’s traditional dairy family heritage.
Jean Smith’s roots are from the John and Amelia Cedergreen Family…her
grandmother was the oldest of their 14 children. Their 160-acre dairy and
crop farm was located on the Old Snohomish-Monroe Highway and is
currently being considered for listing on the County’s Historic Register.
Her father had an 80-acre farm at High Bridge and also operated a dairy
formerly occupied by Everett Glover and now operated by the Walt
DeJong Family. (Named for the bridge built over the Snoqualmie River,
High Bridge was down river from the current site near the bend in the
river. Her grandfather obtained the contract to tear it down, dropping the
bridge and pilings onto a barge in the river.) The dairy was in operation
only 5 years when the herd was infected with Bang’s Disease (Brucellosis)
and her youngest sister got and recovered from Undulant Fever, thus
ending their dairy enterprise. Jean met Wiard at WSU through her older
39

sister as they were looking for a ride back and forth from campus…she
would sit in the back and look at him but he wouldn’t pay any attention to
her until he was encouraged to ask her to the Forestry Club dance—“the
rest is history.”
1927 Class at Tualco School, Monroe
(8 Foyes and 2 Frohnings)
Henry and Will Miedema operate a 109-acre 75-cow Holstein dairy on a portion
of the original Robert Smallman Homestead…their mother’s (Winnie)
home is built almost on the exact foundation of the original home that
burned down. Their neighbors are the Frohning’s on one side and Gerald
and Margaret Schmidt on the other. Henry (Hank) and Winnie retired
from the farm in 1990. Henry’s parents came to Washington in 1937,
spent six months on a farm in Snohomish, operated a farm in Granite Falls
for 5 years, and then moved on to the Shannahan Farm in the Tualco
Valley in 1943. (The Shannahan Homestead was on the west side of the
Snoqualmie River. John Shannahan married Eliza Smallman and their
daughter, Margaret, married Gerald Schmidt.) They rented the farm
from the Frohning’s for 10 years before retiring. Hank and Winnie rented it
3 more years before purchasing the farm. Since they were renting the
place they got first option to buy it…Winnie said, “Maybe we could buy it.
If I hadn’t opened my mouth we wouldn’t be there.” Winnie recalls the
time she was dating Hank, she went with her parents to visit the Miedema
family. On the way home her father asked how she liked the place and
she said, “It’s a real nice place, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”—Now
almost 50 years living there!
“Round-Up Willy”, as Will is known throughout the Tualco Valley, has the
reputation of being able to round up any loose stock on a 4-wheeler,
motorcycle, horse, or in a boat—“it doesn’t matter what he has, he just
40

grabs it and goes. It is amazing! He is good!” Rounding up animals for
the Honor Farm, the Frohning’s, their own, and some from who-knowswhere,
everyone says, “Call Willy.” Being between two rivers, they have
seen their share of floods. During the 1990 flood, everyone was under up
to 5’ of water for 2 days…the cows were on the Frohning’s hill for 36 hours
straight. The evacuated families lost only 2 at the Miedema’s.
Duane Kuhlman’s roots in the Machias area northeast of Snohomish, go back to
the same time and area where the Groeneveld’s come from. His
grandfather stowed away in a barrel and came over on a ship and
established a place on Coven Hill east of Snohomish. His father bought a
72-acre farm for $11,000 “which included all the cattle, horses, equipment,
machinery—the whole works.” He paid for the cattle, machinery, and hay
in the first 2 years, but then the depression and he had to take a job at
Central Feed to make the interest payments…8 year old Duane and his
mother milked the 15 cows by hand. They later moved to the current
location on Machias Road which was homesteaded by the DuBuque’s in
1886. After developing the herd into the nation’s highest producing large
Jersey herd (325 cows, 21,980 #ECM, 858 #BF, 682 #P), he sold most of
the cows to California and the hand-picked ones to Jerry and Lynne
Rodeffer in 1996. One of those cows went on to set the world record for
Jerseys…Jerry sold the herd in 2000, with the Frohning’s getting many of
them as a result of their son, Danny’s, passion for Jerseys, having bought
a calf from him in 1996—Danny’s herd was 11 head in February 2001.
The Frohning’s have the grandmother of the world record cow. In late
2000, a notch was taken from the ear of that cow from which exact
duplicate clones will be attempted…amazing developments in genetics.
The Bicycle Tree 4-H Club was named after the historic cedar tree landmark
south of the town of Snohomish in the Snohomish Valley near the
intersection of Marshland Road and Highway 9. Homesteading dairy
farmer, Abel Johnson, left a grove of 500-year-old cedar trees.
According to the Snohomish Historical Society, the first Bicycle Tree was
christened about 1900 when bicyclists created a cycling trail that wound it
way through the valley and into the cedar grove. The cyclists had paid a
logger $15 to cut an archway through one of the 50-foot trees large
enough for two side-by-side bicycle riders. This became a popular site for
photographs. In 1928, the original Bicycle Tree blew over in a storm,
however, an identical archway was cut in another tree across the road.
This tree was still alive and well until the 1970's when vandals and
arsonists did their evil deeds upon the tree. The tree stood watching over
the valley until February 2002 when it failed and fell to the ground. The
proud heritage it has left, lives on in the hearts and minds of those who
still call the Valley, "Home", and retain the proud name to inspire future
generations who will carry on the legacy of the homesteading pioneers.
41

Summary
At least a dozen dairy processing plants have operated in Snohomish County,
including the producer/handler operations in Arlington (Grewe/Wrage’s Valley
Gem and Henry Graafstra’s Country Charm), Snohomish (Walt Bartelheimer),
and Monroe (Floyd McKennon, John Hansen, and Walt DeJong). The only plant
left in Snohomish County is Henry Graafstra’s Country Charm Dairy which has a
full line of delicious fluid milks, butter, cottage cheese, and ice cream varieties.
Therefore, there are many more families that have wonderful histories as they
have played a significant part in the development of the dairy industry in
Snohomish County. Space and resources restrict the complete history in this
publication. Fortunately, there are volumes of materials preserved in museums
and libraries, however, the real cache is in the memories of those who lived it. I
have come to realize that
this would be a full time
endeavor for someone
who was also a native of
the area. It was thrilling to
sit at the feet of those who
came and shared their
memories at the two “Old
Timer’s” meetings, and to
realize that I had only
captured the “tip of the
iceberg” of the local
historical treasures.
I would encourage all who have access to these treasured pioneers to bring them
together with their peers and glean the rich harvest of their memories…it will
spark a light in their eyes that will bring great joy and satisfaction. What a legacy
to pass on to those to follow us next century.
Special appreciation is expressed to Julie Wakefield for her assistance during
those meetings and to help transcribe them. Also, to the many who contributed
historical documents and photos. Much of the rich heritage is archived in The
Stanwood Story, by Alice Essex at the Stanwood Area History Museum; in “The
History of Snohomish County, Washington, by Wm. Whitfield, at the Arlington
Pioneer Museum; in the publication by Nellie E. Robertson, Monroe—The First
Fifty Years, 1860-1910; and the Snohomish County Dairy Shrine’s Pioneer Hall
of Fame documents. I invite you to spend some rewarding personal and family
time visiting these locations and contributing other historical facts, documents,
and items to preserve this rich
heritage for Snohomish County Stanwood Calf Club - 1921
citizenry.
42

Ned L. Zaugg
Acknowledgements
The author gratefully acknowledges the valuable contributions from these family
histories and public photographic archives:
Dick Barr, Krista Stangeland Cairus, Ken Foye, Tim and Sandi Frohning,
Ryan Bartelheimer, Snohomish County Conservation District Engineer
Karen Prasse, Stanwood Area Historical Society
Bibliography
1-18 History of Snohomish County, Washington by WM Whitfield. Pioneer
Historical Publishing Co. Chicago-Seattle. 1926.
19, 21-26 A Summary of the Formation and Organization of the Snohomish
County Dairymen’s Association – 75 th Anniversary. Researched and
Compiled by George Grimm & Dorothy Grimm Carroll. 1992.
27 “Author of ‘Darigold’ Found.” Seattle Times, May 2, 1976.
28 The Skagit Dairyman. February 1946.
29 The Washington CO-OP Dairyman. Feb 1931
30-39 Snohomish County DHIA Annual Report – 1975. pp. 21, 24, 27
40 “A Creamery Wanted by the People of Arlington and Farmers in this
Vicinity.” Haller City Times. November 7, 1896, Vol. 8 #2. (Posted in
the Arlington Pioneer Museum.)
41-42 “All Hail to the Mythical Cow.” 50 th DHIA Annual Report, Snohomish
County, 1966. pp. 2, 4.
43-44 “The Stanwood Story.” By Alice Essex. 3 Volume Set. Written for
the Stanwood-Camano News. Archived at the D.O. Pearson House
and the Stanwood Area History Museum.
45 16 th Annual Report, Snohomish County DHIA – 1932. p. 13.
46 “Home at the Grange. Organizations Still Thrive in Rural
Communities in State.” By Kate Reardon. Everett Herald. May 31,
1998. (www.heraldnet.com/stories/98/5/31/grangema.htm)
47 “The Darigold Story. The History of the Dairy Cooperative in the
Pacific Northwest.” By Archie Satterfield. Darigold, Inc. p. 8.
43

48 Snohomish County DHIA Annual Report – 1975. p. 16.
49 Snohomish County DHIA Annual Report – 1976. pp. 30-31.
50 “Flood of ’75. Agriculture Rallies After Disaster.” By Dick Bell &
Kimberly Spring. Western Farmer, Jan/Feb, 1976. pp. 8-14.
51 “Snohomish County Dairy Farms Ranked Best in Nation.” Arlington
Times, Vol. 94, Number 36, Wednesday, April 27, 1983. p. 1.
52 Annual Report of County Agent, 1922.
53 “Mayor’s Proclamation.” Snohomish County Milk-For-Health Week.
Pp. 5, 17,77. October 4-9, 1925.
54 Snohomish County Purebred Sire Campaign – 1924 Report. Herald,
2/16/24.
55 Annual Report of County Agent, 1921. p. 18.
56 “Monroe. The 1 st 50 Years – 1860-1910.” Nellie E. Robertson. p32.
57 “Herman Steffen.” Snohomish County Dairy Shrine Pioneer Hall of
Fame. Annual Award Profiles -- Pioneer 1984.
58 Snohomish County Dairy Shrine Pioneer Hall of Fame. Pioneer and
Honored Guest Annual Award Profiles.
44