Country Life Fair returns to Yacolt

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The return of vendors, living history demonstrators and a whole lot of plants to a Yacolt farm is imminent as the annual Country Living Fair is set for the end of the month at Pomeroy Farm.

The historic farm will be opening its acres to the public April 28 and 29 for the annual event where attendees can learn a little while eyeing wares from regional vendors and plants from the farm. This year more than 40 vendors will be found on the farm, Pomeroy Farm Marketing Coordinator Maura Todd said, following a trend of more and more vendors for the past four years.

Todd, herself a fifth-generation Pomeroy descendant, explained that for years the farm had an Herb Festival on the property. In 2014 the event had an official name change with a shift toward a more comprehensive event including living history demonstrators and exhibits showing the history behind the place.

The kind of “Country Life” Pomeroy Farm focuses on was a return “back to basics,” Todd explained, with a specific focus on the pre-electricity days in the early 20th Century. Blacksmithing, bow making, woodworking and weaving are among some of what demonstrators will put on display, and the historic log house on the property dating back to the 1920s will also be open, this year featuring a display titled “Lessons from the Depression” set up inside.

Returning from last year will be food trucks, with Sonoran hot dog specialists Vida Flare and Middle Eastern food vendor Hummus Hummus as some of the options on board for the event. For those bringing children there are several activities planned including planting a seed, candle making, the “Egg Flume” ride and making passports among others.

Though there are plenty of new additions in recent years, the plant and herb sale is still a part of the festivities as the farm will be selling herb and organic vegetable plants.



Thanks to good weather last year, the event had nearly 3,000 in attendance over the weekend, Todd said, a record number for recent history of the event.

Pomeroy Farm is itself a nonprofit with a focus on education about life before electricity made it to the farm, Todd explained. Twice a year they put on programs for local students to illuminate what life was like in those days.

The farm has a history dating back to 1910 when E C Pomeroy bought land that would end up being the site of the Country Living Fair a century later, according to a history on the farm’s website. The log house opening for tours dates back nearly that long, having been built as a replacement for a previous house burned down in 1920.

“So that’s where the clock stops at the Pomeroy Farm,” the history read, noting the focus on 1920s farm life, much of which will be on display with the Country Living Fair.

“It’s definitely a family-friendly, family-oriented event. From little babies to grandmas and grandpas, there’s something for everyone,” Todd remarked.