Quincy honors farming community

Community spirit abounds at Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day

QUINCY— Ominous gray skies did not deter consumers from around the state from showing that they are aware of the good things farmers do.

Crowds lined sidewalks in town and mingled on the Quincy High School grounds Saturday for the 25th annual Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day.

Sights, sounds, smells and tastes throughout the day included a parade at 10 a.m., tours of various agricultural sites, live music and the opportunity to purchase and eat fresh produce, including cooked corn on the cob and barbecue offerings.

Mark Owens said it was part of his obligation as post commander for George Washington Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 24 to be in attendance. The VFW marches in the parade and sets up flags for the event, he said.

"We try to make it every year," he said. "It's a hometown thing. It gives people time to meet their neighbors. There's a lot of things for them to do, and find out what's going on in the local area."

East Wenatchee resident and past parade judge Fred Walk was one of the people serving corn on the cob at the Quincy Lodge No. 161 booth.

"It develops community spirit, community participation and support of businesses, growers and farmers in the community," Walk said.

While he missed it this year because he was setting up the lodge's booth, Walk called himself a parade freak, and said that's his personal favorite part of the Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day — or any — event.

"I go to about 15 parades a year," he said with a grin. "I'm also a Shriner. But I think (I also like) just meeting and talking to people, visiting, having a good time and just relaxing, and serving people."

Former Quincy resident Jessica Hill was back in town for the summer, and had her daughter Jaiden and the rest of her family in tow. She'd been at the event ever since she was little, she said.

When asked what her favorite part of the event was, Hill responded that she guessed it was seeing all the people around town that were familiar faces.

"It's important for everybody to get out and see what farmers do, and our community, what it's about," she said.

It was the first time in attendance for Olympia resident Dean DeBell, in the area with his wife to visit his son-in-law and daughter.

"This is a very good thing, to inform all of us of a lot of the things that we didn't understand," DeBell said. "We've been on the apple tour and learned how to process the apples. We bought lots of produce. This is a good thing."