Royal roots firmly planted
ROYAL CITY — Mother's Day of 1958 saw the strongest wind Ted Christensen had ever encountered. Tumbleweeds clogged water lines as the wind billowed through the Royal Slope, sweeping up entire crops along with it.
His crops were only 3 years young at that time, and with each whip of the wind came the threat of losing all of his hard work to the dirt-clouded skies.
“It (the wind) was really tough on the crops,” said Ted. “Every time the wind picked up, you just knew that there was going to be hard work ahead of you.”
EARLY LIFE
Born to a farming family in the Kittitas Valley, Ted grew up with his three brothers Dee, Jay and Bob, and sister, Joyce. When he was 14 years old, his father Roy passed away, leaving the farm to his kids.
Ted met his wife Jean when the two were still children. She too grew up on a farm in the Badger Pocket area of the Kittitas Valley. Both came from Danish families who got together frequently to celebrate Danish birthdays.
They attended school together from eighth grade through high school. Ted and Jean married in 1953.
NEW GROUND, NEW TOWN
It was November of 1955 when Ted and Jean first moved to the Royal Slope. Having purchased four units of land, about 80 acres each, they made the move with their then-1-year-old daughter Karen, along with one of Ted's brothers. His other two brothers opted to remain in Kittitas to continue running the farm they grew up on.
Land was cheaper on the Royal Slope, as it was still fairly undeveloped at that time. Canals and major roads like Highway 26 were still being built, and there were no wells yet. The town of Royal City was also merely in the beginning stages.
But despite the sparse surroundings and resources, the Christensens were both excited and hopeful at the possibilities their new adventure would bring.
They began their life on the Slope living in a small trailer, which sat on the same spot of land their home is now built on. They hauled their own drinking water from nearby Royal Camp.
Jean recalled those early days working to get laundry done in the early morning so clothes could hang to dry before getting filled with dirt and sand stirred up in the air.
Weather on the slope saw a cold winter that turned quickly into a hot summer, melting the snow off the ground faster than it did in Kittitas, Ted explained.
Their first crop year was 1956, as was the case for everyone on the Slope, Ted explained. The Christensens grew potatoes, wheat and peas, and raised cattle they had brought with them from Kittitas to give them something to farm during the winter.
PROGRESS
It wasn't long after their move that the Christensens returned to Kittitas. Ted's childhood family farm had sold, so he returned to help run it for a year for the new owners.
The Christensens made their way back to the Royal Slope in May of 1958. Ted's mother Lucy and brothers also made the move.
Ted and his brothers farmed together, taking each setback in stride. Strong winds came and went, blowing out much of their crops along with them. And each time they did, Ted and his crew would be right back out there; re-ditching, watering, clotting up the soil and discing before they could replant.
Partially blown out crops proved to be more difficult though as it was harder to replant only parts of crops. They had anticipated it would take about 10 years for the crops to become established well enough not to blow away in the winds, but that number proved to be closer to 20 years.
After three years of working together, Ted and his brothers began to separate their farming from each other. Eventually, they branched out and began farming operations in Mattawa as well.
In 1975, Ted and his brothers saw a need for a fertilizer company in Mattawa. So they built one themselves, giving life to Saddle Mountain Supply Co.
Then in 1978, Saddle Mountain Supply Co. expanded to Royal City after buying out the then-existing Pacific Fruit fertilizer plant.
Ted continued farming, venturing into crops of beans, corn, sugar beets, mint and dry corn over the years. He also adapted to three different methods for watering his crops over time, starting with dirt ditches and drop boxes in the early years, then to cement ditches, and finally to circles.
In 1997, Ted and Jean were able to retire at just 63 years old. They turned over business to their children, splitting up grounds and operations among them.
PRESENT DAY
Now at 83 years old, Ted and Jean still enjoy their retirement, and stay active with both their family and their community, committing countless hours of their time to community, school and church projects. They have six children: Karen, Joe, Kelly, Peter, Michael and Ryan, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jean has kept journals over the years beginning when she and Ted married, documenting their life including their experiences living on the Slope. It is a hobby she maintains to this day.
Ted has also had a hand in numerous building projects around the slope, including building the house he and Jean still live in today. It was his first solo building project.
“Building is my hobby; it's what I like to do,” said Ted. “We'd be done farming, then we'd build something.”
Though they no longer grow potatoes, sugar beets or mint, the Christensens have since incorporated cherries, and maintain a strong farming presence throughout the Royal Slope.
Saddle Mountain Supply is also thriving, and both it and the farm grounds remain within the Christensen family.