Washington Cooperative Farmers Association held their 1952 stockholders' meeting at Temple Theater in Tacoma. Nearly 2,000 people from Pierce County and Enumclaw attended the annual nomination meeting of District No. 6 of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. Harold D. Foster of Sumner was renominated for director. He had held the post 21 years. Poultryman James Anderson of Edgemont was nominated for director as well. The vote would be made by ballot before the February 12, 1953, meeting. (TNT, 11/20/1952, p.3)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Stages (Platforms); Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association held their 1952 stockholders' meeting at Temple Theater in Tacoma. This was the 35th anniversary meeting of the cooperative. Wide interest was shown in news brought by Harry J. Beernink, general manager, that the Co-Op was arranging to acquire reserves of both petroleum and phosphate to be able to produce fertilizer for Co-Op members. (TNT, 11/20/1953, p.3)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Bulk feed is being poured into plywood storage units at the Ken Bergman Poultry farm on May 13, 1953. The feed is being delivered by the Washington Co-op Farmers Association using their Diamond T double-tank truck. Washington Co-op Farmers was able to provide home delivery of bulk feed to its members, as well as other bulk deliveries such as petroleum and gasoline. Bulk deliveries could then be stored in appropriate facilities until needed by the customer. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Storage tanks; Plywood; Shipping; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Washington Coop Farmers Association, a truck carrying bulk feeds being filled directly from the feed mill. Built on 8 1/2 acres on the Hylebos Waterway, the feed mill was one of the most modern structures in the country. The Coop used both trucks and railroads to move its product across the country .

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

In July of 1943, with both an army and a civilian population to feed, harvesting the crops became a patriotic duty. With most of Washington's able-bodied men, and many of its women, serving in the military and in the defense industries, farm labor jobs fell to students. Two unidentified students are pictured working as farm laborers in Puyallup Valley in July of 1943. A young boy helps an older teenage girl lift a crate of leafy spinach onto a stack of crates placed in an open field. Boxes are labeled Kelley, Farquhar & Co., a major vegetable and fruit packing company with plants in Salem, Oregon and Tacoma. In 1958, Clyde Farquhar became sole owner of the company. (P.C. Herald 8/9/1984 p.3)

Agricultural laborers; World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Croplands--Puyallup Valley;

In July of 1943, with our country at war and an army to feed, bringing in the crops became a patriotic duty. Most men were either in the service or working in the defense industry; therefore, the job of harvesting fell to women and youth. Especially targeted as a work force were youth organizations and the schools. Here, women and students work side by side in a Puyallup Valley spinach field. Wooden crates are placed in the field and Richards Studio's wood paneled station wagon is parked in the distance. Adults were also urged to join the youths in the harvest of valley peas and berries whose peak was to be reached soon. 1,200 kids had already been enrolled in Pierce County's harvest army through the Tacoma Agricultural Manpower Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. 7,000-10,000 adult workers were needed the first two weeks in July. Bus transportation would be provided by the Chamber of Commerce. (T.Times 7-2-43, p. 16-article on harvesting)

Agricultural laborers; World War, 1939-1945--Students--Tacoma; Croplands--Puyallup Valley;

Interior of Redmond Grange. View of unoccupied Grange hall taken in November of 1968. The stage at the far end of the room is decorated with a flowered bower and white picket fence. Folding chairs are lined up against the walls of the hall. A piano is set in one corner of the room. Several podiums are scattered among the chairs. This is possibly Happy Valley #322 in Redmond which was organized in 1909. In the past, people needed to be farmers in order to join the organization but the Grange now accepts people of all occupations. Membership tended to be concentrated in small towns and rural areas but Washington also has Granges in larger urban areas. Photograph ordered by R.G. Williams Co. (www.wa-grange.org)

Farmers' groups--Redmond; Pianos; Folding chairs;

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association held their 1952 stockholders' meeting at Temple Theater in Tacoma. Wellman's Catering Services's delivery truck and two police motorcycles are parked in front of the facility.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Temple Theatre (Tacoma);

Exterior shot taken in the country of a feed truck unloading into a bulk feed bin, ordered by the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. The photograph was shot for a periodical cover illustration. Client wanted to show the new feed truck with its automatic conveyor unloading into the bulk feed bin. Photograph taken by a photographer who climbed to the top of another bulk bin with an 8 x 10 camera.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Farming--Tacoma; Food industry--Tacoma;

Spraying hop fields. Man seated in tractor on dirt road through hop fields. Tractor and spray equiment are parked along road. Boy on bicycle in background. Meek, manager and former owner.

Agriculture - Grain Farms - Hop FarmsChemicals - Pesticides - Spraying

Doris Lee appears to be comfortable as she sits in the basket on the front of Bobby Seeber's bicycle on August 21, 1936. The pair were enjoying ice cream cones at the 9th annual area farmers' picnic in Sumner. A day off was declared by Pierce County farmers as they and their families and friends attended the gathering sponsored by area agricultural organizations and the County Agent's office. (T. Times 8/22/1936 p. 1)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Lee, Doris; Seeber, Bobby; Picnics--Sumner--1930-1940; Children riding bicycles & tricycles--Sumner--1930-1940; Ice cream & ices; Children eating & drinking--1930-1940; Vehicles - Bicycles

Washington Co-op Farmers Association. Items used by farmers are on display: wheelbarrow, feeders, sprayers, tires, oil, grease, paint and paint brushes, insecticides, hand tools and a cultivator plus other items. The customer counter is on the right side.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1940-1950; Agricultural industries;

Douglas Fir Plywood Association. A young farm hand forks silage onto a conveyor belt system to move the material around in the interior of the silo. Silage is cut up material grown for feed. It is allowed to ferment in the silo and is then fed to livestock.

Farmers--Puyallup; Silos--Puyallup; Conveying systems--Puyallup; Plywood; Lumber industry--Tacoma--1940-1950;

A view of a large, well maintained farm with several barns and lower shelters for animals. Ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers.

Washington Cooperative Farmers' Association (Tacoma); Farms--Tacoma; Barns--Tacoma;

Scenic views from Eastern Washington. Fields of ripened wheat surround the farm buildings in this view of flat farm land in eastern Washington. High clouds spread across the sky.

Farms; Farmhouses; Farming; Croplands; Wheat; Clouds;

Students working as farm laborers in Puyallup. What appear to be high school students working along side women employees on a conveyor in a packing house during the summer of 1943.

Agricultural laborers; World War, 1939-1945--Students--Puyallup; Students--Puyallup--1940-1950;

Valley Sales Pavilion was an animal and items auction center, located between Fife and Firwood on the Fife-Puyallup Road. People traveled throughout the state to buy their animals and other household goods at the auction. Interior view of lunch room at Valley Sales Pavilion and view of Mrs. J. W. Flood, Mrs. Lyle Foreman, Mrs. Phil Hartman, all of Auburn, and Caroline Deering of Tacoma, feeding the hungry farmers and animal buyers (T. Times, 12/26/48, p. 6).

Farm life--Tacoma; Employee eating facilities--Tacoma; Animal auctions--Tacoma; Dining rooms; Sandwich boards; Restaurant workers--Tacoma; Valley Sales Pavilion (Tacoma);

Richards stock footage, rural farm with Mount Rainier in the distance.

Farms--Pierce County--1950-1960; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

Exterior views of some Washington Co-op Farmers Association buildings were taken on February 1, 1956. The brick Farm Service Store was open Mondays-Fridays from 8 am to 4pm for the convenience of its members. A truck and passenger car are parked at the store's loading dock. A Great Northern boxcar is located close to the truck. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Wilson, ordered by the Washington Coop. He holds pruning shears and she holds what appears to be a Washington state business license. They are perhaps starting their own orchard or berry business.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Wilson, Carl; Pruning; Scissors & shears;

Built on eight and a half acres of the Hylebos waterway, the Washington Co-operative Farmers Association's new feed mill was one of the finest and most modern units in the country. Trucks were able to have feed directly loaded from the warehouses via metallic hoses. The Co-op also used at least four railroad lines to transport their product throughout the country. Kenworth trucks would be able to haul eggs long distance as well. View of Washington Co-operative Farmers Association feed mill, grain elevator and warehouses in this February, 1953, photograph. Photograph ordered by Dale Smith, Washington Co-operative Farmers Assn.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A Diamond T truck with two storage tanks of Bulk Feed from Washington Co-op Farmers Association pulls up to Ken Bergman's Poultry Farm on May 13, 1953. The driver and customer, presumably Mr. Bergman, examine paperwork in preparation to fill large plywood bins full of chicken feed. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association had built a $1,000,000 feed mill at the Hylebos waterway in the late 1940's. Besides having convenient transport facilities to ship feed throughout the nation, the feed mill would also make delivery of bulk feed much easier to its local members. Photograph ordered by Tom Sias, Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Diamond T trucks; Chicken industry; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association refrigerated delivery truck. The truck is painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the co-op's brands. Lynden sold eggs, chicken and turkey. Washington farmers banded together and sold under the co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods. The grain elevators can be seen on the left.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

As the holidays approached in 1953, the Washington Co-operative Farmers Association stood ready with their refrigerated delivery trucks. This truck was painted with the logo for the Lynden brand, one of the Co-op's brands, and their most popular holiday product - turkey. Lynden sold eggs and chicken, as well as the holiday gobbler. The truck was posed at the Co-op's Mill and grain elevators, located at 1801 Taylor Way, on the tideflats. The Co-op was formed of Washington farmers who banded together and sold under the Co-op's brands in order to get better prices for their goods.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A new Diamond-T petroleum truck is parked near the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's feed mill in April, 1954. The Co-op continually upgraded their equipment; this new truck would be used to deliver gasoline, lube and heating oils to Co-op customers. No passengers would be permitted on board and smoking was strictly prohibited.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960; Diamond T trucks; Signs (Notices);

Members of the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association display Lynden Broadbreast Turkeys during their luncheon at the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall on December 8, 1954. The Lynden firm is part of the Cooperative and provided ready to roast turkeys. This group is standing in front of a large poster demonstrating how the Co-op's eggs "go to market"; egg production was just one of the many enterprises they supported. 1600 Co-op members from District #6 attended the annual meeting and dined on turkey. At the meeting, Roy McChord was congratulated as the new manager of the Tacoma Station, replacing Dale Smith, who assumed management duties at the Co-op's credit division in Seattle. (TNT 12-12-54, F-8)

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Turkeys; Posters;

Exterior of mill and bulk feed station. The Washington Co-op Farmers Association built a modern, efficient feed mill in the late 1940's at a cost of $1,000,000+. Located on the Tideflats at the Hylebos waterway, the Co-op had immediate access to transcontinental railroads and sound or ocean going vessels which made transport of their feeds and grain extremely efficient. Bulk feed could be poured into the Co-op's Diamond-T trucks for delivery to waiting customers from the Bulk Feed Service area. Photograph ordered by Washington Cooperative Farmers Association. TPL-10077

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Grain elevators--Tacoma; Mills--Tacoma; Food storage buildings--Tacoma; Shipping--Tacoma--1950-1960; Railroad freight cars--Tacoma--1950-1960; Trucks--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Hundreds fill the Masonic Temple's Fellowship Hall on December 8, 1954, at the Washington Cooperative Farmers Association's luncheon and meeting. The group had begun decades ago as an egg and poultry cooperative but had expanded into the feed and grain business. Farmers found that they were able to get better prices and new markets for their products if they participated in a cooperative.

Washington Cooperative Farmers Association (Tacoma); Meetings--Tacoma--1950-1960; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

Don Dunn and his family are seen outside the completed seven room modern home given to the 30 year old WWII veteran as part of the "Farm-in-a-Day" project at Moses Lake. Building the home, out buildings, and fences, and fertilizing and planting 80 acres took volunteers 22 hours. The "butterfly" house was designed by a group of five architects headed up by Paul Kirk of Seattle. Ordered by the Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (Popular Mechanics "They Built Him a Farm in a Day" Dec. 1952, pg 118-22+)

Farms--Moses Lake--1950-1960; Farmhouses--Moses Lake; Dunn, Don--Homes & haunts; Families--Moses Lake;

Younglove Fruit & Produce Co. was founded by E. A. Younglove in 1907. They moved in 1935 to a larger better equipped building that allowed them access to rail and water transport systems. Their new location made them one of the most complete and efficient wholesale food distributing centers on the Pacific Coast. View of produce, photo ordered by Robert Baker, manager of Younglove Fruit and Produce Co.

Farm produce--Tacoma; Agriculture--Tacoma; Fruit industry--Tacoma; Younglove Grocery Co. (Tacoma);