AFFILIATION CHANGE

As of December 1, 2009, the BHHF is an affliliate of the Community Foundation of North Central Washington.

For the past 10 years, the Washington National Park Fund has served as our fiscal sponsor, providing us with our not-for-profit status, great advice, and other services. The Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation has much appreciated this relationship, and will continue to work with the WNPF on items of mutual benefit. We are very thankful for their nurturing of the BHHF as we have moved to this point as an organization.

We look forward with excitement to our new affiliation with the CFNCW as we enter a new era of activism and support on behalf of the Buckner Homestead and Orchard. Located in Wenatchee, the Community Fund provides additional services and expertise that will allow us to grow as an organization while providing us with fiscal sponsorhip as required by the IRS.

To both the Washington National Park Fund and the Community Foundation, we say "THANK YOU"!

FALL COLORS

(Click Here)
Enjoy the fall colors at the Buckner Orchard, as well as other locations in the Stehekin Valley. Photos are courtesy of Crystal Austin and Herb Sargo and were taken in October of 2008 and 2009.

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HARVEST FEST PHOTOS - 2009

(Click Here)

NEW FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS

Monica Courtney and David Kurth, both of Sthehkin, have been elected to the Board of the Foundation. The election fills the vacant "Stehekin Residents" positions and are for three-year terms. Congratulations to Monica and David; your willingness to work to support the Buckner Orchard and Foundation is greatly appreciated!


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NOTABLE EQUIPMENT DONATIONS

Over the past six months, the BHHF has facilitated the donation of the following for use at the Buckner Orchard

(1) Fruit picker –Ursula Thompson, United Kingdom

(8) Fruit pickers – Buckner Homestead Heritage Foundation

(1) Cider press –Bill Stegeman,, Wenatchee

(2) 8’ aluminum orchard ladders – Hobbie Morehead, Manson

(1) John Deere orchard tractor – Manson Growers, Manson

(4) fruit picking bags - Hobbie Morehead, Manson


Transport of goods provided by

Tom Courtney Tug and Barge
Bucky Gans
Jim and Cinda Gilbert
Adrienne and Keith Carpenter
Manson Growers Cooperative

Many additional thanks to Keith Carpenter for the repair and re-construction of the two cider presses used here at the Buckner Orchard!

MANY THANKS!

Our sincere thanks to the following people who helped make the First Annual Harvest Fest such a success!

Phil and Wendy Garfoot
Laurie Thompson
Tom Courtney Tug and Barge
Phil Gans
Stehekin Valley Ranch
Jean Vavrek
Ron Scutt
Keith and Adrienne Carpenter
JoAnne and Phil Reiter
Herb and Christine Sargo
Jim and Cinda Gilbert
Bill Stegeman
Vicki Gempko
Hobbie Morehead
Bucky Gans
Mark Scherer
Evie and Jay Dutton
Norma and Vince Ward
Rene Courtney
Stehekin Choice
Judy and Joe Kalt
Doug England
Christopher Sargo
Dave Dudley
Jerry Eisnehart/golakechelan.com
All those who attended and contributed in so many ways!

THE HARVEST FEST

What a great day! Harvest Fest a Success.

Beginning with the Kelly Brothers who saw the Harvest Fest sign and rode their bikes in off the road at 9:30 to the crew who were finally finishing up pressing cider at 5 PM, it was a very successful community celebration of the Orchard and Valley heritages. It was also a time for the Stehekin community to slow down, relax, and visit after a busy summer. Glenn Miller's In the Mood seemed to capture the tone of the day.

The activity and interest caused some Buckner Family members to get a little misty-eyed, and the Buckner Sisters, Hobbie and Bucky, both enjoyed the day immensely.

It was very gratifying to hear and talk with many of the people going out on the boat on Sunday as to the really enjoyable and unique time they experienced. I didn't realize until I looked back at some of the conversations and sign-in's that we had people from outside the Valley from as far away as New Brunswick, Canada, California, Oregon, Alaska, Massachusetts, and Idaho.

By the numbers: 150 attendees, 140-150 gallons of cider made, 50+ boxes of apples taken home, 10 gallons of chili consumed, and innumerable conversations to go with the great food.

Did anyone else notice how exceedingly well-behaved and involved all those kids were? It was great! And, of course, they were the most photogenic of all of us who were there.

Photos from the Harvest Fest can be viewed by clicking here.

Many thanks to all who helped in a great variety of ways, especially Jo Anne Reiter, a Foundation board member, who was the chief facilitator for the Harvest Fest, and to Wendy and Phil Garfoot, for hosting this event in their front yard!

So, where do we go from here next year? The centennial year for the Buckner Ranch and Orchard kicks off in November of 2010 and we are exploring various ways we can celebrate, as well as perpetuate a strong base of support for the Orchard and Ranch. Any suggestions you might have on the centennial or Harvest Fest are most welcome.

Here are links to a column by Wilfred Woods in the Wenatchee World regarding the Harvest Fest and to additional photos by Kris Robinson on the Stehekin Choice web site.

Wilfred's column

Stehekin Choice

The Foundation will be kicking off its membership drive in December for the 2010 year, and will be organizing work parties in late spring and early summer to ready the ditches for irrigation, removing mouse guards from trees, mowing, and constructing a new bear and elk fence on another section of the orchard.

Volunteers are still needed now for installing mouse guards, removing apples to prevent bear damage, and other necessary seasonal chores. Please contact the Foundation at bucknerorchard@aol.com if you have time to volunteer. Even an hour helps.

Make our website a favorite and keep up-to-date with happenings at the Buckner Ranch and Orchard and support our efforts in whatever manner you can.

Herb Sargo, President

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION AND GATHERING

1st Annual Buckner Orchard Harvest Fest
Saturday, October 10th
Buckner Orchard, Stehekin WA

10am - picking apples and cider making, 1pm - potluck
(Chili, plates, cups, utensils, napkins; coffee and juice provided.)


Celebrate the heritage of the Buckner Orchard and Homestead.
Come relax, visit, enjoy!