June 2, 2004

Paula and Vernon Herrick open their farm near Cedar Flat to provide an educational experience for about 2,000 preschoolers and kindergartners a year in October. Photo: Brian Davies / The Register-Guard

Name: Paula and Vernon Herrick of Walterville

Claim to fame: Owners of Herrick Farms, 88080 Millican Road

Field trip fun: In October, the Herricks host field trips for 2,000 preschoolers and kindergartners across Lane County. "We give them a quick overview of the farm," Paula said, "and they get to go into a cornfield and pick Indian corn. A lot of these kids are city kids and they don't know dirt - a lot of them don't know where the corn comes from. It's a good learning experience."

The farm's produce stand runs from May to December, offering flowers and berries, peaches and numerous vegetables.

Grange rangers: Paula is lady assistant steward, and Vernon, assistant steward, for the Walterville Grange. They have ceremonial duties, but Vernon said the key to the Grange is service: Three annual breakfasts serve the Salvation Army, the Eugene Mission, Dogs for the Deaf and others. The next is Father's Day, June 20, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at George Millican Community Hall, on Camp Creek Road, north of Highway 126 in Walterville.

Background: Paula, 56, of Springfield, and Vernon, 57, of Minnesota, met at Thurston High School and married in 1967. They have two kids: Stacie, 29, of Ione, and Vernon Jr., 34, who works on the family farm.

Animal magnetism: The Herricks own 16 horses, mules and donkeys, and 200 goats. The horses pull the wagon on pumpkin rides, the mules are used to work the earth, and the goats are sold as pets or for consumption, Vernon said.

Picturing the past: Paula "scrapbooks" - she has thousands of family pictures that will eventually go into more than 15 photo albums, all done with a creative flourish. "Hopefully, they'll all be in books before I die," Paula laughed. "If they're not, my daughter will have them."

- Matt Cooper