Everson Nooksack Farmers Market now on Sundays

Jesse Johnson spearheads second season

By Elisa Claassen For the Tribune

EVERSON — About a year ago, the owner of Sunset Farms decided the Nooksack Valley should have its own farmers market.

Now business manager of the Everson Nooksack (EN) Valley Farmers Market, Everson resident Jesse Johnson said she put her plan together on a whim.

Johnson had so many ideas and having a community garden, which she also has been involved with at times, wasn’t enough. “I love to shop at them (farmers markets),” she said. “I don’t like to go to Bellingham.”

Johnson also noticed when she did go to the Bellingham market that many of the vendors were not from Bellingham.

“Lots of them are from here,” she said.

Everson also needed more fun, family-friendly activities.

Jesse Johnson at the Everson Nooksack (EN) Valley Farmers Market. This year’s market will be on Sundays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (Elisa Claassen for the Tribune)

While Johnson did find advice and mentorship from other small market farmers such as Savannah Flynn of Flynn Farms in the nearby Lawrence neighborhood, she also turned to YouTube to see presentations tailored for the situation.

One that caught her eye was Luke Marion, a blogger known as MIGardner, who has homesteaded since 2011 in Michigan.

Through Marion she discovered that not only did she need to know how to farm and grow her crops but also to get insurance and a business license and the other components of running a small business.

Johnson’s boys watch with her and have talked of eventually having their own YouTube channel talking of caring for animals, they said.

While talking at the farm, several friendly and colorful hens came up for attention, speckled Sussex and lavender orpington varieties. A small gosling also made its way over to visit via her son’s small hands.

The mother of three young boys was working nights last year at the Everson Market and had acreage and animals at home. Yet, she made the calls and showed up.

The site chosen is the Everson City Park behind City Hall at 201 Lincoln St., but last year’s market was on Saturdays which competed with most of the other local farmers markets.

This year, Johnson is moving market day to Sunday, beginning this year on May 7. She’s also adding a Friday night once-a-month art market to the mix.

Last year, the vendors weren’t required to commit to the whole season, so the vendor count varied.

Johnson has tried to keep from having last minute cancellations which did happen last season and impacted the market experience.

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That measure became a separate company known as Dealer Information Systems (DIS Corp.) which still continues.

A changing of the guard occurred in 2000 when Dan came back from college and went to work for the company. In 1988, Alan Brim bought Brim Tractor from Bill.

In 1997, Dan and his wife Teresa bought the company from Alan. Since that time, the company has expanded under Dan’s leadership in Washington and Oregon, with other locations in Chehalis, Eugene, Mount Vernon, Salem, Rainier, Klamath Falls, Redmond, Central Point, and Christmas Valley.

Brim Tractor offers the newest models including New Holland, Yanmar, Alamo, Bad Boy, Braber Equipment, JCB, Millcreek, Diamond Mowers, Supreme, Snorkel, Xtreme and Woods.

“We will help you maintain your excavator, tractor, spreader, rake, skid steer, balers, mowers and more so that it will run for years,” according to the corporate website. “If it is having problems, we can diagnose and repair it.” to the BIA booth and UTVs (Utility Task Vehicles). It also has electric tractors by Solectrac, powered by Ideanomics, Baron said.

Brim Tractor Marketing Manager Chad Baron said the company has three target audiences: equipment for the homeowner (small tractors for moving dirt and snow), agricultural equipment for farms, and larger construction equipment (excavators and skid steers).

Baron believes Brim may be one of the first in the area to carry them.

Brim Tractor is known for its superior customer service and has put together a team, according to the company, of knowledgeable sales members, finance experts, service technicians, and parts and accessories staff.

Brim Tractor is at 350 Duffner Drive, Lynden. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Closed on Sunday.

For more information, visit brimtractor.com. Also visit Brim Tractor at this year’s Home and Garden Show, April 28-30 at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds, 1775 Front St., Lynden.