Come celebrate Huckleberry Festival in Bingen, WA
2024 Huckleberry Festival Grand Marshall
The Dickey Family and Dickey Farms were selected as the 2024 Huckleberry Festival Grand Marshals.
Dickey Farms: A Legacy of Seven Generations
Bingen, WA – Dickey Farms, a cornerstone of the Bingen community, has a rich history dating back to 1867 when it was originally homesteaded as Henderson/Warner Farms. Renamed Dickey Farms when Ruth Henderson married John Dickey in 1921, this family-run farm has been passed down through seven generations, each contributing to its enduring legacy.
Today, Dickey Farms is owned and managed by the fifth generation, with the sixth generation working alongside their father and aunt. Visitors to the farm might even spot members of the seventh generation helping at the fruit stand, embodying the family’s deep-rooted commitment to agriculture.
The farm employs 10 people year-round and an additional 40-50 seasonal workers. Among these dedicated employees is Felix, who has been a staple on the farm for an impressive 51 years. The fruit stand, which originally started in the field. In the late 60’s an official fruit stand was built. With a growing business and wanting to provide year-round employment it moved to its current location in 2004, fulfilling the family’s vision for a modern facility.
Stanley, Janice, and Laurie, all born at Skyline and raised on the farm, exemplify the hardworking spirit of the Dickey family. They graduated from Columbia High School in White Salmon, with Stanley and Janice pursuing business degrees before returning to the farm. Laurie, the youngest, initially followed her passion for beauty, attending The School of Beauty in The Dalles, Oregon. However, she eventually returned to manage the fruit stand and greenhouses.
Stanley currently runs the farm, with his wife Sandi assisting with outside sales. Laurie’s husband, Steve, helps in the fruit stand and has been known to plow the fields in past years. The farm’s produce is sold throughout Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, showcasing the quality and dedication of the Dickey family.
Stanley is passionate about the outdoors, enjoying activities such as hunting, fishing, berry picking, and spending time with his grandchildren. Laurie shares a love for flowers and gardening, often found tending to her yard or caring for her horses. Both Stanley and Laurie are looking forward to retirement and enjoying life
Schedule of Events:
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Huckleberry Festival Parade
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Gorge Winds Concert Band
Straddling two states, Oregon and Washington, the Gorge Winds Concert Band strives to musically grow together and provide the best possible music in the Mid-Columbia Gorge. The Gorge Winds Concert Band is a volunteer organization comprised of musicians around the Mid-Columbia Gorge area who are dedicated to making a unique musical and cultural contribution to our community. The Gorge Winds Concert Band performs in many venues throughout the Mid-Columbia Gorge, i.e. Hood River, The Dalles, White Salmon, and Goldendale.
3:00 – 4:15 p.m. Moe Dixon
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Paradise of Samoa
5:45 – 7:00 p.m. Big River Blues Band
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Reptile Show with Jordan Vicars, Oregon Reptile Views
8:00 – 11:00 HEADLINER: Whiskey River – America’s #1 Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band
For over four decades Whiskey River’s musicians have thrilled audiences all over America playing the music of the legendary southern-rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Re-creating the image and the music of the southern rock band that took the world by storm in the 1970’s. Whiskey River not only plays Lynyrd Skynyrd, they personify the group onstage. Through their serious and tireless commitment to the original Ronnie Van Zandt era Lynyrd Skynyrd, they have deconstructed and reconstructed every detail of every part of every song from the original bands recordings. Their 30+ year history of phenomenal performances have earned them the title: “America’s #1 Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band”. Their show is primarily a re-presentation of the multi-platinum album: “One More From The Road” and “Freebird The Movie”. The show is also augmented by several classics from the original band’s last album “Street Survivors” . Whiskey River’s Tribute brings the audience back in time thirty-five years as they blaze through Skynyrd classics like Sweet Home Alabama, Gimme Three Steps, The Breeze, That Smell, What’s Your Name, Saturday Night Special and many more, plus their phenomenal note-for-note version of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s live guitar opus “Freebird”.
