Mary Grant Tompkins is Pioneer of the Year

WAITSBURG-This year's Waitsburg Pioneer Fall Festival Pioneer of the Year, Mary Grant Tompkins, doesn't think of herself as a pioneer. But she certainly comes from a long tradition of pioneering spirit.

Mary's family, the Grants, settled in the Prescott area in 1850s, and the rest is history.

"My great grandfather came here in 1858 and we've been here ever since," Mary said.

The Grant Farm has been up and running, harvesting wheat and very occasionally barley, continuously since its inception.

The early Grants also valued education, Mary recalls. "My great-grandparents had a school," the structure of which still stands. "My great-grandfather heard that his younger cousin married a guy who could teach. He wrote him a letter asking him to come out and teach at his school." So, in 1883 Joe and Carrie Pettijohn Utter came to stay. The following year they endeavored to build the house.

"My grandparents bought this side of the road and the house in 1919," Mary said. The house then sat empty until Mary's parents married in 1933.

Over time, the farmhouse's footprint changed. "Originally it was the kitchen and this [sitting] room, but it stopped there," said Mary, gesturing toward the near wall. There were two bedrooms, but no bathroom and no running water. None of the modern-day conveniences that currently adorn the home.

"There was a porch I think the grandparents added. In maybe 1941, my parents turned that porch into a bedroom. So they had three bedrooms, but by then they had five kids."

"Eventually, in 1943, everything happened after harvest. I suppose they had a little money or something – they moved the wall back. They added the upstairs and a bedroom in the corner. That one was my bedroom."

Mary smiled as she recalled growing up with four brothers. "We all got along," she said.

Two of the five Grant kids stayed in the area, but the majority left only to return later. Mary, true to her education-enthusiast pioneer ancestors, "went away to school at San Jose State. Then I got a master's degree from University of Oregon."

Meanwhile, at the farm, business continued as usual until Mary's father retired in the 70s. "My parents stayed here until they eventually moved into the Oddfellows in 1986," says Mary.

Following their departure, the house sat empty for six years. "I moved back into the house in 1992," she said. "That was 26 years ago now...time flies!"

After her father's retirement, Mary's brothers, Bill and Sam, ran the farm. "My brother Bill passed away in 2009, then Sam passed away in 2010. My other brother, John Grant who has also since passed away, farmed north of Prescott for the Hofer Farm, another century farm. His wife was a Hofer."

Mary is glad the farm is still in the family. "It's really sad when I hear of people selling," Mary said. "I think, my gosh, your family has been there for a long time and where are your roots going for the next generation?"

Sam's son, Mark Grant, runs the farm now with the help of one full-time and one part-time assistant.

At harvest time, Mark enlists the help of his two daughters and son, who are always willing to lend a hand. "They take their vacation [from their jobs] to work the harvest. They love it," Mary said.

Mary was pleasantly surprised to learn of her Pioneer of the Year nomination and is happy to share her family's history.

"Often people don't get into family or history until they're adult and then there's nobody to ask," she said.

Mary surveyed her vintage farm equipment and lawn sculptures overlooking the rolling hills that make up her family's legacy. "As far as I'm concerned it's the best place to live."

Pioneer Fall Festival participants can learn more about Prescott's rich culture, including the Grant family's contributions, through a history exhibit at the Wilson-Phillips House.