Yesterday we all made a trip to the Raugust Strawberry Farm.

Early morning pickers in strawberry field.

It has been an annual tradition for Janis and I to make the pilgrimage to the Raugust Strawberry Farm each summer for the past 29 years to hunker down among the deep green foliage that makes an attempt to hide the unbelievably red fruits, and breathe in the tantalizing aroma as we rake in buckets of fresh strawberries. We have made this journey as newlyweds… as parents of babies… toddlers and young boys… and now we enjoy picking these delectable fruits with two young men (our grown sons) beside us in the fields. This pilgrimage is now a tradition for a second generation of Shropshires. The owner/operators, Arlin and Connie are also the second generation of Raugusts to live on this land and operate it as a strawberry farm. When Janis and I began this custom, the owners had just recently taken over operations from Arlen’s aging parents and their two sons were home working the fields with them (Grandpa Raugust had raised strawberries for 30 years before Arlin took over, and he and Connie have raised them for 39 years. 2009 will be their 70th year) We watched as their boys grew up, just a few years ahead of our own. We see familiar faces each year and there is hardly ever a trip where we do not recognize and visit with someone. Arlin and Connie have not only built a thriving family business, they have built a community. From the very first year we have received a personal phone call from Connie, as do every one of their hundreds of regulars, letting us know that we can come pick berries a few days before they open the fields up to the general public. When we show up, she greets us by name. If one of us is missing, she asks about them. It is always good to hear of their family and how the season is going. Thousands of local folks have enjoyed coming to these sweet smelling fields over the years to pick strawberries, many establishing their own family traditions. Yes, there is COMMUNITY here in these fields, and it is for this connectedness as well as the fruit that we return year after year.

The Raugust family has always tended the land organically, long before “organic” was ever a buzz word, and for 29 years there has never been a doubt about the product. We know that if the strawberries weren’t quality fruit, then Arlin would not sell them.

Janis, Matthew and Tyler pick berries

Janis, my favorite strawberry picker with owner Arlin Raugust in the background.

Buckets of berries.

As of this writing we have picked 19 gallons of fresh strawberries in three trips (prices are around one fourth the cost of fresh berries in the store). Most will be frozen whole to be added to kefer smoothies throughout the year, some will be dried to sprinkle on treats or just pop in your mouth during winter to remember what summer tastes like, and many will be eaten by the bowlful, fresh, juicy and sweet, floating in honey sweetened goat’s milk – just because we can’t resist. Maybe we’ll have to make yet another trip!

Stemmed and rinsed.

Halved berries and filled racks to dry

Full dehydrator
We bought this dehydrator for Janis a couple years ago form Cabelas and it has been running almost every day since drying fruits, herbs, soaked nuts or making yogurt, etc. It was a very good investment that we make very good use of.

Dried berries 5 gallons reduced to . 75 gallon. (jar & bowl)

30 Frozen Qts. (zip-lock bags)

Fresh (We ate the rest!)

An Uncertain Future

Big AG in the form of mega-dairies have surrounded the strawberry fields and steadily encroach on the homestead and dreams that Grandpa Raugust began long, long ago. It is getting increasingly hard for small, organic/natural farmers to survive amongst the pollution and excess of big dairies in this area. Not to mention what being surrounded by them does to your property values. Also, the children left to go away to college and now cannot see themselves returning to the family farm to continue with dad so that he can help them get established. Their dreams have been shaped by the professors and an educational system that says there is no value in farming. They have left the farm for the city jobs and the lifestyle that accompanies them. They are not interested in the multi-generational nurturing of the land or vision. So by all indications, just a few years from now will see the end of the line for one family’s multi-generational vision…..for the community that has been built there…..as well as for the traditions of so many other families like ourselves. We all touch many more lives than we could ever imagine and the Raugusts have touched many!


Allen