The Initiative for Rural Innovation & Stewardship (IRIS) designed the Gathering Our Voice program to celebrate and strengthen our shared sense of place. The program brings the people of North Central Washington together to gather and share stories from the past that can be used to create the story of the future. We seek to build on what has worked before and to adapt those successes to the context of today and tomorrow.
August 29, 2014 — Find your part in Wenatchee as a newcomer to the area — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World or download a PDF of the complete article. The column features excerpts from a 2012 interview with Fahy McKee, Mike McKee and Dan Jackson. For the full transcript of the April 20, 2012 interview, visit the Transcripts page.
August 7, 2014 — Leading the way on Wenatchee’s riverfront — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World or download a PDF of the complete article. The column features excerpts from a 2009 interview with Joan Allan. For the full transcript of the September 29, 2009 interview, visit the Transcripts page.
April 4, 2014 — Keeping the land together in the Okanogan — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World or download a PDF of the complete article. The column features excerpts from a group interview with ranchers Brian and Cynthia Nelson, Bob and Nancy Barnes and Wynn and Wendy Schell.
February 21, 2014 — A century of Wenatchee living: Esther Stevens Todd left a lifetime of memories from a simpler, but tougher, time — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Esther Stevens Todd. For the full transcript of the September 7, 2012 interview, visit the Transcripts page.
February 14, 2014 — A way to shape the region’s future success — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column invites the community to get involved in interviewing people about their successes. For tips and questions visit the Sample Interview Questions page.
December 13, 2013 — ‘Plain’s the only place to live,’ pioneer daughter says — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Betty Newell. For the full transcript of the May 8, 2012 interview, visit the Transcripts page.
November 15, 2013 — Pitching in to make Rock Island work — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Whitey Evenhus. For the full transcript of the April 18, 2012 interview, visit the Transcripts page.
June 28, 2013 — After 78 years, Don Olin is sold on Entiat — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Don Olin. For the full transcript of the December 5, 2012 interview, visit the Transcripts page.
May 24, 2013 — Born in a barn: Wenatchee Row & Paddle Club — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Larry Tobiska and Eliot Scull. For the full transcript of the November 9, 2012 interview, visit the Transcripts page. To listen to excerpts of the interview with Larry Tobiska and Eliot Scull and to learn more about the Wenatchee Row & Paddle Club, visit the Paddler’s Point page.
May 3, 2013 — ‘When you enjoy yourwork, it’s not really work’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Les Julian. To listen to excerpts of an interview with Les Julian and others about the Entiat Ranger District, visit the Entiat Ranger District page.
April 12, 2013 — Ethel Poole: Living up to expectations in Mansfield — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Ethel Poole. For the full transcript of the January 14, 2011 interview with Ethel Poole, visit the Transcripts page. To listen to excerpts of an interview with Ethel Poole and others about the Mansfield Museum, visit the Mansfield Museum page.
March 29, 2013 — Sustainability starts at home for each generation — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Corky Broaddus. For the full transcript of the October 25, 2011 interview with Corky Broaddus, visit the Transcripts page.
March 8, 2013 — Painting the community into the Entiat School — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Betty Deatherage. For the full transcript of the December 5, 2012 interview with Betty Deatherage, visit the Transcripts page.
February 22, 2013 — Paying attention to place in Leavenworth — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2005 interview with Cot Rice. For the full transcript of the December 6, 2005 interview with Cot Rice, visit the Transcripts page.
February 8, 2013 — Learning by doing in the Methow Valley — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Jay Stokes, a Methow Valley family rancher. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Methow visit: Methow Voice. For the full transcript of the December 30, 2004 interview with Jay Stokes, visit the Transcripts page.
January 25, 2013 — A commitment to Entiat — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Phil Archibald, a retired fisheries biologist for the 268,000-acre Entiat Ranger District. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Entiat visit: Entiat Voice. For the full transcript of the December 12, 2012 interview with Phil Archibald, visit the Transcripts page.
December 7, 2012 — ‘Starting up again’ in Entiat — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Bob Whitehall, Entiat public works director. To view the timeline referenced in this column click here To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Entiat visit: Entiat Voice.
November 2, 2012 — Entiat native learned labor’s lessons — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Conard Petersen, a man who learned “what good work was worth” growing up in the Entiat Valley in the 1930s and ’40s. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Entiat visit: Entiat Voice.
October 19, 2012 — ‘The Entiat Way’ is a satisfying path for local schoolteacher — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Peggy Whitmore, a third-generation resident and longtime Entiat schoolteacher. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Entiat visit: Entiat Voice. For the full transcript of the August 21, 2012 interview with Peggy Whitmore, visit the Transcripts page.
September 28, 2012 — Fire officer protecting his home — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Kyle Cannon, an Entiat Ranger Boss. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Entiat visit: Entiat Voice.
September 7, 2012 — Connecting community in the Entiat Valley — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Keith Vradenburg. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Entiat visit: Entiat Voice.
August 24, 2012 — The taste of rural traditions — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Mary Ellen Wax. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page.
August 3, 2012 — Good summers growing up in Wenatchee’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2007 interview with Wilfred Woods. For the full transcript of the October 5, 2007 interview with Wilfred Woods, visit the Transcripts page.
July 20, 2012 — Gathering Our Voice: Tales of life from the heights to the mountains — See the
Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2012 interview with Lucy Keane. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about Rock Island, visit the Rock Island Listening Post page. For the full transcript of the interview with Lucy Keane, visit the Transcripts page.
June 15, 2012 — Gathering Our Voice: Creating a ‘moving community center’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with Tina Scull. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about the Loop Trail, visit the 2009 Wenatchee Voice page. For the full transcript of the interview with Tina Scull, visit the Transcripts page.
May 25, 2012 — Gathering Our Voice: The story of a community treasure — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2010 interview with volunteers and former board members of the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center.
May 11, 2012 — Gathering Our Voice: Fire interpretive center idea burns bright — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with founding board members of Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from, visit the 2009 Entiat Voice page. For the full transcript of the interview, visit the Transcripts page.
March 29, 2012 — Making things happen in the Methow Valley — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with Fran Johnson. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Fran Johnson, visit the Transcripts page.
March 8, 2012 — Clearing canals – a seasonal ritual — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2006 interview with Rick Smith. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page.
February 23, 2012 — Gathering Our Voice: How Bob Parlette finally found his way to the river — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with Bob Parlette. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about the Loop Trail, visit the 2009 Wenatchee Voice page. For the full transcript of the interview with Bob Parlette, visit the Transcripts page.
February 9, 2012 — Gathering food, building community — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Cayle Diefenbach. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Cayle Diefenbach, visit the Transcripts page.
January 26, 2012 — The post-war boom: ‘It was an interesting time’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2007 interview with Wilfred Woods. For the full transcript of the interview with Wilfred Woods, visit the Transcripts page.
January 12, 2012 — Gathering Our Voice: Leaning into winter — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2008 interview with Kjell Bakke. For the full transcript of the interview with Kjell Bakke, visit the Transcripts page.
December 15, 2011 — Valuing food from close to home — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Charlotte Massey. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Charlotte Massey, visit the Transcripts page.
December 1, 2011 — ‘We weren’t poor; we just didn’t have any money’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2003 interview with Gene Fitzgerald and Helen Hitchner. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Gene and Helen, visit the Transcripts page.
November 17, 2011 — Everybody brings something to the table — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Mikael Hernandez. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Mikael Hernandez, visit the Transcripts page.
October 27, 2011 — Growing food and community in the Methow Valley — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with Dave Sabold. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Dave Sabold, visit the Transcripts page.
October 13, 2011 – Matching music to place – See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features an interview with Tanya Lawson, Sherry Krebs, and Connie Celustka, the members of All Strings Considered, about their group and the music they have contributed to the “Foodways & Byways” project. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page.
September 29, 2011 — Getting the milk out in Leavenworth — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2006 interview with Pat Stoudt. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Pat Stoudt, visit the Transcripts page.
September 15, 2011 — ‘Farm for the breaks’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Paul Hinderer. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Paul Hinderer, visit the Transcripts page.
September 1, 2011 — Blending traditions of place — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Pedro Sandoval. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Pedro Sandoval, visit the Transcripts page.
August 18, 2011 — ‘There were no teenagers’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Arnie Marchand. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Arnie Marchand, visit the Transcripts page.
August 4, 2011 — Good soil and good neighbors on Badger Mountain — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with John Ruud. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with John Ruud, visit the Transcripts page.
July 21, 2011 — How Baker Flats became orchard land — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2010 interview with Jack Feil. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Jack Feil, visit the Transcripts page.
June 23, 2011 — A garden of memories– See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2011 interview with Patricia Ortiz. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Patricia Ortiz, visit the Transcripts page.
June 9, 2011 — Creating a community centerpiece for Mansfield — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World, which features excerpts of a 2010 interview with Darold Wax and others about the Mansfield Museum. To listen to excerpts of the interview, visit the Mansfield Museum page. For the full transcript of the interview with Darold Wax, Ethel Poole, Tom Snell, Linda Bayless, Colleen Black, Elsie MacIntyre, Doug Tanneberg, and Helen Kemp, visit the Transcripts page.
May 26, 2011 — Remembering Withrow’s horse-drawn days — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2006 interview with Marvin Ludeman. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Marvin Ludeman, visit the Transcripts page.
May 12, 2011 — Memories of the early apple orchards of Pateros — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2010 interview with Joan Brownlee. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Joan and Philip Brownlee, visit the Transcripts page.
April 28, 2011 — The ‘key to unlocking the doors’ of Confluence Gallery — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with Sybil Macapia about creation and growth of the Confluence Gallery & Art Center. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several supporters of the Confluence Gallery, visit the 2009 Methow Voice page. For the full transcript of the interview with Sybil and others, visit the Transcripts page.
April 14, 2011 — Making a small farm work in Douglas County — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2005 interview with Gene Weimerskirch about his family’s farm. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Gene Weimerskirch, visit the Transcripts page.
March 24, 2011 — Memories of Manson’s early orchard business — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2010 interview with Carol Peters about her memories. To view segments of the “Foodways & Byways” video, visit the Foodways & Byways page. For the full transcript of the interview with Carol Peters, visit the Transcripts page.
March 10, 2011 — On the fire line since 1935 — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with Bob Shank about fighting fires in the Entiat. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center, visit the 2009 Entiat Voice page. For the full transcript of the interview with Bob and Wanita Shank, visit the Transcripts page.
February 24, 2011 — Bringing the Loop Trail to life — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2009 interview with Wilfred Woods and others about how the Apple Capital Loop Trail got started. To see photos and listen to interview excerpts from several people about the Loop Trail, visit the 2009 Wenatchee Voice page. For the full transcript of the group interview about the Trail, visit the Transcripts page.
February 10, 2011 — Memories of skiing in ‘cow country’ — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2008 interview with Bruce Zahn about Okanogan County’s skiing pioneers. For the full transcript of the interview with Bruce Zahn, visit the Transcripts page.
January 27, 2011 — When winter was ‘rocking chair’ time — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2006 interview with Harriet Bullitt about winters in the Leavenworth area. For the full transcript of the interview with Harriet Bullitt, visit the Transcripts page.
January 13, 2011 — Making winter fun at Squilchuck, before Mission Ridge — See the Gathering Our Voice column in The Wenatchee World. The column features excerpts of a 2008 interview with Bud Weeks about skiing at Squilchuck. For the full transcript of the interview with Bud Weeks, visit the Transcripts page.