Quincy connects farmers to consumers at Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month AGO
A bull could be found among the dancing horses during the Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day parade in Quincy Sept. 12.
CHERYL SCHWEIZER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
While shopping at the fundraising Quincy FFA fundraising sale, Customer Heather Doncaster chats with her FFA assistants, Sophia Rodriguez (center) and Anailil Sandoval (right).
A participant in the annual Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day parade throws candy to kids along the route.
A spectator at the FCAD car show reacts to all the buttons in a modern car.
Contestants plow their way through the doughnuts in the doughnut-eating contest sponsored by the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Quincy High School FFA members wave to the crowd from the float in the annual FCAD parade.
A participant in the Quincy FCAD parade sees stars.
The Quincy High School marching band plays a tune during the annual FCAD parade Sept. 12.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | September 16, 2026 3:00 AM
QUINCY — From two-story tractors to dancing horses to the FFA produce sale, Quincy's Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day Sept. 12 emphasized the importance of agriculture – to the world in general as well as Quincy.
Not that everything was about agriculture; in its 45 years, FCAD has added a lot of other activities, from a car show to live music to games for children.
The owners of DeHoog Dairy led the parade down Quincy's main street as the Farmers of the Year, followed by the family of Yesenia James, a longtime FCAD volunteer who passed away earlier this year. James was remembered with the Honorary Farmer award.
Volunteers from the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum walked the parade route in 1776 costumes in commemoration of the nation's 250th anniversary. Sherri Kooy had to hike up her Colonial-era skirts and run after the float a couple of times, but it wasn't her fault, she said. She was among the museum volunteers who took the 250th anniversary program to schools, and she kept meeting the kids along the route, and naturally she had to stop and talk, she said.
It's tradition that the Quincy High School FFA sets up in the Quincy Middle School parking lot for its annual produce sale, and the lot was filled with both produce and shoppers. The customers included Heather Doncaster, who said she was in town for the 30th class reunion.
"Oh, that's when my mom graduated," said FFA member Sophia Rodriguez. "No, my dad."
The QMS gym was filled with vendors and information booths from local organizations. The Quincy Rotary served lunch that featured foods grown in the Quincy Valley.
The car show attracted plenty of entries, even on a day with rain in the weather forecast. Venny Trujillo, George, brought his 2011 Harley-Davidson, which he modified to look old–school – very old-school, 1948 to be exact.
In high school all his friends wanted low riders, Trujillo said, but he was a motorcycle guy.
"Always, always," he said.
The potential rain meant he got off work early, he said, and had just enough time to make it to town for the car show.
Rob Glenn, Sunland, brought three entries, including his Chevy S10 Blazer roadster. The Blazer did not leave the factory as a roadster – cutting off the top was entirely Glenn's inspiration.
"I hate to say, that's the result of too much beer," he said.
His wife Jo likes it, however, so he's unlikely to sell it.
The field behind QMS was filled with food vendors, antique tractors, live music and games. A mom with two children surveyed the field.
"What else should we do while we're here?" she asked.
While shopping at the fundraising Quincy FFA fundraising sale, Customer Heather Doncaster chats with her FFA assistants, Sophia Rodriguez (center) and Anailil Sandoval (right).
A participant in the annual Farmer-Consumer Awareness Day parade throws candy to kids along the route.
A spectator at the FCAD car show reacts to all the buttons in a modern car.
Contestants plow their way through the doughnuts in the doughnut-eating contest sponsored by the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Quincy High School FFA members wave to the crowd from the float in the annual FCAD parade.
A participant in the Quincy FCAD parade sees stars.
The Quincy High School marching band plays a tune during the annual FCAD parade Sept. 12.ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
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