Jubilee Recap

WOW! What a night! Our deepest gratitude to each and everyone of you who attended our Golden Jubilee on August 9th and a very heartfelt thanks to the thousands of individuals who have supported the Co-op in one way or another over the last 50 years to make the evening possible in the first place. It was an honor to celebrate such a momentous occasion with friends, family, colleagues, and a sea of familiar cooperators.

The Golden Jubilee took place from 4pm-8pm on the Skagit Riverwalk, adorned with tables, chairs, tents, bright florals, and a massive stage. Music was played! Food was eaten! Fun was had! Memories were shared, and memories were made. The afternoon began with a few words from Co-op General Manager Tony White, and of course, food and drink from your Co-op, COA, The Skagit Table, Slow Food Youth Network, Taste of India, and District Brewing. No party is complete without a beer garden, so thank you to District for opening its patio and putting our Co-Hop Anniversary Ale on sale!

Our downtown neighbors Tri-Dee Arts and ContoursFX showed up, too! Tri-Dee helped tie-dye nearly 500 Co-op tees, while artists from ContoursFX painted face after tiny face. The lines were long, but worth it.

Musical performances on the Magic Skagit kicked off with a vibrant set of old-time fiddle tunes by The Nematones (whose band members include local farmers and Co-op Board Members), followed by another up-and-coming local group, The Wes Jones Trio.

We then had the pleasure of hearing from six individuals whose stories of and involvement with the Co-op are impactful: longtime General Manager Todd Wood, former Board Member Frances Ambrose, Board President Tom Theisen, farmer (and voracious advocate of local and organic agriculture) Anne Schwartz, Viva Farms Executive Director Michael Frazier, and the current General Manager Tony White. And finally, all dressed in blue, Yogoman Burning Band brought the family-friendly funk to tie a bow on a brilliant 50th celebration. It was something special.

Here’s to the next 50 years. Cheers!

 

Call for Photos

If you have any photos from the Jubilee you’d be willing to share, please send them to community@skagitfoodcoop.com

Between each set, we gave away nearly $4,000 worth of prizes from amazing businesses right here in Skagit. We received several table bouquet donations, and the majority of flowers used in the arches and other bouquets came from Jesalyn at Mossy Gate Flower Farm and from Seattle Wholesale Grower’s Market Cooperative. Nick of Napping Lion Farm strung together all the lovely marigold garlands. The folks at Seattle Wholesale were particularly kind, helpful and generous. They graciously offered to pick up our huge flower order from Seattle and drop if off at the Co-op because they happened to be there for a delivery.

THANK YOU to all these donors. If you want to support local this holiday season (or any season), start here:

  • ElSage Shop

  • PAVE Jewlery & Design

  • Fran's Hallmark (Makers)

  • Bare Boutique

  • Calico Cupboard

  • La Catrina

  • Forte Chocolates

  • Tacos Tecalitlan

  • Astraea Bridal

  • Poirier's

  • Skagit Running Company

  • Harmony Fields

  • Chuckanut Brewery

  • Bloom Apothecary

  • Katt's Westside Stories

  • Terramar Brewing

  • Mt. Baker Gymnastics

  • Lang's Horse and Pony

  • Skagit Valley Burgers

  • Christianson's Nursery

  • handmade. la conner

  • Mystical Wares

  • Skagit YMCA

  • Skagit Skate

  • Revival Cocktail Lounge

  • LIDO Collective

  • Bee Merry Farm

  • Stowes Shoes

  • COA

  • Skagit Valley Food Co-op

  • Avalon Links

  • Adrift Restaurant

  • Blue Cow Car Wash

  • 13 moons

  • Water Tank Bakery

  • Island Adventure Cruises

  • Kids Stuff

  • The Apothecary Spa

  • Wild Valley Apothecary

  • Tulip Valley Farms

  • bLoom Floral

  • Napping Lion Farm

  • Shelbee Blooms

  • Maggie’s Garden & Stems

  • Wild Child Flowers

  • Blackburn Gardens

  • Grass Becomes A Wave

  • Mossy Gate Flower Farm

Leigha StaffenhagenComment