KHEM Farms
KHEM Farms
John Paulson and wife (?)
Ray “Pea-vine” Paulson and his son, Wilbur.
Paul Faires and friend Mary Nell.
Arlin, Kevin, Wilbur Paulson
Kevin & Helen
Erin and her kiddos
Paulson History:
John Paulson started the family farm in 1887.
He immigrated at the age of 15 from Norway and arrived via Ellis Island. He worked as an indentured servant for family relatives in the Fargo North Dakota area. He came to Dayton in 1885 and worked in the lumber yard with his brother Ollie. In 1887, John bought a quarter (160 acres) from the Marshall Field Company for $2.50/acre – the company was selling railroad land 6 miles west of Rosalia, Washington. John had team of horses (2 horses) and a one bottom plow. He not only plowed out land for himself, but others in the area. At this time, the only crop was wheat. John’s first crop was eaten by squirrels, and the second was lost to drought. He was not able to get a crop until his third year, despite being broke he was able to continue.
John’s son Ray Paulson, nickname “Pea-vine” got his start in farming raising potatoes, in the early 1930’s he began raising dry peas, hence the nickname pea-vine. In the Rosalia area he was the first farmer to have a pea combine, he would lease ground from other area farms to raise peas – his son Wilbur says they were able to harvest 1400 acres of peas. Ray was significantly impacted by the Great Depression at his death in 1991 he owned 265 acres. Ray’s homestead, which is located on the John Paulson creek (named September 3, 2008) which was bought in 1942.
Ray’s son Wilbur Paulson got his start in 1951 at age 24 he bought 160-acre farm known as the Dick Babb place. Wilbur took his inheritance from his mother Lydia Leitz (The Leitz family famed in the Waverly area) who passed in 1933, as his down payment. Wilbur just celebrated his 94th birthday on February 22, 2021.
Faires History:
Joe Faires started farming near Colfax in 1917.
The farm at that time was roughly 480 acres. The farming was done under the power of horse drawn machinery.
Paul Faires, Joe’s nephew, joined the farm operation in 1943 with his wife, Martha. They used a model M tractor to get them started. Prior to Paul Fairies passing in February of 2000 he farmed roughly 885 acres.
Today:
These two farms make up today’s KHEM Farms
KHEM Farms was established in 2007 and combines the Faires Family Farm and the Paulson Family Farm. It consists of Kevin and Helen (Faires) Paulson, their daughters Erin Lundt and Marla Mathison. Kevin manages the farm. Together, they farm roughly 1,900 acres. Kevin’s brother, Arlin, and his dad, Wilbur, also still farm with the family.
While they continue to raise legumes, roughly 60% of their farm is wheat. Harvest is still a family affair today.
biggest changes:
A lot has changed on the farm, especially since Wilbur’s generation. Horses have been replaced by wheels & engines.
The size and efficiency has changed dramatically. Before they would harvest for 50-60 days, and today they will harvest for 20 days (plus they are harvesting about 10 times the amount of land!)
The safety on the farm has advanced too, before it was common to have someone get hurt, but that is unheard of today.
“You are one broken bolt away from a 30-minute fix to a 3-hour fix.”
Also there has been so much science, education and studies that now they, “know better, we are doing better, and the land is better taken care of.”
The importance of family is critical on the farm, and is one of the best parts.
Everyone helps out, from the kids to the grandparents, they all do what they can to get the job done.
Erin has three kids (and another due in June 2021), and her sister Marla has one daughter. They hope that one day they can pass on the family legacy to their children. She loves how they get to see first-hand the love of the land and the love of the industry.