A homage to fromage
Tillamook’s June Dairy Parade is the big cheese
By Andrea McCabe
Oregon Coast TODAY
Tillamook’s 66th annual June Dairy Parade will be held this Saturday, June 24, bringing the cream of the crop to Main Street.
The parade, which began in the 1920s and is now the third largest in Oregon, showcases the rich history and influence of dairy farming in Tillamook. This year's theme “Trees, Streams and Dairy Dreams,” honors the timber, fishing and dairy industries that are prevalent in Tillamook and the surrounding areas.
Head over to the Tillamook Farmers Market before the parade begins to grab a treat. Once the parade ends, the annual rodeo held at the fairgrounds is an entertaining way to continue the celebration.
This year’s parade boasts more than 100 entries — some old, some new. Regulars include The Swiss Society, Rosarians from Portland, Rodeo Courts & Horses, the Model T Club and Astoria Clowns.
Tammy Samagaio, office and visitor center manager for Tillamook Chamber of Commerce, said the dairy parade has a positive impact on the community.
“It's a hometown parade, so we have anywhere from 10,000 to 15,000 people show up and most of them are all local,” Samagaio said. “Even if people have moved away they will come back with family members to enjoy. It is a nice, hometown-feel parade.”
The parade highlights the heritage of Tillamook County, where Swiss culture has played a prominent role for generations.
“Tillamook County is known for its Swiss heritage and Swiss families,” Samagaio said, “so we have some entries that are based on that.”
One such entry is the Tillamook Swiss Society, a nonprofit organization that has been holding meetings and celebrating Swiss cultural history since 1922. Last November it inducted 55 new members during its centennial celebration. Many Swiss immigrants who moved to Oregon in the 1850s were dairy farmers. This farming heritage, combined with terrain similar to Swiss immigrants' home country, set the stage for the strong dairy industry the area enjoys to this day.
“Dairying, the Swiss language, Swiss foodways and music traditions all became an integral part of life in the new territory that looked so much like Switzerland itself,” Tillamook Swiss Society Secretary Julie Hurliman said.
The Swiss Society keeps traditional Swiss culture and heritage alive by hosting meetings and activities throughout the year.
Be sure to bring friends and family and join in on this exciting event Saturday, June 24. The annual Tillamook Dairy parade will begin at 11 am on Main Street. For more information, go to tillamookchamber.org.
The parade’s main sponsor is the Tillamook County Creamery Association.
Since 1909 farmer-owners have produced dairy for the Tillamook County Creamery to create the rich ice cream, cheese, butter and other products that Oregonians take pride in.
“We cared for our farmer-owners, who cared for the land, which sustained healthier cows, which provided better milk,” a creamery spokesperson said. “And better milk made better dairy products. It’s a simple recipe that we’ve followed for over a century and it has never failed.”
This certified B corporation works to make a positive impact on the community by providing tasty treats, setting goals to reduce its environmental footprint and contributing to the fight against food insecurity.