March 13, 2015
CapitalPress.com
15
Tieton farmers learn by doing
By ERICK PETERSON
For the Capital Press
Scott and Esther McIl-
rath’s farming career began
a bit like the 1960s sitcom
“Green Acres,” but the out-
come has been much differ-
ent.
Unlike the farming nov-
ices played by Eddie Albert
and Eva Gabor, the McIl-
raths have learned their les-
sons and have built a suc-
cessful operation.
While growing up, Scott
admired his grandfather,
who was a farmer. As he
got older, he wanted to be a
farmer, too.
“It was something that I
always wanted, but I didn’t
think that I could afford it,”
he said.
Instead of pursuing agri-
culture, he sold insurance,
but his dream of farming did
not die. His passion for it
only grew.
Selling insurance required
travel, which took him past
farmland and caused him to
think more about becoming
a farmer.
After accumulating mon-
ey through his insurance ca-
reer, he started asking about
farms and their cost and dis-
covered that farming was
not as expensive as he had
thought. There were several
40-acre farms and vineyards
that seemed within his bud-
get.
He was excited about
this information, and he
discussed farming with his
wife, Esther.
It would be quite a risk,
she realized, but it would be
an excellent way for them to
raise their children.
OK, she said, they would
give it a try, even though
they knew nothing about
farming.
They jumped in with both
feet, buying a 30-acre farm
in the Yakima, Wash., area.
Sagebrush flourished and
the sunflowers were tall, but
the plot was all that they
could afford.
Scott said the land was
filled with opportunity.
“I liked the idea that I
could learn how to farm,” he
said. The location, which was
ditch-irrigated, gave him a
chance to learn.
They bought a tractor,
and then picked up equip-
ment, piece by piece. They
built their home the same
McIlrath Farms
Owners: Scott, Esther and
Brian McIlrath
Location: Tieton, Wash.
Acres: 200
Crops: Apples, cherries,
pears, tomatoes, squash,
green beans, sweet corn,
blueberries
Year started: 1976
way, adding on as they
could afford it. They ex-
panded their farm, picking
up local farms as they be-
came available.
Meanwhile, they gained
experience, learning ways to
make the farm more efficient.
One of their most import-
ant lessons, they said, in-
volved labor. Intelligent and
able employees are a trea-
sure, as they help a farm run
smoothly.
A trustworthy, seasoned
workforce more or less takes
over the most important du-
ties, he said.
To retain these employees,
he keeps some on the payroll
throughout the year. And he
has increased the number and
types of crops that he grows,
just to keep them active.
Erik Peterson/For the Capital Press
Scott and Esther McIlrath have learned farming by experience on their 200-acre operation in Tieton, Wash.
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