North Douglas Herald
The Stewardship of Sutherlin, Oregon
The definition of stewardship is “the careful and
responsible management of something entrusted
to one’s care.” At the 2024 Oregon Governor’s
Conference on Tourism, the underlying message
was one that reflected this in its commitment to the
future of Oregon and to create for communities a
secure and solid economic future through destination
stewardship.
The City of Sutherlin is achieving this goal through
the combined efforts and stewardship of those with
a shared vision for the city. All working together
and comprising the cornerstone on which to build
the future is the city staff, city council members, the
Sutherlin Downtown Development, Inc. (SDDI), the
Chamber of Commerce and the community. Through
their stewardship, they have brought to fruition the
‘Summer of Sutherlin’ and the city now offers a
myriad of reasons to make the region a destination not
only for a seasonal visit, but also a year round place to
live, work and play.
The official season began with a family friendly
event, ‘Movie Night in the Park’, showing the fan
favorite ‘Goonies.’ The annual summer concert series,
‘Music Off Central’, brings an impressive lineup of
bands to the Grand Central Stage in Sutherlin Central
Park. The concerts are held every Thursday evening
throughout July and August. In the midst of the music,
on the third weekend of July, comes the Second
Annual Sutherlin Throwdown, a combination BBQ
contest, cornhole tournament, all encircled by food
truck vendors, with local wineries and breweries
pouring their liquid gold. The Throwdown is quickly
gaining in reputation as one of the premiere events of
its kind.
This month also saw the return of the Sutherlin
Stampede Rodeo, on hiatus for several years,
but welcomed back with much anticipation and
enthusiasm. The Sutherlin Farmers’ Market is also
a weekly event, held each Thursday, it continues to
grow and thrive, providing a venue for local vendors
from food trucks to handcrafts and musicians. The
36th Annual Blackberry Festival will return in August
with three full days of events beginning on Friday the
16th, Saturday the 17th and Sunday the 18th. The
festival is a community wide event, ranging from a
golf tournament, to a blackberry cooking contest, the
classic car cruise through the streets of Sutherlin and
many activities for the whole family.
The Umpqua Valley is 65 miles long from north to
south and 25 miles wide from east to west. It comprises
one-hundred valleys and is a world renowned wine
region. Sutherlin is the gateway to Umpqua wine
country and is a short distance from several of the 30
plus wineries within the valley. The local wines are an
integral part of the celebrations hosted by the city.
The ‘Jewel in the Crown’ for Sutherlin is Ford’s
Pond Community Park. Once a logging pond, it has
been transformed into an urban oasis. Over a ten year
period, in a collaboration between the Friends of Fords
Pond and the City of Sutherlin, the 202 acres, once
destined to become a receptacle for wastewater, has
become a haven for waterfowl, walking paths and
picnics.
A long-standing building sits in the heart of
downtown Sutherlin, known as the ‘Old Bank
Building.’ A sentinel to the changing times, it is the
literal and visceral cornerstone to the renaissance of
the city. Built of solid sandstone, it is a testament to the
longevity and continued stewardship in guiding The
City of Sutherlin into the future.
August 2024
Roseburg Tradition - Douglas County Fair
Page 5
The Fair’s calliope wagon was built in 1961 by Douglas County Fair Manager, Dick Turley
and friend Jack Smith on an old Oldsmobile frame as a creative way to promote the fairgrounds.
The 2024 Douglas County Fair, it starts in less than a week! “Fair Time is Fun Time!” Douglas
County Commissioners along with the Douglas County Fairgrounds staff and the Douglas County
Fair Board encourage everyone to head on out to the 2024 Douglas County Fair - Wednesday. August
7 through Saturday, August 10, 2024! For more about the 2024 Douglas County Fair log onto their
website at https://douglasfairgrounds.com. See you at the Fair!