Advertisement
In 1978, Alan Venetsky invited around 150 locals to his farm in Williams, Oregon to trade crops at harvest time. This became an annual event with the skunk as its mascot and "Dedicated to the Cultural and Religious Integrity of Natural Peoples Everywhere" as its motto. By 1995, the Barter Fair had exploded into a counter-culture festival spanning three days, drawing over 10,000 people to the historic 156-acre Buckley farm in Ruch ... and also drawing the scrutiny of Jackson County's commissioners and sheriff. In 1996, a new $18,000 fee imposed by the county, and the presence of almost 100 sheriff's deputies with vans ready for mass arrests, caused a significant drop in attendance and led to the demise of the Fair as well as to federal civil rights litigation. Jackson County was found guilty of violating First Amendment rights and paid $60,000 to the Barter Fair organizers.Three participants in the Fair from its early years through the 1990s will share their memories and memorabilia. Jessie Spero recently sold her farm in Williams to move to Phoenix. Maya Reames remains a resident of Williams, as does Michelle Scherer who continues to grow and sell organic produce locally.
More info here: https://jcls.libcal.com/event/16721645
Advertisement
Event venue
Jackson County Library Services - Oregon (Medford Branch), 205 South Central Avenue,Medford, Oregon, United States
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.
Discover more events by tag
History in MedfordStorytelling in MedfordEducation in MedfordArt in MedfordFine-arts in MedfordFestivals in Medford