Beloved Skagit Valley Farmers Mike & Jeanne Youngquist to Lead 88th Annual Berry Dairy Days Parade as Grand Marshals Saturday, June 21st, 2025

Burlington, WA— 6/4/25 — Mike and Jeanne Youngquist, longtime Skagit County berry farmers and respected community leaders, have been named Grand Marshals of the 88th Annual Berry Dairy Days Festival, presented by Peoples Bank and supported by Skagit Farmers Supply & Country Store and Swinomish Casino & Lodge. The Youngquist farm, Mike and Jean’s Berry Farm, has been a cornerstone of the local agricultural community for decades—supplying fresh berries, building strong community ties, and shaping generations of local youth.

 A Lifelong Journey in Agriculture

 Mike and Jean both grew up on farms—Mike on the Youngquist Homestead in Mount Vernon, home to Vernway Farms and internationally recognized Holstein dairy cattle. Jean began picking berries at the age of 8, working for several Skagit Valley growers. Both were active in 4-H and graduated from Washington State University with degrees in Agriculture and Home Economics, respectively.

 After marrying, Mike worked as a fieldman with National Frozen Foods, while Jean taught Home Economics. In the early 1970s, they expanded the family farm to include 10 acres of strawberries, and soon the operation blossomed into Mike and Jean’s Berry Farm. Their workforce included local youth and schoolteachers, transported in colorfully painted school buses named after Peanuts characters. Over time, the farm grew to include raspberries and other crops, with berry stands in Oak Harbor, Sedro-Woolley, and Mount Vernon.

 Adapting to Change and Building Community

 When berry processing ended at National Frozen Foods in Burlington, the Youngquist’s pivoted by building their own on-farm processing facility. Their berries reached restaurants in Chicago, dessert winemakers in California, and homes throughout Washington. One Chicago restaurant still features a three-pound raspberry pie using Mike and Jean’s berries—proudly crediting Skagit County on the menu.

 The couple also worked closely with the WSU Research Station to grow specialty varieties for wine makers like Bonny Doon Vineyard and Pasek Cellars, helping elevate Skagit raspberries to national acclaim.

 Service clubs like Rotary and Kiwanis also relied on the Youngquist’s for fundraising berry sales across the Northwest. Even after selling their processing equipment to Boxx Berry Farm, Mike and Jean continued supplying fresh and frozen berries to loyal customers, ice cream makers, and sports teams.

Growing More Than Crops

 In response to changes in labor laws and an increased reliance on Hispanic crews, Mike and Jean took steps to support their workers—developing housing and even founding a preschool, The Berry Good School, to provide childcare for farm families. "Our crew were more than employees; they became friends and extended family," says Jean.

 Honoring Tradition and Giving Thanks

 For Mike and Jean, being named Grand Marshals is a full-circle moment. Jean recalls attending Berry Dairy Days as a young girl in the late 1940s and early ’50s—enjoying tightrope walkers, clowns, street entertainment, parades, strawberry shortcake, and BBQ salmon. Their involvement in the festival has continued throughout the years, providing strawberries for shortcake and celebrating Skagit’s farming heritage.

 “We want to use this honor to thank the community—for supporting farmland and standing behind local agriculture,” says Mike. “Skagit County could have become a sprawl of warehouses and industry. Instead, it remains a place where farming still thrives.”

 Advice for Future Farmers

 Mike and Jean’s advice for aspiring berry farmers is practical and honest: "Find a niche. Know your market. Understand the regulations. Surround yourself with good people and good resources—like the WSU Research Station. And marry a spouse with a good job and benefits!" Jean adds with a smile.

 Farming, they agree, has been a life filled with “semi-controlled chaos,” challenges, and deep fulfillment. “We are grateful to have had this life, and we thank Skagit County. And don’t forget those radio updates from KBRC and KAPS: 'Mike and Jean are on schedule… or two hours late—it’s raining in Skagit County!'”

 Celebrate 88 Years of Tradition at Berry Dairy Days!

 For 88 years, Berry Dairy Days has been a cherished tradition in Skagit County, celebrating Burlington’s deep roots in agriculture, farming, and community spirit. Since its debut in 1937, with a giant strawberry shortcake paraded down E. Fairhaven Avenue in red wagons, the festival has grown while staying true to its heritage.

 In 1965, the Burlington Chamber of Commerce took the reins and, alongside the City of Burlington, proudly continues to co-host this beloved event. As one of Skagit County’s longest-running festivals, Berry Dairy Days still shines a spotlight on the region’s vibrant farming legacy.

Today, the festival blends old and new with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, the iconic Grand Parade, Festival in the Park at Skagit River Park, and of course, plenty of delicious strawberry shortcake all weekend long. Join us in celebrating 88 years of Burlington pride and community! Visit www.berrydairydays.com for a full festival schedule of events and locations.