The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – Larry and Pam Conover are honored to be selected as the 2016 Waitsburg Celebration Days parade marshals. That said, Larry admitted his first thought was, "I didn't think we were old enough! Couldn't they find anybody older? We're officially old now!"

That type of self-deprecating humor, along with a big dose of humility, is typical of the third-generation Waitsburg farmer who makes light of his contributions to the community he proudly calls home.

"I wouldn't live anyplace else!" Larry said, when asked about growing up in Waitsburg.

Larry was born to LZ (Ellsworth) and Sheryl Conover, and he and Pam now live in the Wilson Hollow homestead where LZ was born. LZ and Sheryl live just down the road, as do daughter and son-in-law, Randy and Sandra Farley.

Larry said he did "everything kids do" growing up in Waitsburg, including sports, 4-H, and FFA. His favorite high school memory is being undefeated in football in 1967 and winning the state championship.

"That was an interesting team. It was Jim Leid, Randy Pearson, Robert Maib, JK Keve, Mike Beechinor . . . he was in one of those groups of students that became very successful and gave back to whatever community they were a part of – Mike Hubbard, Dave Hevel, Bill Bloor. Ray Mohney . . ." Pam said.

"They've all done pretty good. And we still keep in touch!" Larry added.

After graduating in 1968, Larry took agriculture classes at Yakima Valley College for two years before returning home to farm wheat, dry peas, and hay on the family farm, where he's remained since. LZ and Sheryl have retired from farming and in 1984 the Conovers went into partnership with Jerry Baker. In 2014 Randy and Sandra Farley joined the partnership to form Wilson Hollow Farms.

Pam "came into the picture" in 1975 when she accepted a teaching job in Dayton. The couple met at a 1975 New Year's Eve party and were married three months later, on April 3, 1976. Together, they raised their daughters Sandra, Diane, and Jane, and now enjoy spending time with their six grandchildren.

The couple's involvement with the Days of Real Sport goes way back. Larry said he ponied horses for over 25 years, starting when he was 16 or 17 years old. When the state changed regulations, he became a field judge and remained involved until the last race in 2010.

Pam sold sno-cones with the Koinonia club each year and helped organize the Queen's Luncheon for 30 years.

"Marilou Smith, Adelle Smith, Lynne McCaw and I used to do it. We were kind of the second-generation group to do it. It was quite a fancy deal – we used to have 80 to 90 people attend – and we had to make all the favors ourselves. Some projects were more successful than others," Pam said, laughing.

The group eventually disbanded, but Pam continued to organize the luncheon until about five or six years ago.

"We had it down to such a science by then, and I had my classroom kids help set up and it was a piece of cake," she said.

Sandra Conover was Days of Real Sport Queen in 1988 and still has the pink coat she wore to DRS events.

The Conovers said one of the most interesting races they recall was the year that Mt. St. Helens blew during the races.

"We were selling sno cones, and we didn't have a booth then, and we didn't know if the ash would be dangerous to breathe or not!" Pam said, laughing. "It got so dark they finally had to cancel the last races. They couldn't see the corner by the grandstands from where they started," she added.

"The last race, they parked a bunch of pickups on the south end of the grandstand so they could see the finish line!" Larry said.

The couple has been actively involved with 4-H, FFA, and the Jr. Livestock Show throughout their marriage. Larry said he was on the Livestock Board "forever," but he's now passed the baton on to Sandra. They both continue to help with the show each year.

Pam was a Home Ec 4-H leader and is still a 4-H judge for Walla Walla County. She worked with the Koinonia Club to provide scholarships and said that Koinonia was the first to have T-Shirts, which had to be ordered from Spokane, with the Days of Real Sport logo.

Pam retired from teaching in Waitsburg in 2011 and joined the Waitsburg Historical Society board. She says her passion is kids and she wasted no time organizing Pioneer Days at the Bruce House. This year, 300 students, including Prescott elementary students, will have the opportunity to listen to historical presentations and participate in hands-on activities.

Pam is board chair for the Waitsburg Resource Center and organized a summer program two years ago.

"That just fell into place. Not one person said no. I can't do a lot of things but I can usually find people who can. There are so many talented people in this community who are willing to help if you just ask," she said.

"It is a good community. I always said when I taught that I could do anything I wanted as long as I could find the money and it was legal. And they supported you. It wasn't me. I might have had the idea, but it's always the other people that make it happen," she said.

And Pam has never been one to think small. She laughed as she recalled the processes of starting the fifth grade ski program and taking a group of elementary students to Florida for a science program. The groups raised funds by sponsoring 5K's, selling cords of wood, selling pizzas, and fundraising dinners. And while he may have remained in the background, Larry was by her side all along the way.

"We do things together," said Pam, motioning between her and Larry. "This is 'we.' And I think we're a pretty good team!"