Barbara Danforth is 2023 Pioneer of the Year

WAITSBURG-The the Waitsburg Historical Society proudly announces Barbara Danforth as the 2023 Pioneer of the Year. Danforth never thought in her wildest dreams that she would one day be "Pioneer of the Year." Both sides of her family were pioneers in Oregon but moved to the farm outside Waitsburg in 1928. "I was stunned as I never dreamt I would receive such an honor," said Danforth.

Born at the original Walla Walla General Hospital on May 6, 1930, Barbara was an only child and raised on a farm in Alto. She attended Alto McKay Country School, a small one-room schoolhouse, for six years before entering the seventh grade in Waitsburg.

Growing up in the rolling hills of southeastern Washington, fourteen miles from town, offered challenges when she was a girl. One had to be very resourceful in those days of primitive roads and limited transportation.

Barbara met her husband, Bob Danforth, at Waitsburg High School after he moved from Cheney, Washington, in his senior year. They dated off and on during high school and after. They attended different colleges. Barbara at Whitman College, and Bob went to the University of Washington before he joined the Marine Corps.

Theirs was a match meant to be, and they were married the summer after Barbara graduated from Whitman College in 1952. They lived in California until Bob went to Korea in 1953.

In June 1954, after Bob returned from Korea and was discharged from the Marine Corps, he went right to work on Barbara's family farm. After harvest, Bob and Barbara relocated to the family farm where they lived until they moved to Walla Walla in 2006.

Barb received a sociology major from Whitman College. She worked in the sociology field for a few years and then took on the job of a full-time farm wife. Farm work, including cooking for the crew, was something Barb relished.  She appreciated the girls that came to help at the farm, and she considered them a part of the family. Barb retired in 1996.

"We have a very close family.," said Barbara. "I have three children, Rob, Susie and David."

She also has eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren whom she says she greatly enjoys.

A church elder involved in Eastern Stars, Rainbow Girls, and PEO kept Barb busy.  She also was on the board of the Children's Home Society, the Walla Walla Community College Foundation Board of Governors, and the Whitman College Alumni Board.  Barb was honored with the Waitsburg High School Alumni Association Service Award.  She was also a past Queen of Waitsburg Days of Real Sport.

And even now, while living in Walla Walla, she has remained a member of the Waitsburg Presbyterian Church since joining in 1954; she is also a 59-year member of PEO and a 69-year member of Eastern Star.

Barbara said she always looks forward to going to the Pioneer Fall Festival. The annual event embraces the area's heritage, offers live Bluegrass music, great food, a horse-drawn carriage, and a vintage fashion show. And of course, there will be pies vying for prizes in the Laurette McCaw Pi-oneer Baking Contest.

Come to Waitsburg's Fall Festival and celebrate with Danforth, this year's Pioneer of the Year, on Sunday, September 17 from noon to 4 p.m.