MEAD, Wash. — As we look at the extent of the damage brought on by Wednesday night's high winds, KREM 2 also wanted to take a look at the impact the weather is having on our farmers.
Siemers Farm is planting its stakes in the ground again.
"We sent all of our kids home, and then the rest of us just sat and watched the weather roll through and do whatever it wanted to our tents," Bert Westover, owner of Siemers Farm, said.
Westover said he hasn't seen a windstorm as large as this week's since he bought the farm in 2020.
Tent after tent flew through the air from the dust storm, with winds blowing them harder than Westover or anyone at the farm expected.
The wind was so powerful, that it not only knocked the stakes out of the ground but in some cases, bent them so far that they snapped in half. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but Westover said the wind caused their harvest festival to be cut short.
"We still don't know if we're going to be open for the weekend," Westover said. "We're making good progress."
Westover is optimistic the Harvest Festival will be open on Saturday, taking Friday, when it was scheduled to take place, to repair every tent for every vendor so folks can enjoy a fall tradition beloved in the Green Bluff community for more than 50 years.
Wednesday's storm emphasizes how the setback isn't the only one farmers are facing in the community.
"It didn't just affect Siemers," Westover said. "It affected quite a few different farms out here. So, each farm is going to be affected whether they're open or not this weekend."
Farms like Siemers are doing whatever they can to prevent it, knowing how strong the winds can get.
You can find out more information about upcoming dates on their Facebook page.