Hedlin leads Berry Dairy Days parade

It's a rare spring day when you won't find Dave Hedlin on his family's La Conner farm.

Saturday was one of those days – if only for a couple hours.

The third-generation farming the family property, a key figure in launching Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland and a vocal advocate of organic agriculture, served as Grand Marshal of the 87th annual Berry Dairy Days Grand Parade in Burlington June 15.

"The neat thing about Berry Dairy Days," Hedlin told the Burlington Chamber of Commerce upon his selection to lead the tradition-rich parade, "is that it celebrates the history of agriculture and production and the culture of working together as a community.

"Skagit Valley," he added, "is a pretty remarkable place. It's always nice to be part of a community celebration and I am looking forward to it."

Berry Dairy Days, which fetes the history of Burlington –14 miles northeast of La Conner – as well as the heritage of Skagit Valley agriculture, has been a fixture in the area since 1937. The first Berry Dairy Days featured a giant strawberry shortcake float that was pulled down Fairhaven Avenue in red wagons.

One of the oldest festivals in Skagit County, it is co-hosted by the Burlington Chamber and City of Burlington.

"It's an honor to have Dave Hedlin as our Grand Marshal and celebrate agriculture in Skagit County," Burlington Chamber representatives said in a release.

Since 1974, Hedlin and his wife, Serena Campbell, have farmed nearly 500 acres of diversified crops just outside La Conner. Their family supplies fruit and vegetables to the Hedlin's Family Farm stand near the roundabout as well as several grocery stores, restaurants and food charities.

"In addition to fresh market vegetables, they grow vegetable seed and small grains – including cereal rye, barley and wheat – for feed, malting and local flour mills," the release noted, adding that the stewardship of Hedlin and Campbell is marked by their dedication to the La Conner farm, resulting in it flourishing under their guidance.

The couple is in the process of planning for farm and family succession.

"This will be the first year my nephew, Kai and his wife, Jules, will own and operate the fresh market stand located at the entrance to La Conner," Hedlin told the Burlington Chamber. "Our son, Arne, will become a full partner in the next generation alongside our daughter, Lauren, who will also handle day-to-day operations."

Hedlin, a former La Conner school board member who helped anchor the line for the Braves' legendary undefeated 1968 football team, was honored at the 2022 Celebrate Skagit Harvest Dinner for his yeoman efforts in farmland preservation.

Hedlin and Campbell are widely recognized for their enduring mission to sustain what has been called "the last remaining agricultural valley in Puget Sound."