Our annual Spring Garden Fair got its start at the same time the Clackamas County Master Gardeners were coming together as a group. The following outline and photos give a glimpse into that history.

a living history - 1984 to present

1983 –

March 14 – The first meeting was held. Eight members attended to explore the

formation of a Clackamas County area Master Gardeners chapter of the OMGA

(Oregon Master Gardener Association)

April – The first Fuchsia Sale fund raiser was held. The sale earned $263.25

1984 –

April - Spring Fling Fuchsia

Sale held at the Clackamas

County Fairgrounds, in the

Main Pavilion. Proceeds

were $271.50. There were

seven vendors at that first

Fair.

August – Clackamas County

Fair – first Master Gardener

clinic

1985

May 3 &4 – The 2nd Annual

Spring Garden Fair was held

at the Clackamas County

Fairgrounds with 20 vendors

that sold out their plants.

First soil testing at SGF. 300

litmus tests were done.

1986 –

First Silent Auction and Raffle. Plants were donated by local nurseries for prizes.

Chapter begins to offer food/snacks during the fair. Items were “home-made” by 4-H

and Clackamas County Master Gardener members

1988 –

Spring Garden Fair

attendance

reaches 3000

Chapter

membership is 34

1989

Designed and

built a

“spectacular”

Master Gardener

clinic booth at the

CCF. Over 1000

questions were

answered that

year.

1990 –

The first pH meter for soil testing was donated by Precision Castparts.

Awarded one full ride scholarship to a horticulture student at Clackamas Community

College. Each year following, two scholarships have been awarded.

1991 –

Soil Testing committee was formed as they began using the new pH meter. A second

meter was soon added.

1992 –

Spring Garden Fair sees

an attendance of 7,000.

Giveaways at the SGF

included free seed

packets and tree

seedlings

Constructed and

dedicated the Jerry

Mickelson Memorial

(fountain) on the

grounds at the

Clackamas County Fair.

1995 –

SGF expands to the back porch of the Main Pavilion and out on to the Main Lawn.

1995

1996 –

Spring Garden Fair outgrows the Main Pavilion and moves vendors to the livestock barn

and the carnival infield. * This was the only year the SGF was held in the livestock barn.

Clinic, soil testing, raffle and society booths remained in the 4-H building. This was also

the beginning of the Educational Displays in 4- H Hall.

2001 –

Begin charging $1.00 admission to the Spring Garden Fair

2001 –

2001 –

Food service and Ask a Master Gardener tent on the Carnival Lot.

2002 –

Spring Garden Fair plant check moves from the fence line to the Livestock Barn. This

provided a way for shoppers to drive to the door to pick up their plants. Plant check was

house in the Livestock barn until 2014.

Spring Garden Fair added the vendors to the Grove section of the Fairgrounds

2004 –

20th Annual Spring Garden

Spring Garden Fair Admission raised to $2.00

2005-

Spring Garden Fair adds two ATM’s to the grounds

2006-

10-Minute University is

developed by chapter

members to fill the need

to educate the public

about gardening. This

program received the

Search for Excellence

Award from the OMGA

that same year.

Spring Garden Fair – First

10-Minute University

classes are held in

Clackamas Hall

Cart Service available for

the first time – students

towing wagons for tips.

This later becomes Plant

Taxi service

2007 –

Spring Garden Fair introduces New Plant introductions as part of the Silent Auction.

Their booth was located where the Potting Station is now.

2008 –

Spring Garden Fair introduces

the Potting Station. The New

Plant Introduction shared the

space with the Potting Station

this year.

The Vendor/Master Gardener

Hospitality room in Horning

Hall was added.

Spring Garden Fair Entrance

Fee raised to $3.00

2009 –

Spring Garden Fair - 25th Annual

Spring Garden Fair celebration

Expanded Food Court provided

by outside food vendors

New Plant Introductions moves

out to the carnival lot where it’s

still located

2010 –

Spring Garden Fair commissions a new logo to

represent the Fair. At this point the appearance

of our printed materials changed dramatically.

2011 -

Spring Garden Fair Vendors number over 200. Vendors are moved out to the Main

Lawn in addition to the Carnival Lot and The Grove.

Good Thyme Food Court is founded, with seating on the main lawn.

Main Lawn Food Court

2012 -

Spring Garden Fair adds Coffee Thyme with a seating area to the 4-H Hall building.

Children’s Activities are added to the lineup in 4 – H Hall

2013 –

Master Gardener Laura Eyer

designs and organizes the

planting of a Spring Garden Fair

tribute garden planted in front of

Horning Hall

2014 –

Plant check moves to Rosebrook arena following the demolition of the old Livestock

barn.

Benches placed outside Horning Hall honoring key retired members of the SGF

committees over the years

Plant check 2013 Plant check 2014

2014 continues –

30th Spring Garden

Fair Celebration –

Wagon Contest

pictured

2015 –

Spring Garden Fair Vendors space is reduced to include the Carnival lot and The Grove

Spring Garden Fair welcomes the Portland Iris Society to the Fair. They held their annual

early show on the back porch of the Main Pavilion

2016 –

Spring Garden Fair introduces the Garden Fair Passport

to give customers a chance to explore our Fair.

2017 –

Vendors number 144

Spring Garden Fair Entrance Fee raised to $5.00

2018 –

Music on the lawn of the

Good Thyme Food Court:

Mark Seymour played for us in

the Good Thyme Food Court

on Saturday at lunchtime from

11 – 2.

2019 –

It’s our 35th year! Thank you for your continued support every year. It has truly been a

pleasure presenting this event. We are excited to see what the next 35 years will bring.