Our Roots Are Showing!!

We in Yamhill County like to think we've achieved a degree of sophistication with our vineyards in the hills, world-famous pinot noir, fine dining and local artists. After all, the area was recently written up in the "Havens" series in The New York Times. The article entitiled
Rural Vistas, Natural Healing and Pinot Noir is a testimony to our arrival on the national scene as "a place to be".

That article was published on November 28, the same day as the McMinnville Santa Parade, and the irony was inescapable. There were thirty-seven entries in the parade and each was a reminder of our real selves - an agricultural area of small towns full of residents with a sense of fun.

The mounted Sheriff's posse with the lead horse sporting antlers and a red nose started things off, followed by children in a home-made miniature Christmas train, and always the "Rakettes" of the Garden Club with their decorated rakes and creative hats performing choreographed routines along the route that would make a Rockette hang up her tap shoes for good.

We'll welcome the New Yorkers who may come to visit or relocate as a result of the Times article, but we'll always be secure in the knowledge that deep in our roots there's a little bit of Mayberry.