History

In 1995 a group of farmers, gardening enthusiasts and community leaders joined together to preserve Sequim's agricultural land and to create a tourist destination where people could come to learn about farming. Due to the unusual prairie microclimate of the Sequim "rainshadow" lavender was identified as an ideal plant that would thrive here.

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In the mid 1990's Laurel Ann Norman invited members from the community, including a newcomer Mary Lofstrom to attend a seminar in Forks. During the car ride home Mary shared her plan to replace her 10-acre alfalfa farm with lavender. Many were inspired and excited by the idea of "a vision of fields of flowers in the Sequim Dungeness Valley." 

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As word grew and interest in growing flowers in Sequim grew a series of public meetings were held at Carrie Blake Park, the current home to the Sequim Lavender Festival. Through a community grown effort with people from all walks of life,  a project, headed by a new group called "Field of Flowers" was underway.

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In 1996, Washington State University's Cooperative Extension Agent, Curtis Beus, took a post in Port Angeles and offered help to the group. He saw the shocking rate in which farmland was being lost to development in Sequim and recognized a similar problem here as happening everywhere with the lack of sustainability of old-fashioned agriculture. He introduced the ideas of "Agritourism" and "value-added products." In the same year, the Field of Flowers group began the Open Aire Market. This market was a sister to the Field of Flowers Lavender Growers. That summer the first harvests of lavender made their way to market with positive response. In August, Lavender became the official flower of Sequim. 

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By 1997, there were 7 farms growing over 10,000 plants and the first Celebrate Lavender Festival featuring farm tours, a down-town market and an evening dance. The event has continued to grow into the Sequim Lavender Festival featuring farms from Clallam and Jefferson Counties, live music, a street fair and special events.

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By 1998 four more farms and 6000 more plants had joined the town. The lavender growers split off from the Fields of Flowers group to plan the Lavender Festival and see what else they might could do together as a group. The group officially changed their name to Sequim Lavender Growers Association, a non-profit association of lavender growers in 1999. The association has continued to grow in both membership and programs including raising money for scholarships.

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The association and its members know that the success of lavender farming and agriculture in the area takes commitment from everyone. SLGA partners with the City of Sequim, Chamber of Commerce, community volunteers and businesses to make both the festival and lavender farming a success in the Lavender Capitol of North America.

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