Speaker

Ben Williams, resident of French Prairie and President of Friends of Historic Butteville, will present on the History of Agriculture in French Prairie and Oregon. Native American cultures thrived in French Prairie long before non-native settlers arrived. The area's unique characteristics attracted early settlers, particularly French-Canadian settlers in the 1830s, who, along with their Kalapuya wives, began farming near St. Paul. By the end of the 18th century, French Prairie had become Oregon’s most productive agricultural area, known for its wheat and hops production. This presentation will explore whether French Prairie will continue to play a central role in the State’s agricultural economy and heritage.