Thousands turn out for the annual Tayberry Jam
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SAGINAW, Ore. - Thousands of people made their way to Cougar Mountain Farm for the 7th Annual Tayberry Jam in Saginaw this weekend.
The event featured foot-stomping bluegrass music, local food vendors, and dozens of craft booths.
Noah Wemple owns the land and hosts the event on his farm every year.
"My mother and father found this 320 acre piece in 1972," said Noah Wemple, owner of the farm.
Wemple's family purchased the land when he was only two years old.
Now at 42, Wemple is raising his children there under the same sustainable lifestyle his parents taught.
"We've got the solar power renewable energy and we hope to put in a wind tower," Wemple said.
The Wemple family lives a lifestyle where they produce their own food through good soil fertility.
Through the Tayberry Jam, the Wemples hope to raise enough funds to build an education resort that teaches the practices of sustainable living.
"We want to offer up positive solutions about how people can live sustainably with the earth so that our children and everyone's children can enjoy a more prosperous way of life in the future," Wemple said.
So with each dollar raised at the Tayberry Jam, Wemple said they are one step closer to building the education resort.
"We're ready to build and invite them in," Wemple said. "Build it and they will come."
The Wemple family is already in the permit process with Lane County to start building the resort.
Wemple said this weekend the event drew in at least 1,000 people.
Bluegrass is about a 1/3 of the music that gets played there. It originally featured reggae music prominently, but it is definitely not a bluegrass festival. Thanks for doing this piece on it!