Stocker, 52, and his wife, Janet, operate Stocker Farms, a fourth-generation 100-acre family farm in Snohomish. He’s president of the Snohomish Valley Festival of Pumpkins Marketing Association and on the board of Northwest Agricultural Business Center. He and Janet have been married 29 years and have two sons. The season’s farm activities benefit Strong Against Cancer. More at www.stockerfarms.com.
What are you wearing?
A sweat-stained Ducks Unlimited hat, a Carhartt T-shirt, Carhartt double-knee denim jeans and work boots.
If you could share a beer with anyone alive or in history who would it be?
Benjamin Franklin. The man liked his beer. Besides, I have some questions about the Constitution.
Three things in your tool shed:
As we gear up for the fall season you can find in my tool shed 100 paintball markers and a million paintballs (literally) to go with them, three apple cannons and three dozen little yellow rubber ducks.
People would be shocked to know …
I am a licensed civil engineer with a business degree from UC Berkeley.
Best thing anybody ever said to you?
I’ve had several former employees comment on how much they learned working for us as their first job. That felt particularly rewarding.
What is your most proud moment?
I’ve been blessed with many successes. My most recent moment of pride came when my eldest son and his fiancé asked me to officiate their wedding. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Biggest worry as a farmer?
Sounds cliche, but, the weather. Can’t control it but our crops and seasons thrive or fail based on it.
Did you ever consider leaving the patch to do some?thing else?
Actually, I did leave the farm to go to college. My wife, Janet, and I lived in the Bay Area for 11 years before returning to the farm to raise our young sons.
Pet peeve:
The double standard that government and politicians live by versus the common people they represent.
Guilty pleasure:
Ben &Jerry’s Cherry Garcia ice cream.
What’s the most unusual thing to do with a pumpkin?
Using an extra-large variety called Atlantic Giant, take off the top, carve it hollow, mount a small trolling motor to it and turn it into a boat.
Best way to eat pumpkin?
Janet makes a pumpkin cake topped with cream cheese icing and chopped walnuts that is to die for.
What’s a question I should have asked?
Most people ask what do farmers do all winter when they’re not working. The answer is we are always working. Most farmers in my industry have diversified into other direct marketing segments to guard against a down year in any one area. We raise U-pick blueberries, U-cut Christmas trees and have even started hosting weddings on the farm in addition to the fall festival and haunted attractions we operate. As a result we have things that need doing all winter long in preparation for our busiest seasons in the summer and fall. That being said, I really like February.
— Andrea Brown
Do you know someone we should get to know better? Send suggestions to abrown@heraldnet.com or call 425-339-3443.
Knockknock.Who’s there?A #pumpkin farmer on a stuffed http://t.co/jkejV8mNaA u glad you asked?http://t.co/5sRn7EhjQ9 pic.twitter.com/cxLevF6Z2Q
— Andrea Brown (@reporterbrown) September 29, 2015
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