A grand time for Jerry LeQuieu

Most people disagree with LeQuieu, who’s lived and farmed in the Tulelake Basin the past 53-plus years. He’s also been involved in numerous community activities, including 24 years on the Tulelake Basin Joint Unified School District board of directors and 28 years on the Tulelake FFA Agricultural Advisory Board.

He also served 16 years on the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair Board and has been involved with the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair Friends since it was created in 2001

LeQuieu, 73, and his family moved to the Tulelake Basin in late 1962, just in time for the that year’s fair and the Columbus Day storm before permanently settling in January 1963. His father, Leslie, and family had learned about the Tulelake Basin while goose and pheasant hunting.

The LeQuieus, who raised cotton in California’s Kern County, moved north because his mother, LaVerne, suffered from heat-related problems. Once in the Basin, they switched from cotton to potatoes, grain and alfalfa.

“We can put a foot in both states,” he says of the 200-acre farm, which is in Modoc County, but near Malin.

Jerry, who was 20 when the family moved, had finished two years at Fresno State University. He delayed returning to college to help with the cotton harvest, then was drafted in 1964. He spent three years in the Army, including a tour in Vietnam. After his Army stint he returned to the farm.

LeQuieu worked with Marvin Schell and, later, his father on the farm. He’s since partnered with his nephew, Kevin Wright. Because of changing markets, “We’re strictly into alfalfa.”

LeQuieu missed farming during his Army years, but he met the woman who became his wife, Wenonah “Wendy.” An Army friend gave him a list of women and their phone numbers.

“I picked her name out because I thought it was an interesting one,” he says of why he contacted Wenonah. They’ll celebrate their 59th wedding anniversary on Veteran’s Day.

The LeQuieus have three adult children — Michelle Jorgenson, Claudine Schlecht and Michael LeQuieu — and give grandchildren. During today’s parade, Jerry and Wendy will be joined by 11 family members

Along with family, a legion of friends will be watching and cheering during today’s parade. They’ll be riding in the tiny train that gives rides around the fairgrounds. 

Jerry and Wendy have cemented friendships during their years as leaders of various clubs, including archery, woodworking and the 4-H Cascade Swine Club. Before serving on the fair board, he annually entered several fair categories.

For three straight years he won the Ruth King Award, which was given to the person who won the most blue ribbons and was named for a longtime Herald and News reporter and correspondent.

While LeQuieu is looking forward to today’s parade and the fair, he’ll be back to work Monday when he and Wright begin their fourth cutting on the family farm.

“Farming takes a back seat during the fair,” he says, noting he has no retirement timetable. “I enjoy farming. It’s just something I enjoy. I’m in good health and I don’t know when I’m going to retire. It’s more than a job. It’s a way of life.”