Tillamook Coast Life Blog
Grant’s Getaways: Dairyland Eco Tour
Tillamook County has been coined the “Land of Cheese, Trees and Ocean Breeze,” where recreation is found at every turn of the trail.
Perhaps on an estuary in a kayak with a paddle, or across a clam bed with a rake and shovel or aboard a fishing boat with a rod, reel and a chance to catch gleaming salmon. One thing is certain, there’s no shortage of fun in the sun across Tillamook County.
But local Brian Cameron, former eco tour guide, always wanted his guests to experience even more.
While Cameron would show off the gorgeous coastal scenery, varied adventure trips including waterfall hikes and paddle trips, it is the theme of the farming way of life that resonated most with his guests.
“Even though I didn’t grow up on a dairy farm, I grew up around dairy farmers,” said Cameron. “I started asking around and thankfully there were dairy farmers nice enough to let us come down for a visit. It is working into a pretty good relationship.”
At Wilson View Dairy, Derrick Josi, a fifth-generation dairy farmer, is as proud of his heritage as he is of his Jersey cow herd – all five hundred of them!
“This is what we call a free-stall barn,” explained Josi to his audience of kids and adults alike. “They can come and go as they please and each has their own stall to lie down in.” Josi said each Jersey cow will produce 8 gallons of milk product a day.
In Oregon, Agri-Tourism is growing stronger each year because people want to see where their food comes from.
In the milking parlor, Desi Josi (Derrick’s Mom) said that she enjoys having guests on the farm so they can see – even touch – the cows and more importantly, appreciate how the family’s time and energy provides a healthy product and a family lifestyle:
“I think it is very important that we reach all of the people who buy our product! It is hard work and it is all-the-time-work and we invite people to come share – even for a couple of hours – our lifestyle.”
“Tillamook County itself is synonymous with food whether it be dairy products or shellfish or salmon,” said Cameron. “If visitors are here for a couple of days and decide to explore, they will understand and appreciate all that the county has to offer.”
