The Springfield History Museum is opening its doors for a new Community Conversations program on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 5 p.m. The event, titled “Picking Beans and Berries: Youth Harvest Memories,” will take place in the museum’s newly renovated gallery at 590 Main Street.
Local voices recall summer farm work
Three longtime residents—Marta Lu Clifford, Karen Meats and labor activist Nancy Bray—will share personal recollections of working seasonal farm labor as teenagers. Bray, who helped create the museum’s Farm Labor in the Valley exhibit, said, “I actually got my start down this path because of picking beans when I was in junior high. A lot of kids earned money for school clothes in the summer by working the fields.”
The speakers hope the conversation will draw anyone who has lived that experience or who simply wants to learn about it. “We’re hoping people who’ve had this experience or who would like to hear about it will join us,” Bray told Lookout Eugene‑Springfield.
“Springfield’s living room” for two‑way dialogue
Curator Maddi McGraw explained that the museum aims to be “Springfield’s living room,” a place where history is not just presented but discussed. “We want these conversations to be two‑sided, not a one‑sided lecture,” McGraw said. The museum’s Community Conversations series is designed to bring residents into the historic space to talk about topics that shape the valley’s cultural fabric.
Free admission and ongoing exhibit
Admission to the talk is free, and the Farm Labor in the Valley exhibit will remain on view through Dec. 26. The exhibit highlights the crucial role of migrant and seasonal workers in the region’s agricultural economy, a legacy that still influences Springfield’s identity today.
Organizers encourage anyone interested in the history of farm labor, the challenges faced by youth workers, or the broader story of the valley’s agricultural heritage to attend. The museum hopes the event will spark further community dialogue about how past labor practices inform current conversations about work, family, and local economy.
How to attend
The conversation begins at 5:30 p.m. after doors open at 5 p.m. No tickets are required. For more information, visit the Springfield History Museum’s website or call the museum directly.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
