Brad Clack Oral History Interview, March 22, 2017

Partial Transcript: I'm Brad Clack, born 12/22/48 in Logston Oregon and yesterday is March 17, 1917--or 2017. I'll get it out.

Segment Synopsis: Brad talks about his family, their history in Oregon as migrating harvesters and his early life.

Keywords: Brad Clack; Logston, Oregon; SOD ranch; Siletz river; Willamette Valley; family history; farming; hops; hops yards; logging; migrant harvesting

Subjects: Brad Clack; Logston, Oregon; SOD ranch; Siletz river; Willamette Valley; family history; farming; hops; hops yards; logging; migrant harvesting

Partial Transcript: What high school did you go to?

Segment Synopsis: Brad talks about going to high school in Salem, some of the changes that occurred in Salem over his lifetime there, and about the agriculture around Salem.

Keywords: North Salem high school; Salem; South Salem high school; agriculture

Subjects: North Salem high school; Salem; South Salem high school; agriculture

Partial Transcript: So what--When you were graduating from high school and thinking about what you were going to do next, what were some of the things you consider or did you feel kind of drawn to agriculture?

Segment Synopsis: Brad talks about how he got started working for SS Steiner Inc. and about what working with the hops farmers in Oregon was like.

Keywords: Bob Coleman; New Jersey; New York; SS Steiner Incorporated; drying hops; hand picking hops; hops; hops community; hops farmers; hops farms; hops growing; hops harvesting; machine picking hops

Subjects: Bob Coleman; New Jersey; New York; SS Steiner Incorporated; drying hops; hand picking hops; hops; hops community; hops farmers; hops farms; hops growing; hops harvesting; machine picking hops

Partial Transcript: I was thinking about this after talking to Michelle's great uncle about this idea of handing down knowledge over generations.

Segment Synopsis: Brad discusses how picking and drying hops has changed over the years with advancing technology as well has how farming practices in Grant's Pass differ from farming in the Valley.

Keywords: Grant's Pass; Independence, Oregon; changes in hops harvesting; cluster hops; downy; drying houses; hand picking hops; harvesting hops; hops storage; hops warehouses; machine picking hops; moisture meter; picking hops; top cutters

Subjects: Grant's Pass; Independence, Oregon; changes in hops harvesting; cluster hops; downy; drying houses; hand picking hops; harvesting hops; hops storage; hops warehouses; machine picking hops; moisture meter; picking hops; top cutters

Partial Transcript: What about Marketing orders and market control?

Segment Synopsis: Brad talks about market orders and how that affected the growing of hops in Oregon and about how buying and selling base.

Keywords: base; buying base; craft brewery; hops market; hops market orders; market control; market orders; selling base; spot market

Subjects: base; buying base; craft brewery; hops market; hops market orders; market control; market orders; selling base; spot market

Partial Transcript: So what was your relationship like with the people who were buying the hops?

Segment Synopsis: Brad talks about what his role in SS Steiner was and how he worked and got on with the hops farmers in Oregon.

Keywords: New York; SS Stiner Inc.; Washington; business relationships; distributors; hops brokers; hops buyers; hops sellers; international hops distribution; teletype

Subjects: New York; SS Stiner Inc.; Washington; business relationships; distributors; hops brokers; hops buyers; hops sellers; international hops distribution; teletype

Partial Transcript: So what about Idaho? We've talked a lot about here. What were some of the differences the growers or the climate?

Segment Synopsis: Brad discusses the differences between Oregon and Idaho farming practices and relationships as well as the similarities. He also talks about the Hops commission in Oregon and in Idaho and his role on the Commission as a representative of the hops dealers.

Keywords: Growers Association; Idaho; Oregon; dealer representative; hops; hops commission; hops dealer; hops families; hops farmers; hops farms; irrigation

Subjects: Growers Association; Idaho; Oregon; dealer representative; hops; hops commission; hops dealer; hops families; hops farmers; hops farms; irrigation

Partial Transcript: So I'm thinking about the fact that your son now works here. So how did that--did he grow up here and it, again it's interesting to me that it becomes a multi generational, even though you're not handing farms downn you're handing that knowledge down.

Segment Synopsis: Brad talks about his son getting a job at SS Steiner Inc as well as his own semi-retirement.

Keywords: Brad Clack's son; Willamette Valley; family farms; hops families

Subjects: Brad Clack's son; Willamette Valley; family farms; hops families

Partial Transcript: I want to know what was one of your biggest successes working here over the time--and I remember you working here when I was this tall.

Segment Synopsis: Brad talks about his success in the hops industry and about the change in technology he's seen over the years as well as some of the differences between varieties of hops.

Keywords: Willamette petals; changing technology; hops dealer; hops family; hops harvest; infrared scanning; mechanization; moisture meter; rejection rate; relationships

Subjects: Willamette petals; changing technology; hops dealer; hops family; hops harvest; infrared scanning; mechanization; moisture meter; rejection rate; relationships

Partial Transcript: And how Brad was saying drying is a really, really vital point.If somebody don't care you're going to have a wet floor and that causes a lot problems.

Segment Synopsis: Specifically about the lack of change in drying technology over the course of Brad's lifetime, the lack of innovation due to the small nature of the market and possible solutions.

Keywords: birds; drying units; hops drying; kilns; lack of innovation; nixed use dryers; small industry

Subjects: birds; drying units; hops drying; kilns; lack of innovation; nixed use dryers; small industry

Partial Transcript: Did you see a change once craft brewing in Oregon really took off?

Segment Synopsis: What changed after the rise of craft breweries in Oregon, increased tours of hops farms, and Brad's memories and things he misses since retiring.

Keywords: agro tourism; competition; craft brewing; hop yard yours; hops farmers; hops growers; hops history; hops market; memories; retirement; sanitation practices; tours

Subjects: agro tourism; competition; craft brewing; hop yard yours; hops farmers; hops growers; hops history; hops market; memories; retirement; sanitation practices; tours