<Begin Segment 20>

TI: This morning we spent a lot of time walking around, seeing the full operations. It's very impressive, it's a very impressive operation. And I do, I have a degree in chemical engineering. I worked in large corporations, and when you go through and talk with them, or talk to Lon about his, all the things they put in, I was very, very impressed, I really liked that. But I was talking to Lon, that he and Wayne are reaching retirement age, and they, with you, decided that now is the time, or a few years ago was the time to sell the farm. And one of the things that they found out was the interest from the tribe to buy the farm. How do you think about that? How do you feel about the farm being sold to the Yakama Nation tribe?

SI: I think it was the best thing because I think we had about ten leases with them. It's their land anyway, and they own it. So I don't think nobody else would buy it. So I think I told them, go ahead and let them buy it because it's their leases, and I'd like to see them have this farm to be able to have it for their, the extra food and help their tribe a little bit. With the food that they have, you know, like the food bank, to help them. Because I'm sure a lot of them didn't have enough to eat and stuff.

TI: And after the family decided this and they got some publicity, what have people told you about the decision to sell to the tribe? Have your friends or other community members talked to you about selling the farm to the tribe?

SI: No, they never... we decided ourselves, they didn't tell us what to do.

TI: But then after you decided, have people told you that, "We're happy that you did this," they think it's a good idea also?

SI: No, I didn't hear anybody say they were happy that we sold it.

TI: On the other hand, have some people told you, "Oh, that's not a good idea"?

SI: No, they didn't tell me anything. I think they just left it up to us, because we're the ones who had the farm. And we would know what's best.

TI: What do you think Ken would have thought?

SI: I think he would have agreed, because we owed them a lot. Because if it wasn't for them, our corporation never would have been existing. Because of their leases to us, and each time we make money, and we can afford another lease, we always got it, until we didn't need them anymore.

TI: So they've always been helpful and cooperative?

SI: Yeah, and always worked together. And so I think everything was going the right way.

TI: I think it's just an incredible story, I think, in terms of how the tribe helped out in very early years and the willingness to work with the Inabas, and the Inabas to build such an impressive operation. And then to now work with them to...

SI: To help them out, to help this farm go and be good enough for them, to help them survive, help their people, too, with knowledge of raising produce, which they never, all the leased land they have, I don't think there's too much land that that they raise anything for themselves. For this is the time that they've got warehouse and cold room and all the tractors and everything. I think they don't have to go too far to learn.

TI: No, I think it's a wonderful story. And I know it's caught the attention of, really, Japanese Americans throughout the country. I know, I'm in Seattle, when I read about this, I took some kind of pride that the Inaba family was doing this. And I know I've talked to other Japanese Americans who have felt the same thing. That it really felt like the family is doing the right thing. And I just want to let, give you that feedback. That if anyone asks you, you could say that there are members of the Japanese American community that said, oh, this was a really good idea.

SI: That's good. That's the way we thought it's best.

TI: No, I think so. So I'm finished with my questions. Is there anything else that you want to say or I forgot to ask, or anything else that comes to mind in terms of family, the legacy of the family, anything?

SI: All I know is that we did the best we could for them, so not much more.

TI: Good, okay. So thank you so much.

SI: Thank you so much.

<End Segment 20> - Copyright © 2023 Densho. All Rights Reserved.