Letter: Tillamook County Needs TCCA’s Support

Visitors to Tillamook County often notice the rich aroma, which locals refer to as “the smell of money.” And they are right, the dairy industry has fueled Tillamook County’s economy for over a century and is thriving today. The Tillamook County Creamery Association is one of Oregon’s most successful companies and just demonstrated that success by becoming the main jersey sponsor of the Portland Timbers. Details haven’t been revealed, but most MLS jersey deals are around $3-5 million per year.

Over its long history, many thousands of Tillamook County residents have worked together at TCCA and its member farms. The good people of Tillamook County built the cheese empire, and it is right that the company is named for the whole county. Unfortunately though, most of the county is not sharing in TCCA’s current financial success. A few families have become very wealthy, but much of our county is on financial life support. Loss of natural resources jobs and a lack of alternative economic development have put many families in difficult situations, and our civic and cultural institutions are struggling to survive.

But across our county, you can see the ghosts of a different era, when the financial success of the dairy industry was reinvested in our community. Buildings like the YMCA, Fair Grounds, and Bay City Arts Center testify to a time when the dairy industry was also thriving, and a sense of civic pride prevailed. The names of many successful dairy farmers of the past hang on plaques in these buildings, because they donated the money that got them built. They cared about our community, and they knew that many other families in Tillamook County deserved to share in the dairy industry’s success.

The current members and executives of TCCA have much to be proud of. They have grown the company into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise while maintaining incredible quality standards, and they now sell cheese and ice cream in all 50 states. But I hope that their national success has not let them forget their roots in our community. I hope they will follow the example of their forebears, and support economic development, education, and cultural institutions in Tillamook County. TCCA, please match your support for the Portland Timbers with support for our community. $3-5 million a year could fundamentally improve Tillamook County, help thousands of families, and reinvigorate the institutions we all depend on. We need your support.

Jason Maxfield

Rockaway Beach