By Mary Owen
In 1940, Mark and Dorothy Lewis started a livestock farm on 160 acres south of Aumsville, raising chickens, pigs and cattle. In 1958, Lewis Farms started raising row crops for NORPAC in Stayton. Today, Lewis Farms has stretched its boundaries, the number of Lewis families raising livestock and row crops and their outreach to their communities.
“Members of the Lewis family have been, and still are involved with youth development, mostly in athletics, but also by employing local kids,” said Monte Mensing, who nominated Lewis Farms for Stayton-Sublimity Chamber of Commerce’s Ag Star award. Mensing said the Lewises are “really hard workers who work for the greater Stayton and Sublimity communities.”
In the Lewis tradition, Jim Lewis started farming in 1961, followed by his brother, Ed, in 1963. As the years passed, more Lewises came on board.
“The farm now supports seven families that work here full time,” said Mark Lewis. Heading the Lewis families are: Jim and Sharon, Ed and Judy, Mark and Kathryn, John and Lisa, and Jeff and Meredith.
“Myself and Amy Dozler are Jim and Sharon’s children,” Mark Lewis explained. “Steve, John and Jeff are Ed and Judy’s children.”
All the Lewises have been active in their community, from sponsorships and donations to volunteer work. Recipients of their time and finances include: Aumsville Fire District, Cascade High School’s Future Farmers of America, The Cougar Foundation, Cascade youth football, basketball and wrestling, Cascade Little League as well as Cascade School District’s junior and senior high sports teams.
Jim Lewis served four years on the Aumsville City Countil, eight years on the Cascade School District board of directors, 14 years on the Wilco Farmers board of directors and 17 years on NORPAC Foods board of directors. He and his brother, Ed, were also a volunteer firefighters for the Aumsville Fire District. Ed Lewis served eight years on the Santiam Water Control District and six years with the Oregon Army National Guard.
Mark Lewis served of the board of directors and coached Cascade youth football and basketball and Cascade Little League. He was a commissioner for the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission. Steve Lewis served on the board of directors and coached Cascade youth wrestling.
Amy’s husband, Marty Dozler, serves on the board for the Santiam Water Control District and Cascade youth football. He coached Cascade youth basketball and served on the board for Cascade Little League.
Jeff Lewis is a 4-H Club volunteer and coaches JC relays. Sharon Lewis participates every year in Walk for Life. And Judy Lewis volunteered for Cascade Little League and is active in the Cougar Foundation.
Lewis Farms incorporated in 1972 and has grown to 1,400 acres of corn and beans for NORPAC. Grass seed and wheat are also grown, according to Mark Lewis.
“My farm supports many businesses in the Aumsville, Stayton and Sublimity area,” he said. “We love to actively support our community.”
