GROWERS
Meet Dan and Sarah McClure, Growers/Owners
Walla Walla Organics owners Dan and Sarah McClure have been married since 1985 and partners in business since 1990. A Walla Walla native, Dan studied agriculture at Montana State University where he met Sarah, a Montana native. After graduating in agriculture business (and after four years of great skiing!) Dan spent 2 1/2 years in Saudi Arabia leading a foreign crew constructing center pivot irrigation systems. Sarah who graduated in business accounting (CPA) worked in Kalispell, Montana until they married in 1985.
After a honeymoon year in Sweden working for a company developing a linear irrigation system, Dan and Sarah moved back to the Walla Walla Valley at which time they went into partnership with Dan's father purchasing the local John Deere dealership, Tumac Machinery. Later, Dan's younger brother, Mike, joined the business. After 26 years of "green blood" (literally living the John Deer brand) including expanding the business to Kubota Tractor and Yamaha Motorcycle dealerships around the region, Dan eventually found the path to full time farming, his true passion. Sarah who had been working at a local accounting firm left to join the family business, too.
The McClures have three sons, Nathan who is a Walla Walla High School English teacher also coaches wrestling and football, and is married to Elizabeth who works for the Blue Mountain Community Foundation. Middle son, Colin, works in land conservation in Winnett, Montana while the youngest, Joel, lives in Bozeman, Montana working at the local natural foods co-op grocery store.
Beginning in 2001, Dan and Sarah became partners in a Walla Walla Sweet Onion farming business. A while later, they began raising certified organic Walla Walla Sweet Onions as well and in 2011, Dan started organic farming full time. The name was changed to Walla Walla Organics, a new logo was developed, and the onions were then sold under the organic farm's own name and label. They haven't looked back since!