Iverson's parents bought the Tulip farm in 1950. Living in the Willamette Valley for his entire life, Iverson is no stranger to farming. Since the age of six, Iverson has been picking beans, and nuts, then eventually started moving irrigation pipe in the fields.
Farming isn't the easiest way to make a living. "I know what it's like to do hard physical work," Iverson said. After graduating from Canby High School, Iverson continued his education at Oregon State University, where he judged soil for three years during his undergraduate studies.
Shortly after graduating college he went up to Portland to attend a church dance. There he met his wife of 34 years, Patty. "We both went to the dance being stalked by other people, and we protected each other," said Patty. Patty and Nels started dated that January, were engaged by the end of January, and were married in October of that year. Together they have six kids and four grandkids with one on the way.
Iverson quickly instilled in his children the importance of physical work and farming. He raised his kids on a farm in Jefferson, raising all sorts of items. "Over the years we have grown everything from rhubarb to bell peppers," commented Iverson.
Two years after marrying Patty, the Iverson's started the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival. The first Tulip Festival was in 1974 with Patty and Nels selling tulips at the end of their driveway in a wheelbarrow. That first year the Iverson's had about 50 to 75 cars come out to the farm, Patty commented, "We have made it!"
Before selling the flowered tulips, they used to sell the bulbs for the varieties of flowers that you saw during the festival. The bulbs were selling for four to five cents a piece. When Iverson realized you could sell the flower for eight or nine cents a piece, he said, "You don't have to be very smart to realize where the business is at." Ever since then they have been selling the flowers.
Currently if you go out to the Tulip Festival, you can see about 100 varieties of tulips, with 30 major varieties on display. Iverson said he is trying to create his own tulip strand, but it is very time consuming and somewhat expensive. It can take up to seven years for the new tulip to bloom.
Patty said that it "was a very slow start, but last year they had their biggest day ever, with just under 10,000 cars in one day." There are many things to do when you get to the festival. Amanda Dant, a local who went to the festival last year commented, "The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is the perfect place to take your family for a fun filled day, there are activities for people of all ages to enjoy. From breathtaking views of Mt. Hood to cow trains, this northwest tradition is sure to bring a smile to your face!"
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival carries on the tradition of old Holland. Iverson carves by hand wooden shoes out of Cottonwood and Poplar. He still uses the traditional tools that were used originally. It takes him anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of days to carve the shoes. The smallest set he has made were under an inch long. The biggest, over seven feet, estimated to be a size 168. Obviously they are not all one size fits all. Iverson's daughter-in-law then paints them to the traditional paint patterns.
At a glance:
What: Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Where: Woodburn, Ore
When: March 25 - May 1
Cost: $5/person or $20 max/car
Photo courtesy of Patty Iverson
