The Bainbridge Review published an article on December 18 titled “How BI, Vashon are handling ag history”, which focused on the efforts of Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance to save and preserve Suyematsu Farm. The article began with “Farmland is precious on an island. So how do you honor history while making use of such a resource?” Reporter Molly Hetherwick used a recent Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center Zoom cast interview with SFLA Board members Carol Reitz, Brian Shibayama and Jon Garfunkel to highlight SFLA’s restoration and preservation work, along with the work to preserve the Matsuda and Mukai Farms on Vashon Island.
SFLA Interviewed for Local Zoom Cast
December 6, 2024
Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance was invited by the Bainbridge Island Senior Community Center to talk about our recent agreement with the City of Bainbridge Island to operate the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property during their weekly Zoom cast called “Something to Talk About”.
Center Director, Reed Price, interviewed SFLA Board Members Carol Reitz, Gina Corpuz, Brian Shibayama and Jon Garfunkel who spoke about the history of Suyematsu Farm, Akio Suyematsu, the origins of SFLA, SFLA’s agreement with COBI, and SFLA’s plans for completing a series of urgent repairs to the original Suyematsu farmhouse.
Thank you, Reed and BI Senior Center, for opportunity to share our story with the community!
SFLA Receives $60K Grant from COBI for Suyematsu Farm Historic Property
November 13, 2024
The City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) has granted the Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance $60,000 in seed funding to help underwrite urgently needed repairs the original Suyematsu family farmhouse.
This grant coincides with the recent agreement COBI signed with Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance (SFLA) to become operator of the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property on Bainbridge Island. On November 12, the Bainbridge Island City Council voted to approve the management agreement and grant.
Founded in 1928, the original forty acres of Suyematsu Family Farm is one of the oldest, continuously farmed working landscapes in the region, and today is the largest production farm in Kitsap County. It is the hub of our Island’s farming community and a treasured and iconic cultural asset.
In 2001, Akio Suyematsu sold to the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) the remaining fifteen-acres of his family farm. Formal ownership of this property transferred to COBI upon Akio’s death in 2012. In 2016, five-acres of the Suyematsu Farm, including its original farm buildings, were listed in the Bainbridge Island Historic Register and was dedicated as the Island’s first ever Historic Preservation District (HPD). Today the site is known as the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property.
Many of the historic structures on the property have entered into an endangered state since Akio Suyematsu’s passing in 2012. The $60,000 in seed funding from COBI is a huge assist towards the estimated $180,000 it will cost SFLA to complete the series of urgent repairs to return the original Suyematsu family farmhouse back to a place of occupation, which include replacing the roof, removing severe mold, along with other electrical, heating and plumbing work.
SFLA is grateful to the City of Bainbridge Island for this seed grant, and for entrusting SFLA with the responsibility and stewardship of this important and iconic community asset.
SFLA Enters Agreement with COBI for Suyematsu Farm Historic Property
November 13, 2024
The Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance (SFLA) have entered into an agreement with the City of Bainbridge Island to become operator of the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property on Bainbridge Island. On November 12, the Bainbridge Island City Council voted to approve the management agreement, which has been almost a year in the making, to take over this community and cultural asset.
Founded in 1928, the original forty acres of Suyematsu Family Farm is one of the oldest, continuously farmed working landscapes in the region, and today is the largest production farm in Kitsap County. It is the hub of our Island’s farming community and a treasured and iconic cultural asset.
Since the period of Japanese American Exclusion, Suyematsu Family Farm has been one of the most inclusive places on Bainbridge Island. The farm has become an established historic and cultural site for teaching and learning about the Japanese American experience, and a living bookend to the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial.
The Picker Cabins, once seasonally occupied by Filipino farmworkers and First Nation families who migrated to the Island to pick berries, among others, help to preserve the origins of Bainbridge Island’s Indipino Community.
In 2001, Akio Suyematsu sold to the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) the remaining fifteen-acres of his family farm. Formal ownership of this property transferred to COBI upon Akio’s death in 2012. In 2016, five-acres of the Suyematsu Farm, including its original farm buildings, were listed in the Bainbridge Island Historic Register and was dedicated as the Island’s first ever Historic Preservation District (HPD). Today the site is known as the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property.
Many of the historic structures on the property have entered into an endangered state since Akio Suyematsu’s passing in 2012. This initial twelve month agreement will provide the opportunity for SFLA to complete a series of urgent repairs to return the original Suyematsu family farmhouse back to a place of occupation, and conduct other needed clean up, maintenance and repairs on the property, which will set the stage for a long term agreement to conduct the larger restoration and preservation work that will transform the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property into a center of interpretation, education, and active farming.
To coincide with this agreement, the City of Bainbridge Island has granted SFLA $60,000 in seed funding to assist with the $180,000 cost of completing the urgently needed repairs the farmhouse, which include replacing the roof, removing severe mold, along with other electrical, heating and plumbing work.
SFLA is honored to have the special responsibility of being entrusted with this historic site, upholding the legacy of Akio Suyematsu, and stewarding this iconic community asset well into the 21st century. We look forward to further cultivating our partnership with the City and community of Bainbridge Island.
SFLA featured in One Call for All Campaign
October 8, 2024
Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance is grateful and honored to have been selected by One Call for All to be a featured agency in their 2024-25 fundraising campaign.
Read the recent Bainbridge Review/One Call for All article about SFLA
Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance is a partner agency with Bainbridge Island’s One Call For All, a philanthropic community organization that fundraises for local non profits like ours who do good work for the community. You can direct your donation to SFLA directly through One Call for All.
This is a wonderful opportunity to support SFLA’s efforts to repair, restore and revitalize the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property with a tax deductible gift to Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance through One Call for All.
SFLA deeply thanks One Call for All for helping the Bainbridge Island community invest in restoring and preserving this important and vital community asset. We deeply appreciate the hard work, dedication, and service of OCFA in supporting so much important work in the Bainbridge Island community.
Celebrating Akio Suyematsu Day 2024
August 19, 2024
The Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance held a gathering in celebration of Akio Suyematsu Day, hosted at Bainbridge Vineyards on Historic Suyematsu Farm.
Akio Suyematsu Day was proclaimed by the City of Bainbridge in 2012, honoring the legacy of this legendary farmer, steward and citizen. The gathering was filled with stories and tributes from family, fellow farmers, former neighbors, friends, and government officials. Bainbridge Island City Council Members Ashley Matthews, Clarence Moriwaki, and Jon Quitsland read the official proclamation. Also in attendance was Greg Nance, State Representative for Washington’s 23rd Legislative District, who expressed his support for preserving the Suyematsu Farm Historic Property.
Click here to read the Proclamation for Akio Suyematsu Day
Akio Suyematsu Finalist for Renaming Wilkes School
In Fall 2022, the Bainbridge Island School District began the process of renaming the Captain Charles Wilkes Elementary School. This week, the school district Renaming Committee announced that Akio Suyematsu Elementary was one of three final names, from 89 that were submitted to the School Board, who will select the new name of the school on March 30, 2023.
Akio Suyematsu (1921-2012) was born, raised, and educated on Bainbridge Island. He was an Island resident his entire life, except for the years of Japanese American exclusion, and his service in the United States Army (1942-47). Akio Suyematsu was born on the north end of Bainbridge Island, and spent his formative years living on the current site of Wilkes Elementary, which his family leased and farmed from approximately 1922-1930. (The Washington Alien Land Bill of 1921 prohibited non-white immigrants from buying or owning land.) From 1928-2012, Akio lived and farmed on the forty-acre property his family purchased neighboring the current site of Wilkes Elementary.
From the late 1920’s-1942, Akio attended Olympic Grade School, Lincoln School, and Bainbridge High School. At BHS, Akio was a star baseball player for all four years, and a letterman for three years. He excelled in building trades courses under the tutelage of Mr. Morley, which had a direct influence on his professional life as a farmer and becoming a jack of all trades. Akio was in the Class of 1942, and one of thirteen Japanese American BHS Students to graduate while exiled and incarcerated at Manzanar concentration camp in California.
During WWII, the Suyematsu Family were incarcerated in the Manzanar and Minidoka concentration camps. In 1943, Akio was drafted by the U.S. Army, and served in Europe at the end of the war. In 1947, he returned to Bainbridge Island and helped his family reclaim their farm and livelihoods. The Suyematsus were one of the few Japanese American families to carry on with farming on Bainbridge Island after returning from exile.
Today, the forty acres of Suyematsu Family Farm is one of the oldest, continuously farmed working landscapes in the region, and the largest production farm in Kitsap County. It is the hub of our Island’s farming community and a treasured and iconic cultural asset. Since the period of Japanese American Exclusion, Suyematsu Family Farm has become one of the most inclusive places on Bainbridge Island. The farm has become an established historic and cultural site for teaching and learning about the Japanese American experience, and a living bookend to the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Memorial.
From 2006-2019, Suyematsu Farm served as an outdoor classroom for Wilkes Elementary, had vibrant farm-school partnership with Suyematsu Farm integrated into the K-4 curriculum, with every class coming to the farm up to four times a year. A dedicated path was built for Wilkes students to walk to and from the farm. Wilkes teachers spoke at Akio’s Celebration of Life.
In 2011, Akio Suyematsu became the first local farmer, and alumnus, to have a contract with BISD food program, purchasing 300 pounds of Suyematsu Farm raspberries each year for a yogurt & granola parfait, served to Wilkes students and others throughout the school year- making Suyematsu Farm and Wilkes Elementary one of the closest farm to school relationships in the region.
Click here for more information from the Bainbridge Island School District.
Announcing the Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance
In Winter 2023, a coalition of stakeholders, concerned over the current and future state of historic Suyematsu Family Farm have organized to form the Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance, dedicated to preserving and enhancing the living legacy and heritage of Akio Suyematsu and his family’s original farm as a community asset involving a center of active farming, interpretation and education.
The Suyematsu Farm Legacy Alliance (SFLA) includes:
- Suyematsu & Bentryn Family Farmers Guild
- The Suyematsu Family
- Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community (BIJAC)
- Indipino Community of Bainbridge Island and Vicinity
- Bainbridge Preservation Community
- EduCulture & The Only What We Can Carry Project
Founded in 1928, this forty acre property is one of the oldest, continuously farmed working landscapes in the region, the largest production farm on Bainbridge Island, and a unique private-public partnership. In 2001, Akio Suyematsu sold to the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) the remaining fifteen-acres of his family farm. Formal ownership of this property transferred to COBI upon Akio’s death in 2012. In 2016, the five acre family homestead was listed in the Bainbridge Island Historic Register and was dedicated as the Island’s first ever Historic Preservation District (HPD).
The SFLA is committed to cultivating strong working relationships focused on honoring the legacy of historic Suyematsu Farm, with the aim of supporting the permanent preservation of the HPD, as well as, the surrounding city-owned working landscape within the original forty acres of historic Suyematsu Family Farm, in order to protect the living history and the agricultural and educational legacy of Akio Suyematsu.
The SFLA wants to see this community landmark realize its full potential as a cultural, interpretive, and educational center for teaching and learning about the history, culture and heritage of Akio Suyematsu, the Suyematsu Family, the Island’s larger agricultural heritage, and Japanese American and Indipino experiences on Bainbridge Island. Current goals include stabilizing and restoring the Farm’s Historic Preservation District, placing the farm on State & National Historic Registers, and improving the welfare of the current farmers who are Akio Suyematsu’s agricultural legacy. To help us achieve our goals, we are guided by Akio’s principles and traditions of “clean living” for generations to come.
EduCulture is the fiscal sponsor of the SFLA.
Revisiting OWWCC Documentary: What They Could Carry…Return to Manzanar
On the 80th Anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and the forced removal of the Bainbridge Island Japanese community in March 1942, followed by their incarceration at the Manzanar concentration camp, we revisit our the short documentary, What They Could Carry…Return To Manzanar”, about our OWWCC 2012 Delegation to Manzanar, by filmmaker Brenda Berry.
OWWCC featured in BI History Museum Zoom Program, April 13, 2022
Authentically Teaching Bainbridge History: Delegation to Manzanar
April 13, 2022 at 11:30am, Wednesday – on Zoom
Join us to hear about the journey local teachers took to create their own stories through experiencing Manzanar alongside survivors. Listen to perspectives from teachers, survivors and co-directors of the Only What We Can Carry Project (OWWCC), who have facilitated the past five delegations.
Panelists: Jonathan Garfunkel, Bill Covert and Lilly Kitamoto Kodama
The Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center hosts this online program series in collaboration with the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum.
You can watch the program, or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSuUTBd18jA
Click on this link to view our short documentary on our 2012 OWWCC Delegation to Manzanar.