Anoka Farms was homesteaded by my great, great grandparents, Charles and Ida Frederick. They actually came from Illinois in a covered wagon. Our beloved farm was passed down to my great grandparents, Leslie and Nellie "Frederick" Lancaster, and then to my grandparents, Arthur and Vivian Lancaster, in 1925.  Initially a dairy, Anoka Farms later expanded to include crops such as wheat and bluegrass.

There was an Indian trail across the property. The Colville Indians would use it to trade in Spokane. They called it "Anoka" which was said to mean "windswept".

If you could see this vast land, you would know why it might have been referred by the Colville Indians as windswept.  The property sits on Pleasant Prairie just north of Spokane Valley.  It is a beautiful setting. You can see Mount Spokane in the distance, yet it is very secluded where the farm sits. One of my cousins lives there now. The farming is now contracted out, since my Dad has retired.

Our family farm was about ten miles north of Anoka Farms. So we were very close and spent a lot of time with our grandparents since my Dad was a farmer. They worked together and shared equipment.

Our Grandmother started many of our family traditions. We always had a project when we would visit. Just as you might remember your own Grandmother's doting tendencies, she taught us to sew, crochet, knit, garden and we were always baking or cooking something, like her famous Peanut Brittle.