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CORVALLIS - Don Anderson of Cornelius; Vincent Dobbin and Glen Grossen, Hillsboro; and Carl and Beverly Froude, Tigard, were honored as Diamond Pioneers Tuesday, Oct. 14, by the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

Don Anderson first moved to the hillside that includes the 44-acre Enchanted Hill Farm in 1932 and gradually developed it. Today, his land includes timber and more than 1,000 peach trees.

In 1957, he farmed full time with a 70-head dairy herd on leased land. He then taught at the junior and senior high school levels for seven years. Later, he solicited irrigation contracts for the McKay Creek Water Control District. In 1973, he became a hydrological technician with the U.S. Geological Survey at its Portland office.

Since retiring, Anderson has concentrated on the peach business and helped establish Citizen Participation Organization 15 in the Fern Hill and Blooming areas. Vincent Dobbin came to Washington County in 1941 and turned to full-time farming after World War II. He gradually expanded his operations to include 2,300 acres in Washington and Columbia counties. He retired in 1988 and his son, Ron, is now in charge of the farming operations. Vincent still assists.

Dobbin was a long-time cooperator with OSU Extension and with researchers testing new ideas and practices. In the 1970s, he was the Tualatin Valley dealer for Stormore grain bins. The on-farm bins helped farmers deal with storing record wheat harvests.

Working with Tuality Hospital on medical education programs, Dobbin also supports education for young people. The Forest Hills Lutheran School in Cornelius honored him and his wife, Elaine. The gymnasium and music facility was named the Dobbin Center in their honor.

The ability to change with the situation has kept Glen Grossen in agriculture since he returned to the family dairy farm after service in Korea. The dairy continued until 1962 when the Columbus Day windstorm blew down the barn. He then went into the hothouse tomato business, developing an innovative watering system. High fuel costs ended this in 1972.

Converting to nursery stock in 1973, Grossen became a premier grower of five varieties of Daphne. In 1979, he and his son, Mark, built the first prototype of a potting machine from an old combine. G.K. Machinery in Donald is building the current design.

The U-pick peach operation he started in 1984 is still in business. Grossen was a 4-H leader for 18 years and is a past director of the Oregon Association of Nurserymen. Carl and Beverly Froude have operated Bull Mountain Tree Farm in Tigard for 30 years. Active in the Northwest Christmas Tree Growers Association, they have been long-time cooperators with OSU research scientists at the Bull Mountain site as well as on property in the Coast Range.

Beverly Froude has been a leader in the Citizen Participation program since 1973, helping develop the community plan for the Tigard/Bull Mountain area. She chairs the local CPO. She has also served on the Washington County Extension Advisory Council and participated in the Family Community Leadership program.

The five are among the 41 men and women who were added to the College's Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry during a luncheon hosted by Dean Thayne Dutson at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center in Corvallis. Guest speaker was John V. Byrne, OSU president emeritus and a fellow 2003 Diamond Pioneer.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the registry, which honors those 75 and older for their contributions to agriculture, their communities and OSU. The award, begun when the college celebrated its 75th anniversary, has been given to 746 persons, including this year's group.

All five were nominated for the honor by the OSU Washington County Extension staff.

Others honored include Virginia Tubbs, Adams; Fred Warner, Baker City; Kenneth Beebe, Central Point; Alfred Haunold, John V. Byrne, Charles Leach, William McGuire, H. Joe Myers, Burdette Peterson, Roger Peterson and Dale Weber, Corvallis.

Peter Jensen, Halsey; Ralph Hart, Island City; Arlene Oliver, John Day; Andrew Greeley, Jordan Valley; Harold Youngberg, Keizer; James Elings and James Kerns, Klamath Falls; John Shipley and Donald Thompson, Moro; Keith Gressley, Isao Kameshige and William Panike, Ontario.

Robert Ramig and Virgil Rupp, Pendleton; David Lowry, Phoenix; H. Ronald Cameron, Portland; Len Forster and Floyd Smith, Shedd; Don Grabe, Sisters; John R. Thienes and Eldon Wagenblast, The Dalles; Carl and Irene Bosch, Tillamook; John Bishop, Vale; and Everett Metzentine, Wamic.