Wednesday, July 19, 2023
C3 — Howard Nunnikhoven giving back through the PSAT&MA
C5 — Family Day in the Park coming up soon
C6 — The Old Friends Club offers much needed support to caregivers
LYNDEN — Howard Nunnikhoven was born and raised in southeast Iowa, and he has been around agriculture and horticulture all his life. His passion was farming as his grandfather, father and brother were all farmers. This sparked Nunnikhoven’s belief that he would take up the occupation as well one day.
However, life did not line up as he had planned. So Nunnikhoven attended college to get an education. He was a 1972 graduate from Dort College, now called Dort University, which is located in Sioux Center, Iowa. He obtained degrees in business administration, economics and marketing. Iowa is also where he met his wife Beverly. The two have been married for more than 50 years and enjoy spending time
with their three children and nine grandchildren.
After college, the two lived in southeast Iowa for 12 years. During the last two years, they ran into some financial struggles, which created the conversation about possibilities for relocation. Beverly’s family had moved from Minnesota to Washington, so this would give them a softer welcoming to a new place.
“The move that we made, as hard as that was to leave everything that you’ve known all your life, your area, church, family, occupation and just put everything on a truck and change everything and move across country, it takes a lot of courage [and] determination,” Nunnikhoven said.
They packed up in 1984 and made the roughly 1,600-mile drive. Nunnikhoven said he and his wife were prepared to come to Washington as they
made an agreement to purchase a landscape garden company from a retiree. Once they arrived in Washington and for more than 30 years, the Nunnikhovens have worked alongside each other, as owners and operators of Nunnikhoven Landscape Maintenance LLC. Their kids worked through the business as well until they split off and pursued their desired careers.
“Failure was not an option,” said Nunnikhoven about the family’s ups and downs in balancing life and work. “Sometimes, it’s out of your control. But we just tried to really focus on God and serving people, and it reciprocated. Faith has been a large part of our lives.”
About four years after he moved to the area, Nunnikhoven joined the Puget Sound Antique Tractor and Machinery Association (PSAT&MA) in 1988.
“Every year since I was about 7 or 8 years old, I have been involved in some type of agricultural activity with farm equipment. And I believe I can say that every year since that time, I have driven tractors or farm equipment every year of my life,” he said.
Once Nunnikhoven attended one of the vintage tractor and machinery shows, he made the commitment to get a tractor in the show the following years. Eventually, he found an “old tractor in the weeds,” he said, and spent a few thousand dollars and hundreds of hours restoring it. Nunnikhoven recently used it two weeks ago in a tractor pull.
He has served the association in various roles, being a board member, show director, advisor and within the last four to five years, as president.
Continued from C3
“Of all the local people, ‘Why would you elect me? Well, we need somebody that’s got a good, basic, common-sense head.’ They say I have that, and I don’t know, I guess I do,” he said with a chuckle. “And, I also have quite a bit of experience in leadership in different roles and places. When you serve in a leadership capacity, one of the gifts you need is the ability to bring different factions together and compromise. … I take pride in the fact that I can keep my cool in most situations. But I can stand up when it needs to draw the line.”
Nunnikhoven played a role in starting an endowment foundation for the association in January 2022, which helps keep the tractor club going. He said the club has an aging population, and even though they are bringing in new people, they are losing more than they are gaining.
Nunnikhoven said he is uncertain of the association’s future in the next 10-15 years. But he and the group of people he’s working with are going to do what they can to preserve it.
The association’s mission is to give locals an opportunity each year to share an interest in antique farm machines while also making sure the history of agriculture is preserved until the end of time.
“The people who I serve with in the tractor association, it’s a great group of people, and I’m trying to give back to the community what those forefathers and founders set so that it was in place when I got here,” Nunnikhoven said. “For me, it’s natural to give back so that when I leave, there will be a show and a tradition and opportunities for young people to learn.”
-- Contact Taras McCurdie at taras@lyndentribune.com.
DID YOU KNOW? Clara Tennant was the wife of Rev. John A. Tennant, daughter of Ts’lixw of the Nooksack Tribe and spoke several languages. She is interred in the Lynden Cemetery.
A grouping of tools hang inside Nunnikhoven’s garage. Since he was young, Nunnikhoven has been involved with some type of agricultural activity that incorporates farm equipment. (Taras McCurdie/Lynden Tribune)
From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday, July 21, the Lynden Community/Senior Center will host its annual Family Day at Centennial Park, on the corner of 4th and Grover across from the library. Bring your children and grandchildren and enjoy a day of getting to know your neighbors. Activities include improv class, magic show, storytime, yard games, Dixieland band and face painting. Lunch is
By Sarah McCauley For the Tribune
LYNDEN — What can be one of the most isolating experiences is transformed into a source of connection and community through the Old Friends Club.
The program offers respite care to anyone who is caring for a loved one with de-
mentia. This program also fills a need in the Lynden community.
According to the organization’s website, Old Friends Club empowers communities to cultivate joy in the lives of adults with cognitive challenges and nourish the well-being of family caregivers. Observing one of their groups filled with smiles and games, it’s clear the organization is meeting this standard.
The crew at Old Friends Club’s Bellingham branch, above, spends the day laughing and sharing stories under the guidance of Activities Coordinator, Megan Dufault, (centered in photo) and Program Assistant Shawn Monninger (not pictured here). (Sarah McCauley for the Tribune)
Megan Dufault, at left in photo at left, Old Friends Club activities coordinator, devotes her time to ensuring club members feel seen and heard, while keeping the group engaged in fun activities. Shawn Monninger, centered in photo at right, Old Friends Club program assistant, laughs as he helps lead the group in a gentle game of catch. Throughout the day, group coordinators at Old Friends Club work to keep the club members engaged in activities that benefit their physical and mental health. (Sarah McCauley for the Tribune)
Anyone who is caring for someone with dementia can utilize the services of Old Friends Club to get some much-needed and well-deserved time for self-care. It’s a huge problem that the Old Friends Club is trying to solve, according to Executive Director Daniel Gray.
In Washington, more than 120,000 people over the age of 65 live with Alzheimer’s disease, which means 300,000 family caregivers are left to navigate the challenges of supporting someone with dementia, according to Gray. These loved ones take on the role of caregiver and “provide 434 million hours of unpaid care valued at $10.9 billion,” he said.
“Caregiving for a loved one living with cognitive decline is a 24/7 job,” Gray said. “Sleep-cycle disturbances may mean your loved one is up through the night, the tendency to wander can mean that even short lapses in monitoring can be stressful, even basic errands like going to the grocery store require special preparation and planning.”
Caregivers experience high levels of stress, depression, illness, and financial challenges, Gray said. Old Friends Club aims to provide relief to these people carrying this burden. The organization’s website reminds caregivers “it’s OK and important to make sure your own needs are met.”
Respite programs like Old Friends Club offer relief to people carrying the burden of
providing around-the-clock care for someone they love. For a day, they can drop off their loved one and know they will be in good hands.
Anyone interested in the program is welcome to stop by the program to try it out, according to Gray.
“We encourage anyone interested in the program to give us a call and find some time to stop by with their loved one for a cup of coffee, or tea, or cocoa,” Gray said. “We strongly recommend a couple of try it out for anyone interested in joining as a member where there’s no cost, no obligation, just an invitation to visit, and maybe participate in an activity for
an hour or two.”
Caregivers who take Gray up on this offer will encounter a group laughing together and having a good time. The attentive coordinators keep club members engaged in conversations with the group, or activities such as gently tossing around a soft ball or stretching.
The organization website states that Old Friends Club creates space for community and friendship. The companionship allows group members to care for one another, restores a sense of purpose and even becomes motivation to get moving in the morning.
Stepping into one of the sessions, it’s
clear to the observer that the organization is fulfilling this mission. Whether they are cracking jokes or engaging in a group activity - the group is smiling and laughing.
Old Friends Club operates in a few different locations around the greater Bellingham area, including Lynden, Carnation and Camano Island.
The Lynden branch is at Sonlight Church, 8800 Bender Road, on Mondays and Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
To learn more, or to schedule a visit, go to oldfriendsclub.org or email welcome@ oldfriendsclub.org.
