Brigadoon of the Sixties

Suzi Prozanski has interviewed hundreds of people to document the history of the Oregon Country Fair. Her most recent book-"Brigadoon of the Sixties: Revelry & Kerfuffles at the Oregon Country Fair"-continues the story where her last book-"Fruit of the Sixties: The Founding of the Oregon Country Fair"-left off. Both books together cover the fair's founding and first three decades. Suzi moved to Eugene from Texas with her husband, Floyd, in 1984. At their first Fair that summer, she "felt more at home" than she ever felt before in her life. She has not missed a Fair since. In 1990, she helped staff Gil Harrison's pottery booth in the Upper River Loop. She soon joined the Info Crew as a volunteer and later switched to the Fair Family News crew, which produces the Fair's monthly newsletter. She is honored to also serve as coordinator of the Fair's Jill Heiman Vision Fund Committee. The Vision Fund accepts donations during the Fair that provides grants to area nonprofit organizations serving people with basic needs. The fund honors Jill Heiman, the young attorney who originally helped the Fair buy its land in 1982. Through interviews and research, Suzi learned about Jill's selfless service and tireless work on behalf of cooperatives and nonprofits throughout this community, including the Fair. Inspired by Jill's efforts, the Vision Fund celebrates Jill's legacy of giving. Suzi worked for more than 20 years as a journalist for the Houston Post in Texas and The Register-Guard in Eugene. She also taught classes in reporting and editing at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. She expresses deep gratitude to all the kind, amazing and wonderful people who have agreed to be interviewed about their history with the Fair. The Fair community continues to inspire Suzi to be her best self.