Japanese American field worker, Ontario, Oregon. In May 1942, Malheur County became one of the first areas to recruit Japanese- American evacuees for farm work. Some of the evacuees remained in Eastern Oregon after the order excluding them from the West Coast was lifted in January 1945.
Japanese American workers planting onions in Malheur County. Japanese American work crews were often made up of several related families, including parents and in-laws.
About 450 Japanese Americans from relocation centers were used for farm labor in Malheur County. While most worked mostly for Japanese farmers, these workers are working in the Dale Garrison beet field.
Harvesting the early potato crop in Malheur county was made possible by the presence of the Mexicans. One example is this digger at work on the Roy Holmes farm.
