Our neighbor's home flooded like many of the farms, but they also had a structure fire-and they need help to recover.

Hi, we are Suzanne Pickering and Cathy Ortiz Van Ess, neighbors of the Kosters, and we are asking for support on behalf of Kolten and Stacy Kosters and their 12-year-old son, Konner. In just a matter of days, this family experienced severe flooding that sent nearly two feet of water into their home, followed shortly after by a devastating fire that destroyed a second structure on their property.

Their farm is on a 20-acre parcel on the Snoqualmie River Rd NE in Duvall. Kolten's parents, Ken and Eunice, both died in 2024. Eunice's mother, Mae, lived there before them, so this is indeed a longtime family farm. Eunice pursued her love of horses, so while she helped to train horses and riders alike, it did not bring in the much-needed financial support to keep the farm up to date. There are two other houses on this farm. Kolten and Stacy and their 12-year-old son, Konner, live in one, and the other house is not habitable.

Just two weeks ago, Stacy moved all her spinning wheels, other equipment, professional books, and fleece from 30 recently shorn sheep into the mobile home. This structure burned down in a power surge during the early morning hours of December 17. For work, Stacy spins yarn into wool and sells it to help pay the mortgage on the farm. This was not just a hobby - this was a very much needed business to meet their financial obligations. When Kolten's parents passed, they left the farm to three sons. Kolten had to take out a loan to pay his brothers. Kolten is a Wetland Specialist and does have full-time employment; however, the mortgage and cost of keeping sheep, horses, cats, and dogs cannot be sustained without Stacy's wool business.

To add to this, the recent flood waters went into their house almost two feet, and they must also contend with that. His son, Konner, saw the full force of the fire and is traumatized (as any child would be).

These are great people. The Pickering family are long time friends of the Kosters, and have watched how hard they work to support the farm. Kolten took care of his parents while they were near the end of their lives. His mother wanted him to have this farm. The houses never received any remodels, so they are very outdated and not really worth any type of collateral. They can't get a loan. The insurance company said their double-wide mobile would only be worth 10% of its value, which is nearly nothing since it was very old and in disrepair. Now, it has burned to the ground.

They need help to be able to submit for permits to be able to place a structure there eventually. King County Code requires permits be submitted within one year, and they are quite costly. They really could use some financial help that will all be applied toward getting Stacy's business up and running and to apply for county permits. They really do deserve a helping hand!

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

Thank you.