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Talent farm joins register of historic places TALENT -- The Beeson-Foss Ranch, now known as MeadowBrook Farm, has been entered into the National Register of Historic Places. Owned by JoAnne and Scot Varley, the 26-acre, 145-year-old property is still a working farm, and the couple sells produce, plants, flowers and garden tools. A home, barn and peach shed sit on the property. The Varleys bought the property at 6371 Wagner Creek Road in 1987. The farm was settled in 1853 by John Beeson. His son Welborn later took over the property and in 1863 built an octagonal farmhouse. Julian Foss, who bought the property in 1890, did away with the octagonal features but left the rest of the home as it was. He also made the farm the home of the region's walnut industry, and the nut dryer still used at the farm was most likely one of the first in the region. For decades, the farm was known for its annual offerings of walnuts, filberts and almonds. Properties are nominated to the National Register at the recommendation of the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation. The National Register is the official list of the nation's cultural resources deemed worthy of preservation. Other properties joining the National Register this month are the Wayne Morse Farm in Eugene and the Wilson-South House in Portland. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA