Fair Days

While some of us long for the days of our younger years, when we spent our summer breaks sleeping in, going to the movies or hanging with friends, we aren’t picturing the realities of hundreds of Sonoma County youth, who have spent the past months raising steer or milking goats, feeding hogs and grooming sheep.
These young, dedicated exhibitors are doing more than waking up and feeding their animals every day. They are learning the ins and outs of running their own business — making decisions to invest in high quality feed to yield the strongest livestock, for example.
We spend a lot of time talking about “youth these days” and their lack of commitment while being raised in a culture where there are only “winners” and everyone gets a trophy.
But, not these kids.
They see their projects through to the end. And when they’re done, they are judged, their projects or livestock are graded, and ultimately, if they’re lucky, auctioned off to the highest bidder.
The livestock auction at this year’s Sonoma County Fair is the culmination of a year’s worth of work for the young “Future Farmers.” They could use all of our support as they make their way to the auction ring over the next week, whether you’re ready to bid and fill your freezer with meat, or just cheer them on as we all see their hard work pay off.
Fortunately, Sonoma County residents come through year after year, and we don’t expect this one to be any different. In 2013, the combined total for all the junior livestock auctions broke the $1 million mark for the seventh year in a row, bringing in $1,176,740.
The list of buyers from last year includes hundreds of local businesses and families that have chosen to support our county’s youth. We’re sure it will again this year, and we encourage more to join the ever-growing list.
Livestock auctions will take place over the next two weeks: Lamb Auction (July 26 – 9 a.m).; Goat Auction (July 26 – 1 p.m.); Rabbit Auction (July 26 – 1:30 p.m.); Hog Auction (Aug. 1 – 9 a.m.); Poultry Auction (Aug. 1 – 1 p.m.); Beef Auction (Aug. 2 – 6 p.m.).
This year’s “Peace, Love & Fair” theme features events for the whole family, including Farmers Day on July 27, which promises an afternoon of barnyard events. There’s the team penning challenge, wild cow and goat milking, the hide race, draft horse demonstration, the pig scramble, mutton bustin’, the popular stick horse competition and the sheep dog trials. Farmer’s Day events are free with general admission.
Or take part in Superhero Day, when kids of all ages will get to meet Spiderman on Saturday, Aug. 9. Kids (12 and under) in a superhero costume will get in free to the fair. Everyone else in costume will get $2 off general admission.
And the annual not-to-be-missed impressive Hall of Flowers will take the “Flower Power” theme to the next level with 10 masterfully crafted gardens, each reflecting a favorite ‘60s song and using the vibrant colors of the 1960s era.
The Sonoma County Fair opens today (July 24) and runs through Aug. 10 (with the exception of being closed on Mondays).
Celebrate our agricultural roots, support our hard-working youth and have some old-time family fun while you’re doing it.
— Kerrie Lindecker