Farms and Fairs

The spread of special events in our wine country has been getting harsh criticisms lately as the Board of Supervisors works to more tightly define and regulate these weekend and seasonal celebrations and marketing affairs.
But we hope none of the protests are pointed at the annual Sonoma County Fair, the “granddaddy” of all local ag-related special events that continues its annual run this week in Santa Rosa. For that matter, we also hope everyone is in agreement that the Sonoma County Farm Trails should keep holding its Gravenstein Apple Fair every summer (Aug. 13-14) at Sebastopol’s Ragle Ranch Regional Park.
We know these two fairs aren’t the kind of special events that have upset some rural neighbors of wineries where weekend traffic, tour buses, noise and crowds disturb the rural landscape and atmosphere.
Drawing a line between the kind of events that support our county’s agricultural roots and its future from non ag-related private or commercial events is the current task of our supervisors. The board’s final work is not expected to be completed until early 2017.
So until then, let’s enjoy the big county fair at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds and let’s support Farm Trails at its “sweetest little fair” next weekend in Sebastopol.
It’s worth remembering and being thankful that county fairs like ours with youth livestock exhibits, horse races, carnival rides and hay bale grandstands have been edged out in many other parts of the country. In their place are shopping malls, theme parks and highway mazes.
We trust the ongoing debate over too many winery special events will not diminish our support for Sonoma County’s agricultural heritage, as highlighted at the first county fair in   1936 and in every year thereafter. No doubt the annual summertime ag exhibition has evolved just as the county’s farms, ranches and vineyards have changed. Eighty years ago most local farmers raised chickens, apples, prunes and hops. Now it is winegrapes, dairy and distinctive crops and products like artisan cheese, craft beers, ciders and specialty livestock.
What hasn’t changed in all this time is that Sonoma County remains one of richest and most diverse ag regions in America, currently ranked 32nd in overall value of ag products and sales.
Another thing worth remembering is that no farmer or farm family can survive without a market or customers. Preserving ag land and a rural landscape of open space, watersheds, cultivated fields and pasture requires a strong ag community and economy. And Sonoma County has one of the very best, as showcased every year at the county fair.
We can talk sustainability, showcase some heirlooms, tout farm-to-table gourmet and petition against GMOs, but none of that happens without good soil, hard work and a farming lifestyle where climate talk is personal, not political.
Nothing depicts our ag roots and values better than the hundreds of 4-H and FFA youth exhibitors at each summer’s county fair. Besides being the future leaders of our ag community, these youth also represent the families and names of past generations that go back as far as the first fair in 1936 and before.
This year a new chapter was opened with the dedication at the fairgrounds of the Saralee and Richard’s (Kunde) Barn, a special event and education center for 4-H, FFA and other ag events.
Before we continue any protests or debates  over our wine country special events, we urge everyone to better understand why Saralee and Richard’s names are on this new building.
Before we litigate and legislate our agriculture landscape’s future, let’s be sure we know how it has been cultivated, made prosperous and preserved so far. For one thing, probably no one hosted more special events over the years than the Kundes, among their many other contributions.
We all want to protect our farming lands and ag industry. When the supervisors set their new special event rules, let’s be sure names like Kunde will still fit on them.
— Rollie Atkinson