Agriculture Today - October 2009

Big Fresno Fair is underway

Now through Oct. 18, the best of Fresno County agriculture is on display at the Big Fresno Fair. The annual October tradition also is the central gathering place for family and friends to meet, whether it’s at the live horse-racing meet, the junior livestock auction, to hear top name entertainment, or simply to enjoy that all-too-tasty cinnamon roll or corn dog.

The Fresno Fair offers one of the largest displays of agricultural products in the nation. Volunteers from local communities fill the Agricultural Building with the more than 350 commercial crops grown in the County. Participating community booths include Clovis, Coalinga, Easton, Fowler, Kerman, Kingsburg, Laton, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger and Selma. In addition, on Saturday, Oct. 17, 4-H and Future Farmers of America students will aim to take home the top prize and price for their animals at auctions. An auction was held on Oct. 10 for 4-H and FFA students selling meat goats, dairy cows, heifers, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. On Oct. 17, the auction will be held for those students selling beef, sheep and swine. Animal purchases and top-off bids are encouraged to help support our agricultural youth. For details, contact the fair at: (559) 650-3247.

Honored this year as recipients of the 2009 Community Champions Awards were:

Caz Ashjian – Community Champion, Youth
Francine Vindiola – Community Champion, Volunteer
Paul Rodriguez and Ray Appleton– Community Champions, Humanitarian
Mike Jarman – Community Champion, Educator
“Reno” the Fresno County Sheriff K9 Officer – Community Champion, Special Award.

The Fair also honored 2009 Hall of Fame inductees Christopher Korby, Nick Bowles and Walter “Fritz” Lauritzen for their unwavering support of The Big Fresno Fair.

There are several discount ticket opportunities at this year’s fair, including a special one on Thursday, Oct.15. Fair-goers who bring three or more canned food items per person between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. will receive free admission into the Fair as part of the fair’s Drought Relief Food Drive Food. The food will be donated to the Community Food Bank and The Salvation Army, who have partnered for relief support to assist areas affected by the water shortage on the County’s west side.

In addition, Girl Scouts from Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties will help expand their membership by inviting a new recruit to join them in the Food Drive efforts by bringing three or more canned food items to enter the fair on Oct. 15 for free. Once inside the Fair, Girl Scouts and their recruits will complete an educational tour of exhibit buildings with an official Activity Sheet that once turned in will earn them a coveted “Fun Patch” for their Girl Scout sashes that will only be offered that day. Girl Scout officials will be on-site at the Fair to manage the campaign and will sign up new Girl Scout recruits, waiving the annual fee only on that day.

For fair hours and event schedules, visit the Web site at: www.fresnofair.com.