Sonoma Marin Farm News - October 2012

THE VOICE OF SONOMA COUNT Y AGRICULTURE SINCE 1917 OCTOBER 2012

Sonoma ~MarinFARM NEWS

Sonoma County Viewpoint............... 3

Marin Farm News.......................... 5

Safety Tips..................................... 6

Cooking with Laurie Figone..........7

4-H & FFA...................................... 10

AG Commissioner .......................... 15

Seminars and Training.................... 20

IN THIS ISSUE

“Cooking with Laurie Figone” featured in Sonoma-Marin

Farm News. See page 7

Jim Groverman, the Father of Petaluma’s Popular Roadside Attraction Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze opens for the Pumpkin Season

As the proprietor of Sonoma County’s most popular roadside attraction, Jim

Groverman, the farmer behind the Highway 101 corn maze, is the poster guy for “Agritourism” in the North Bay.In fact, Groverman was doing what he calls “Agro-Tainment” long before the word “agritourism” became part of the farming lexicon and a topic at trendy workshops exploring ways to survive in the farming game. Basically, agritourism refers to any income-generating activity conducted on a farm or ranch for the enjoyment and education of visitors. In other words, visitors, mostly urban residents hungry for a taste of country, come as much for the farm experience as they do to buy pumpkins and gourds.For the last 20 years, Groverman’s Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze, along the west side of Highway 101 north of Petaluma, has attracted thousands of visitors each October. But the corn maze isn’t just an

October phenomenon. The maze’s rise and fall is monitored by thousands of motorists every day throughout the year. Groverman’s Corn Maze, like Clo the Cow billboards, is a source of curious observation and community pride.The scrutiny along Highway 101 gets intense in spring when the land is prepared and the seeds planted. Motorists check out the growth of the corn stalks as they sprout from the adobe soil, grow through the summer and by fall reach more than 10 feet tall. In November, the maze disappears. The cornstalks are cut and chopped for silage to feed dairy cows. The cycle is complete.Groverman and his wife Cindy, who along with daughter Kimberly, offer the North Bay’s increasingly urban and suburban population a chance to soak up the autumnal glory by getting lost in the four-acre corn maze, picking the perfect pumpkin, climbing over hay bales or rummaging through bins of grotesquely-

shaped gourds. The farm animal displays, hay stacks and home-baked goods sold by fresh-faced 4-H club members complete the entertainment picture, making Groverman’s farm a kind of Barnyard Disneyland each October.“What we are doing is agritourism and that’s what makes this operation work. It’s letting people have fun,” said Groverman, 49, as lean and lanky as the corn stocks he grows. “A lot of town people are looking for something to do on weekends, a place to take their kids so they can run around in the country. We are offering them that opportunity.”The corn maze also has been used by corporations for employee team-building maneuvers. Brides, smitten with pumpkins and Halloween, have rented the Pumpkin Patch for October weddings.Groverman, a man of few words, is a reluctant showman. If he had his druthers, he would

just be on his tractor farming, leaving the entertainment aspect to folks in Hollywood. But he knows in an area like Sonoma County and the San Francisco Bay Area he just can’t grow corn and pumpkins and make a living. He has to offer an agricultural experience to bring the crowds that will pay $6 each to literally get lost in his corn maze.The corn maze is Groverman’s evolving masterpiece, a four acre piece of living art created from the planting of more than 150,000 corn seeds. Every year he designs a maze that is challenging but not impossible or defeating.“It’s a true maze. There is only one way in and one way out,” said Groverman. “There is no set pattern. I just wing it. That’s what keeps it interesting and challenging. People keep coming back because it’s different every year.”The maze’s basic concept is four spokes with

See Corn page 19

Dr. Vine Honored with Leadership in Agriculture Award. See page 8

Jim Groverman, wife Cindy and their daughter Kimberly in the Amazing Corn Maze along Highway 101 in Petaluma. Groverman’s pumpkin patch and corn maze are open through October. (Photograph by Steven Knudsen of the Farm Bureau staff).

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Sonoma - Marin Farm News • October 2012 3

President’s Messageby Joe Pozzi-President by Lex McCorvey-Executive Director

Is Proposition 37 Truth in Labeling?


“I fi rmly believe from what I have seen that this is the chosen spot of all the earth as far as nature is concerned.” ~ Luther Burbank

March 2012

A = Attended; E = Excused Absence; U = Un-excused Absent, * = No Meeting

SONOMA COUNTY FARM BUREAU970 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403Phone (707) 544-5575 Fax (707) 544-7452

STAFFExecutive Director Lex McCorveyAdministrative Assistant Ronda EisenhauerCommunity Relations Tim TesconiCommunications & Development Steven KnudsenMember Relations Coordinator Zack ZimmermanProgram Coordinator Anita HawkinsBookkeeper Linda RosenSCFB OFFICERSPresident Joe Pozzi 1st VP Tito Sasaki2nd VP John AzevedoTreasurer John Bidia

MARIN COUNTY FARM BUREAUP.O. Box 219, Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956Phone (415) 663-1231 Fax (415) 663-1141

MCFB OFFICERSPresident Dominic Grossi

www.sonomafb.org Email: [email protected]

Vol 24, Issue 12

2011 - 2012 Board of Directors Attendance

See McCorvey on page 22

October 2012

See Pozzi on page 22

Director 10-Nov 15-Dec 12-Jan 9-Feb 8-Mar 12-Apr 10-May 14-Jun 12-Jul 9-Aug 13-Sep

John Azevedo A * A A U A A A E A *

Scott Bauer E * E A A E A A E E *

Doug Beretta A * A A A A A A A U *

Karen Bianchi-Moreda E * E A E A A A A A *

John Bidia A * A A U A A A A E *

Domenic Carinalli U * A A A A E A A E *

Jeff Carlton A * A A A A A E A A *

Don DeBernardi U * A A A A U E A A *

Steve Dutton A * A E A A A A A A *

Al Gerhardt A * A A A A A A E A *

Jana McClelland U * A A E A A U U A *

Robert Muelrath A * A E A A A U A E *

Ray Mulas A * A A U A U U A A *

Joe Pozzi A * A A A A A A E A *

Kathy Reese E * A E A A A A A E *

Tito Sasaki E * A A A A A A A A *

Walt Ryan A * A A A A E A A A *

Norm Yenni E * A A A A A E A A *

A = Attended E = Excused U = Unexcused x = No Meeting

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On the evening of September

15th, I was once again pulling into the vineyards of Saralee and Richard Kunde for another event at Richard’s Grove. I laughed with a few

people saying, “I think I have spent more Saturday evenings at the Kundes for events than anywhere else during the summer.” As I looked around, I know other people could say the same. In doing so, it made me realize how generous our community is, even during these challenging economic times. The event held on the 15th of September was the annual 4-H Foundation of Sonoma County BBQ and fundraiser. There were more than 600 guests attending the event coordinated by Susan Hansen, executive director of the 4-H Foundation. The guests were entertained with music, local food products, Sonoma County wine and beer, a great dinner and silent and live auctions. We were able to share in the recognition of Ron Carli, president and chief executive offi cer of American AgCredit, who received the Sonoma County 4H Alumni Recognition ward, and John Cornolo, a 4-H Foundation Director, who received the Shining Star award. Both Ron and John have been long-time supporters of the Sonoma County 4-H program. Ron and John are among the many other individuals who continually support our 4-H and FFA youth. Congratulations to them both – their recognition is well-deserved! This 4-H Foundation event, along with many other fundraisers held throughout

the summer, exemplifi es the generosity of our local agricultural community. The hundreds of thousands of dollars raised, and the thousands of volunteer hours donated throughout the year really provide a picture about how much we care about the future of our agricultural heritage in Sonoma County. Many of these events are focused on the youth of our county. As the years pass, we see these kids, turned professionals, returning from many different fi elds to pay tribute to the opportunities they were given as young men and women here in the local 4-H and FFA programs. Until you have a chance to travel to other areas of our country, it is hard to realize how many amazing opportunities young people are given in Sonoma County. So as parents, get involved. For you kids and for yourself, it is a great time to come together and see everyone at these events.Keeping on the subject of our youth, I want to acknowledge Sonoma County’s two outstanding colleges, which provide great educational opportunities for students after they leave high school. We all know about the Santa Rosa Junior College Agricultural program, but there is so much more being provided there. Sonoma State University has almost been an unknown to the Agricultural Community, as to how they relate to our world. But I have met many graduates from SSU who work in the environmental science fi eld, and they are very important to help advise us as we make decisions about managing the natural resources, both for increased production, as well as keeping ahead of regulations as we work the land.Another event I attended was a “Grown in

SONOMA ~ MARIN FARM NEWSPublished at Sonoma County Farm Bureau Sonoma and Marin County Farm Bureaus do not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers in FARM NEWS, nor does either Sonoma County Farm Bureau assume responsibility for statements or expressions of opinion other than in editorials or in articles showing authorship by an offi cer of Sonoma and Marin Farm Bureaus.Sonoma-Marin Farm News (USPS 024-961) is published monthly by Sonoma County Farm Bureau for its paying members (please see membership information to the right), 970 Piner Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Periodicals Postage Paid at Santa Rosa,CA, and at additional mailing offi ces.POSTMASTER - Send address changes to: Sonoma-Marin Farm News Sonoma County Farm Bureau 970 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Ph. 707-544-5575 Fax: 707-544-7452

This November, California

voters will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 37, the alleged “right to know” initiative for labeling of foods

sold in California. If passed, California would be the only state in the nation to require special or different labeling on everything from breakfast cereals to organic “natural” apple sauce.The initiative has three main parts. 1) Labeling would be required on foods sold at supermarkets which do or are suspected of containing any level of genetically modifi ed ingredients.2) Prop 37 would prohibit the sale, advertising or promotion of food products that have been cooked, baked, frozen, dried, squeezed, dehydrated, pressed, canned, smoked, fermented, milled or processed in any manner from being labeled as “natural, naturally made, naturally grown, all natural” or any similar words, even if they do not contain a Genetically Engineered ingredient or are organic. 3) Prop 37 also contains a bounty hunter lawsuit provision enabling any private citizen to sue a farmer, food company or grocer to enforce these labeling laws. Farmers of non-biotech crops will be required to submit sworn statements for every crop sold to any food processor. If you are a farmer and you get sued, there is no provision allowing you to recover litigation or attorney costs even if you successfully defend yourself. The trial lawyers are licking their chops for this cash cow opportunity.

According to California’s independent non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Offi ce, Prop 37 would allow trial lawyers to “sue without needing to demonstrate that any specifi c damage occurred as a result of the alleged violation.” Proposition 37 also contains a number of loopholes or exemptions. For example, labeling of foods containing any Genetically Engineered (GE) ingredient would apply to thousands of common food products sold at grocery stores and other retail outlets like CVS or Wal-Mart. But the same exact foods sold “for immediate consumption” in a restaurant, deli or food stand would be exempt from labeling. For example, a can of Campbell’s soup with a trace amount of GE ingredients from soybeans purchased at a local market would have to be labeled as may contain GE ingredients. The same can of Campbell’s soup served to you at a restaurant does not have to be labeled.The labeling requirements would apply to non-alcoholic beverages like a soft drink or fruit juice that may contain corn syrup made with GE ingredients, but all alcoholic beverages like beer, wine or liquor’s made with GE yeasts or grains would be exempt. Consumers will be further confused to learn that dairy products are exempt. So even if a cow munched on Round-Up Ready alfalfa or GE cotton meal, you would not have to label the milk, cheese or ice cream. Meats from animals that consumed GE feed are also exempt. But I thought this was about “the right to know”? Proposition 37 qualifi ed for the November 2012 ballot when advocates gathered a million signature’s forcing voters to act on the initiative. In this day


See Young Farmers on page 22

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A group of twenty-and-thirty-something farmers from Marin and Sonoma counties

who share a passion for small-scale agriculture, natural farming and environmental stewardship have formed the Valley Ford Young Farmer’s Association as a way to pool their farming know-how and hone their marketing prowess.The loose-knit organization also serves as a social network for association members, mostly beginning farmers, learning their way in the agricultural world. While these young farmers are members of the Sonoma or Marin Farm Bureaus and other organizations, they fi nd the Valley Ford Young Farmers Association a good way to connect – and bond – with other young people carving out farming niches in the coastal landscape they call home. It’s similar to the early days of Farm Bureau when Farm Bureau centers were the heart, soul and social center of rural, agricultural communities in Sonoma and Marin counties.In fact, the Valley Ford Young Farmers started over a simple dinner after getting to know one another while selling at the Occidental Farmers Market where all of the young farmers in the group regularly peddle their farm products. That fi rst dinner morphed into the regular dinner gatherings that are held several times a week. Between forkfuls of grass-fed beef and fresh veggies, the members ponder topics ranging from best methods for trapping gophers to the future of food.In many ways, the young farmers are reminiscent of the back-to-the land movement of the 1960’s. What they lack in agricultural experience is made up with their commitment and passion for a rural lifestyle and a magnifi cent obsession for producing healthy, locally-grown food on land sustainably, if not organically, farmed. Members of the Valley Ford Young Farmers grow and process everything from grass fed beef and lamb to hot house red peppers and sheep milk cheese. All produce free range eggs from hens that peck

Young Farmers around Valley Ford Join Together for Support and Friendship The group’s slogans “Young Farmers United for the Future of Agriculture”By Tim Tesconi

and scratch on coastal pastures. The young farmers don’t consider themselves competitors but compatriots in farming, dedicated to preserving the landscape while scratching out a living. They say they are part of the next generation carrying the Valley Ford region’s agricultural legacy.“We joined together to help each other make it,” said Anna Erickson, the president of the Valley Ford Young Farmers. Erickson, who

is 30, is a fi fth generation member of a Marin County ranching family that been on the same land fore more than century. As the proprietor of Hands Full Farm, she raises pastured eggs and goats and makes her specialty homemade preserves between stints as the cheese maker for the Barinaga Ranch sheep dairy in Marshall. Erickson said like others in the group she is working hard fi nding new ways to keep the

land that has been in her family since 1897.“I don’t want this ranch to be lost on my watch,” said Erickson.It’s a similar story for Guido Frosini, 27, whose ancestors have been on the same 1,000 acre Conlan Ranch near Valley Ford since 1867. He raises grass fed Wagyu beef, pastured pork and free range fowl on the ranch, which he calls True Grass Farms. The name refl ects his mission to nurture the unique natural cycles of

Young farmers from the Valley Ford area have formed an association as a way to support each other in their farming endeavors and to enhance their marketing skills. Members of the association are, left to right, Anna Erickson, president, Holly Ernest, Matthew Elias, Evan Wiig and Dillon Franklin. Kneeling are, Guido Frosini, left, and John Gorman. (Photograph by Steven Knudsen of the Farm Bureau staff).


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This may be the last column I write

before the election on November 6th, so I think it is as good a time as any to let you know about a Marin County Farm Bureau endorsement and one measure that will be on your ballots. At

our September board meeting Marc Levine

took time out of his busy schedule to sit down at our last board meeting to discuss some is-sues and his beliefs about agriculture, politics and how the two come together. Currently Marc is a San Rafael city councilman and he is running for State Assembly, a position that is currently held by Jared Huffman who will be termed out this election cycle. Marc is a young guy who has lots of energy, intel-ligence, and open mindedness to work with both Republicans and Democrats to get things accomplished. He recognizes the importance of local agriculture here in Marin but also the larger picture of how agriculture in the whole state is essential. Our board voted at our last meeting to endorse Marc, while there are many reasons to like and support him, I want to highlight a major difference between he and his opponent. Marc reached out to us because he wants to learn

about our issues and make a difference. When Farm Bureau has reached out to his opponent in the past, his opponent won’t even listen to our concerns. To illustrate this you have look no further than the agricultural overtime bill that was just voted down in the assembly. Marc’s opponent actually wrote this bill and when the agriculture community tried to show him the massive problems with the bill he would not listen. While I certainly do not expect politicians to agree with me all the time, I do believe that they should at least represent all their constituents and listen to what we have to say, Marc will do that. I hope you will join me in voting for him on November 6th. You can learn more about Marc at www.LevineForAssembly.com.Measure A will also be on your ballot next month. This measure came about from the Marin County Parks and Open Space in collaboration with the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. It will be a ¼ cent sales tax to raise money for Parks and Open Space as well as for farmland protection. Eighty percent of the funds will go the county primarily to help with management of the current parks both in the County and some of the money will go towards city parks. The other twenty percent will be used for conservation easements. It is estimated that this will generate about $2,000,000 per year to help by conservation easements, and of course this means putting money into the hands of farmers and ranchers.

Marin County Farm Bureau Board of Directors Attendance Record 2012

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Judy Borello E * E E E E E E E

Ione Conlan A * E A A E A E A

Jerry Corda A * A A A E A A E

Liz Cunninghame A * A U E U E U E

Sam Dolcini A * E A A A A A A

Jerry Gause A * A A A E A A A

Dominic Grossi A * A A A A A A A

Mike Lawson A * A A A A A A A

Steve Mahrt A * E A A A E A A

Peter Martinelli E * A E U U U U U

Cindy Pomi E * A E E E E E E

MartinPozzi E * A A A E E E A

Sally Pozzi A * A A A E E E A

John Taylor A * A E A A E A A

A = Attended; E = Excused absence: U = Unexcused absence; * = No meeting

While I am ordinarily opposed to tax increases, at least this will keep the moneys local and be used for something that will help our ranchers who are trying to get into MALT. The money for state and federal grants has all but dried up and this will be a very important revenue stream to fi nd money for future conservation easements. The Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to put this on the ballot after extensive community outreach and involvement. I hope you will take the time to support this measure.We are preparing once again for our annual

VIP lunch which will be held at the Pomi Ranch on Thursday October 4th. This has been a wonderful venue for the past four years; we are expecting about 70 people to show up again. It is always such a great day to talk with our elected offi cials and other county staff who make so many important decisions and work with us on so many issues. I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Thank you for your support.

Farmland prices rise

For people trying to enter the business of farming, the cost of land can be a signifi cant hurdle. Prices to buy or rent California farm and ranch land broke records this year, accord-

ing to the U-S Agriculture Department. The average price of California farmland stands at $7,200 dollars an acre. Property that has access to irrigation commands the highest prices. The cost to rent farmland has also increased.

M.B. Boissevain, Marin's First Farm AdvisorHistorical Photographs of Marin's Agrarian Roots: 1920 – 1950

The historical photographs of M.B. Boissevain, Marin County’s fi rst farm advisor, will be on display through the month of October at Toby’s Feed Barn in Point Reyes

Station. Visitors will experience Marin County’s agricultural heritage through the historical photographs taklen by the legendary farm adviser between 1920 and 1950.“These magnifi cent images provide a unique opportunity to embrace Marin's agrarian roots and present bounty, as well as take an intimate look at what life was like for Marin ranchers and farmers during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s,” said David Lewis, who heads the Marin County University of California Cooperative Extension.The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays through October.M.B. Boissevain began as the fi rst University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor in 1920. During this period, UC Berkeley, California's land-grant university, was sending agricultural agents out to agricultural communities up and down the state to spread practical information and new methods about farming. M.B. Boissevain was the fi rst farm advisor in Marin County and served as agronomist and community leader for 30 years, from 1920 to 1950.Boissevain was also a talented and prolifi c photographer, and his photographs capture a rarely seen view of the people and the land during the early part of the 20th century. The exhibit chronicles the predecessors of Marin's current farm families out standing in their fi elds and with their livestock, implementing farm production and health innovations during this "progressive era" of agriculture, participating in youth education and development, and managing many of the same farms and landscapes that are part of Marin's working landscapes today. A companion book of the images is also available for purchase online, as well as at Toby's, Point Reyes Books, and Book Passage. The exhibit sponsors are the Marin County Board of Supervisors, Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History, Marin Agricultural Land Trust, Marin French Cheese Co., The Boissevan Family, The Law Firm of Hanson Bridgett LLP, Marin County Farm Bureau and the Marin County Fair.

A=Attended; E= Excused absence: U= Unexcused absence; *= No meeting

Dominic GrossiPresident


By Mike KlimenkoFarm Bureau Group Manager-State Compensation Insurance Fund

For farmers everywhere, the tractor is a vital

and trusted tool—one that is capable of doing

an incredible number of functions on the farm and ranch. But tractors are among the most dangerous tools as well.Every year there are deaths and serious injuries that are traced back to the operation of the farm tractor. Nearly half of all fatalities on U.S. farms every year involve tractors. Rollovers and runovers top the list. And sadly, about 20 percent of non work-related fatalities on the farm happen to children under that age of 16, with runovers being the most common causes of child deaths.So it goes without saying that tractor safety is a vital component of a farming operation. Preventative measures and proper training are the best forms of protection. Make sure that everyone who operates a tractor has received proper training and is physically fi t. It is important that tractor operators fi rst familiarize themselves with the tractor operator’s manual, paying particular attention to the safety information.Also, be sure that all tractor drivers conduct a safety inspection before using the vehicle. Have them check to see that the ROPS (rollover protective structure) and seat belts are in place, that the PTO master shield has not been removed and that the operator’s platform is clear of debris. Also have them check the lights, brakes, hydraulics and tires and be sure the refl ective “slow moving vehicle” emblem is posted.Here’s a quick checklist of some of the most important safety elements:·Brake pedal: Is the locking device functioning

Tractors are useful tools, but they can be dangerous too

and are the brakes properly adjusted?·PTO shields and safety guards: Are they in place and in good condition?·Hitch: Are pins and bolts in place?·Attached or mounted equipment? Is it securely fastened? Are hitch pins correct size? Are sway blocks properly adjusted?·Handrails, steps, platform: Are they clean and in good condition?·Tires: Are they in good condition? Is air pressure correct?·Wheel bolts: Are they tight and not broken?·Steering: Are connections tight?·Exhaust system: Is it sound and leak-free?·Fire extinguisher: Is it charged and easily accessible?·First aid kit: Is it fully stocked and accessible?Today, State Fund is the largest workers’ compensation carrier in California. State Fund has regional offi ces throughout the state, which provide a full range of services to policyholders and injured workers. We provide coverage to employers of all sizes, from “mom and pop” operations to major organizations.Since 1943, the California Farm Bureau and State Fund partnership has provided farmers with affordable worker compensation insurance coverage and accident prevention training for agricultural employers and their employees. In addition to providing farm and ranch employers with workers’ compensation insurance protection, we also have taken on the mission of assisting employers in providing safe places to work. For more information, call toll-free at (800) 773-7667, or check the State Fund Web site at www.statefundca.com.

By John ValentineDirector, Sponsor Relations Sales-Nationwide Insurance

Who doesn’t like to save money?

Especially on life insurance. Shopping around might help, but

how do you know if you’re comparing apples to apples? Life insurance policies can be as varied as the hundreds of companies that offer them. So if fi ne print isn’t your thing, start with the basics. Here are some ideas to get you going. 1. Live a healthy lifestyle. Most life insurance companies require a physical exam, and those that don’t, ask questions about your health. Smoking, chewing tobacco, high blood pressure, excessive weight, diabetes, asthma and other medical conditions will drive your rates up. Underwriters are trying to fi gure out how long you will live, and anything that can potentially shorten your life increases your risk and raises your rates. So try to improve your health before you apply. At minimum, document your efforts to get healthy. Show that you are taking medication, quitting smoking, starting to exercise or making other lifestyle changes that will improve your well-being. 2. If your health improves, ask for a requote.If you’ve stopped smoking for a year, lost weight, controlled your asthma with medication, or made other health improvements since you purchased life insurance, ask your agent to see if you are eligible for a reduced premium. Many insurance companies will adjust your rates if your health improves.

How to Save Money on Life InsuranceSix ideas to help you get the best deal

3. Buy sooner rather than laterUsually, the younger you are when you buy life insurance, the lower the price. As you age, the premiums tend to rise. You can lock in premium rates over the life of your insurance, which might save money. And buying for a longer period of time could make sense too – if you need it. 4. Buy as much as you think you will need.This works well with savings tip #3. Since life insurance is most affordable when you are young and healthy, don’t skimp. It is probably cheaper to buy more than to add onto or buy a new policy. Certainly don’t buy more than you need, but be realistic about what your life will look like in 10 or 20 years, and don’t forget to factor in infl ation. 5. Start with term insuranceTerm insurance is generally less expensive than permanent insurance, such as Whole Life. And it is the basic foundation of fi nancial planning. If you were to die, life insurance may help replace some of your lost income and could potentially give family members the fi nancial support they need. So if you can only afford the minimum, start with term insurance. 6. Check credentials.Insurance is only as good as the insurance company that sells it. So check with your state insurance department and look for a company with a long, reputable record. Insurance companies are rated by a number of agencies: Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investor Services, and A.M. Best are just a few. You’ll fi nd their ratings posted online. It’s important to consider the fi nancial stability of any company as this could affect if the company will be around when your love ones need the protection you’ve purchased. Keep in mind that all guarantees are subject to the claims paying ability of the insurance company. As your personal situations change (i.e., marriage, birth of a child or job promotion), so

See Save money page 22


Cooking with Laurie Figone

Laurie Figone, who grew up as Laurie Leveroni on her family’s multi-generational dairy ranch

nestled in the Marin county hills of rural Novato, this month joins the Sonoma-Marin Farm News as a food columnist. Each month Laurie will offer her award winning recipes and also write about the farmers and artisan food producers she encounters in her travels about the North Bay. Because of her deep roots in the region, Laurie knows many of the farmers and ranchers in Sonoma and Marin counties and will share her stories with readers of the Sonoma-Marin Farm News.Growing up on the Leveroni Ranch as the

daughter of Joyce and David Leveroni III, Laurie’s closest neighbors were grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She went to elementary school at a quaint, one- room schoolhouse and the fellow students were children from neighboring ranches. Families were close- knit, work was hard and the hours were long, but everyone came together at the end of the day for a wonderful meal at the family table. It is from these roots that Laurie’s passion for good food was born.Laurie was a profoundly shy young girl, yet she found herself at ease and confi dent in the kitchen. With encouragement from a patient and willing mother, Laurie started cooking at a young age, chopping, creating and helping to prepare meals for the family table. Years later, married with a family of her own, Laurie went back to her Italian roots and began cooking with her paternal grandmother, Ida Leveroni, perfecting the art of making her own hand- made raviolis. She became famous in her community for her delicious raviolis and started on a path in the foodie world she never knew she would be brave enough to follow.Laurie began experimenting in the kitchen and entered a few contests. She soon had a collection of winning recipes and found them published in cookbooks. With courage and confi dence, she accepted an offer to host her own TV show “Cooking with Laurie”. The program showcases locally grown and raised products, which she then turns into culinary masterpieces.Laurie still lives in one of the most beautiful areas of Northern California, though the landscape has changed a bit. Hayfi elds have become residential subdivisions and generational dairies have gone out of business, but these economic pressures, combined with consumer demand, have forced agricultural diversity. Grass fed beef, organic vegetables, free range chickens and eggs are just a few of the local products that are still produced on the ranches in the valley where Laurie grew up. She is proud of this area, proud to cook with its wonderful bounty and proud that her roots are in this land, for it is from these roots that Laurie’s passion was born.Laurie is married to Dan Figone of Hunt & Behrens Feed Co. in Petaluma. She has two children, Garret Medeiros and Sabrina Figone, and is the proud owner of Bart, her black Cocker Spaniel.

Cooking with Laurie Figone This is a super simple dish fi lled with fresh fl avors!! What I love most about it is how quick it comes together and the beautiful colors are sure to entice your appetite!!

½ cup McClelland’s Artisan Organic Butter, room temperature2 TBSP. minced fresh parsley2 TBSP. minced fresh basil2 sprigs fresh thyme1 lemon, zested3 cloves fresh garlic, sliced2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved2 cups fresh green beans cut into 1 in. pieces1 lb. prawns, peeled, cleaned and patted dry¼ cup vermouth9 oz. fresh fettuccineSea salt, to taste

• In a small bowl, blend together fresh herbs, lemon zest and butter. Put this mixture into a large frying pan over medium heat; melt butter. Add the halved cherry tomatoes, cut green beans and sliced garlic; simmer over medium heat just until the tomatoes start to break down. This should take about 3 minutes.•While your sauce is simmering; bring 7 cups of salted water to a boil in a large pot. •Once the cherry tomatoes have broken down; add the prawns and vermouth to this mixture and stir and cook just until the prawns are cooked through (they will have lost all of their gray color and turned pink). Right after you add the prawns to the frying pan, add the fresh fettuccine to the pot of boiling water. Pasta and prawns should both be ready in 3 minutes.•Drain the fettuccine and put in a large serving bowl. Pour the prawn mixture on top of the pasta.

Mangia!!

My visit to McClelland’s Dairy

In January 2011 my neighbor, a plumber by trade, told me I should have a cooking

show on the P.C.A. (Petaluma Community Access) channel 27…I looked at him like he was CRAZY!!Needless to say, ‘Cooking With Laurie’ was born. I didn’t want the show to be just about me cooking…I wanted to bring in the wonderful bounty of deliciousness that is being produced right here in Sonoma and Marin Counties. I wanted to introduce the audience to the faces behind the scenes…faces of many that I recognized, having grown up on a dairy ranch in Novato.My most recent visit was to McClelland’s Dairy in West Petaluma where the McClelland Family produces Hand Wrapped European Style Organic Butter. The Two Rock valley coastal breeze makes for the ideal climate for their herd of 900 organic cows. “The Special Girls”, as Jana calls them, don’t care

for the temperature to be over 68’ and are predominately grass fed.I had a confession to make…I had never milked a cow by hand!! Jana changed that…she gave me Lily, a Grand Champion, to milk. She also gave me some of her delicious artisan butter to bring back to my kitchen where I whipped up my ‘Fettuccine Al’a Figone’ and compound butters. Compound butters are great to have on hand...they make great toppings for grilled meats, pastas, polenta and fresh locally baked bread.I’m sharing one of my favorites today. Just remember the possibilities are endless, let your taste buds guide you. By Laurie FigoneTo watch this episode of Cooking with Laurie and others go to www.lauriesfood.com/tv-show www.CookingWithLaurieFigone.com

By Laurie Figone

Fettuccine Al’a Figone


Rich Thomas Toasted & Roasted as Recipient of the “Leadership in Agriculture” Award—600 people attend Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce’s Agribusiness BBQ honoring ThomasBy Tim Tesconi

There were 600 people attending the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce’s 40th

annual Agribusiness Barbecue where Rich Thomas, the longtime viticulture instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College who became a dynamic force in the Sonoma County wine industry, was honored with the Chamber’s “Leadership in Agriculture” award.The annual event was held on Aug. 29 at Richard’s Grove and Saralee’s Vineyard near Windsor. For the last 40 years, the Santa Rosa Chamber’s Agribusiness Barbecue has brought the agricultural and business communities together, bridging the relationship between urban and rural sectors of the county’s diverse economy.Thomas was joined at the Chamber event by his family - wife Barbara, his sons, Sean, Michael and Rich Thomas and his daughter Mara Georgiadis, who lives in Australia, and by hundreds of friends, supporters and former students.Thomas, who is 71, was recognized for his pivotal role in transforming the Sonoma County wine industry from a backwater jug wine purveyor to one of the leading grape growing regions on the world’s wine stage. Thomas educated thousands of students in viticulture during his 30 years at Santa Rosa Junior College and had a major impact on the way that vineyards look today. The majority of the county’s more than 60,000 acres of vineyards are owned or managed by students who learned the ways of the vine under Thomas’ tutelage. He was never boring when lecturing on trellis systems, chardonnay clones and disease resistant rootstocks, always boisterous, irreverent and opinionated in conveying his on-target messages.Thomas, who sports the personal license

plate “Dr. Vine,” is an unabashed champion of Sonoma County wines, saying it has the soil, microclimates and people to produce top-tier chardonny, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, zinfandel and other varietals. “I personally think we are No. 1 in the world

right now in terms of quality,” said Thomas, a native and lifelong resident of Sonoma County. Steve Olson, a retired dean at Santa Rosa Junior College, was chairman of the SRJC agriculture department when Thomas was hired in 1973 as the college’s fi rst full-time viticulture instructor. During the evening’s awards presentation, Olson talked about Thomas’s many accomplishments. He chronicled Thomas’s life and times as Thomas made the transition from livestock cowboy to grape guru in Sonoma County, reinventing himself when the county’s agriculture shifted from cows and sheep to chardonnay and cabernet. Olson characterized the theme of Thomas’s remarkable life as “Local Boy Makes Good.”Thomas grew up in a family of modest means but early on showed his determination to succeed. He began to really shine as a freshman at Herbert Slater Junior High when he enrolled in agriculture class and found his calling.“Rich was hooked from the beginning and quickly joined the Future Farmers of America and became involved in leadership and livestock

projects,” said Olson. Thomas then went to Santa Rosa High School where he continued in agriculture and studied under the legendary agriculture instructor, J. Wesley Jamison, a great judge of man and beast. Jamison realized Thomas’s keen intellect and determination, taking him under his wing to groom him for leadership roles in the FFA and for an agricultural education at U.C. Davis. Thomas studied animal science at Davis and earned a teaching degree. He returned to Sonoma County and taught agriculture at Healdsburg High School for 10 years. During that time, he also served as the Livestock Superintendent of the Sonoma County Fair, working under Wes Jamison, who was the fair’s livestock manager and director of premiums.The 1960’s were a time of rapid change in society and in Sonoma County’s agricultural landscape. Thomas saw the sweeping changes taking place in Sonoma County agriculture as dairies, beef cattle ranches and prune orchards were converted to vineyards. He wanted to be part of the change, refusing to be left behind in the dust.

Rich Thomas, retired viticulture instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College, received a watercolor painting of the vineyards at SRJC’s Shone Farm as the recipient of the 2012 Leadership in Agriculture award, sponsored by the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. Rich is joined by his family, wife Barbara, right, daughter, Mara Georgiadis, and sons, left to right, Sean, Michael and Rich Thomas. (Photograph by Steven Knudsen of the Farm Bureau staff).

See Thomas from page 23


Revolutionary Sonoma County Wine Company Truett-Hurst Launches World's First Evocative Wrapped Wine Bottle SeriesSafeway Inc. "leans in" on exclusive pioneering line created by lauded international designer Kevin Shaw.

Truett-Hurst, the Sonoma County wine company and trendsetter, has announced

that Pleasanton-based Safeway Inc. plans to carry one of the most unique wine lines to hit retail shelves: Evocative Wrapped Bottles. Due on Safeway shelves in September 2012, the inventive line of wines, with such brand names as Fuchsia, Curious Beasts, Candells, Schucks, and Bewitched, are sheathed in exquisitely designed wraps that tell a story, give a recipe, or celebrate a special occasion. Truett-Hurst, along with critically acclaimed package designer Kevin Shaw, of Stranger & Stranger (New York and London), identifi ed 22 buying occasions and created brands in a packaging format that commands a powerful shelf presence. With the added paper real estate, the wraps allow for more copy, recipes, and engagement among consumers in a way that a tiny back label cannot. The Evocative Wrapped Bottles present a major opportunity for gifting — delivering a signifi cant added value to the retailer and the buyer. In preparing the Wrapped Bottle series for shelves, Truett-Hurst CEO Phil Hurst, explains, "We've delivered on all purchase impulse components with this fresh and ingenious series of wines." Safeway's plans are to launch nine SKUs, or "occasions," nationally. PurposeWith Evocative Wrapped Bottles, consumers will be able to select a wine that suits their personal desires and needs, an attribute that the wine industry doesn't address with

Water Development Strategies for Frost Protection and Irrigation Seminaris Nov. 12

The Sonoma County Winegrape Commission is presenting an informational

seminar on Water Development Strategies for Frost Protection and Irrigation on November 12, from 2:30-5:00pm at the Hilton located at 3555 Round Barn Blvd., Santa Rosa. The program was created in response to AB 964 that provides new options for growers and vintners to develop water storage up to 20-acre feet and to greater regulation of water use. RSVP to attend by November 5 to: http://www.sonomawinegrape.org/Water-Development-StrategiesTopics covered include: regulatory requirements for diversions and storage of surface water and subterranean fl ow; enforcement activities against storage ponds; changes to small domestic registrations; capturing unregulated water; identifying and permitting water sources; water recycling and using tertiary water for vineyards; identifying suitable pond sites; the importance of proper siting and property line measurements for a storage facility; permits; construction costs and variables; and project fi nancing and government cost sharing.Presenters include: Paula Whealen of Wagner & Bonsignore Civil Engineers, Pete Lescure of Lescure Civil Engineers and Brooke Cole of USDA's NRCS. There is no cost to attend but RSVPs are required.The Sonoma County Winegrape Commission was established in 2006 as a non-profi t marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. SCWC’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers around the world. For more information about SCWC and its programs, visit www.sonomawinegrape.org.For more information contact Karen at 707-522-5862 or [email protected] .

standard packaging design. Designer Shaw says, "I've thought for a long time that there's a real opportunity to engage wine consumers on their own terms. We offer them products based on provenance and variety, yet they are buying wine for occasions." He adds, "Consumers want a wine for fi sh, a wine for a barbecue, and a wine that makes a hit at a dinner party. Instead, they're offered 6,000 indistinguishable and unmemorable Pinot Noir brands from various parts of California." Whether it is the blood-colored Curious Beasts or the aura of Bewitched, the wine becomes the focal point of an evening or occasion. ProductionThe Evocative Wrapped Bottles collection is made up of beautifully labeled wine bottles in an innovative, patent-pending resilient wrapped paper, made in the United States. The wraps perform like a fully synthetic paper but print as traditional pulp-based paper. It's made with a poly layer between two sheets of traditional paper; the poly layer imparts tear-resistant qualities. The resulting "wine wrap" achieves the look and feel of a hand-wrapped bottle while production of the packaging

Vineyard and Winery Recycling Days, Nov. 7 & Nov. 28

The Sonoma County Winegrape Commission and the Sonoma County

Agricultural Commissioner's offi ce are co-sponsoring two upcoming opportunities to recycle various vineyard materials and plastic pesticide containers at no charge. On November 7, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Plastic Pesticide Containers will be accepted at the Healdsburg Corporation Yard located at 17270 Healdsburg Avenue at Alexander Valley Road in Healdsburg. The containers must have their lids and labels removed and be triple-rinsed, punctured and dried. A Pesticide Container Rinse Certifi cation form is required. Download the form at http://www.sonomawinegrape.org/event/plastic-pesticide-container-recycling-day or http://www.sonoma-county.org/agcomm/forms.htm. For additional information on the program call Pete Albers at 707-565-2371.On November 28, from 8:00am to 3:00pm, a free Vineyard Materials Recycling Day will be held at Industrial Carting in Santa Rosa. Accepted for FREE: drip hose, drip tube and tape, steel posts, PVC and metal irrigation pipe, and rolled and tied bird netting. Pressure-treated wooden stakes and posts will also be accepted at a fee of $160 per ton pro-rated with a minimum charge of $16. This recycling event is co-sponsored by Industrial Carting and will be held at their facility located at 3911 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa (located between Todd Road and Friedman Brothers). A materials description form is required. Download the form at http://www.sonomawinegrape.org/event/vineyard-materials-recycling-day-0Both recycling events are open to all members of the agriculture community with the listed acceptable items to recycle and the appropriate completed form.For more information on either event contact Karen at 707-522-5862 or

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remains at a high level of consistency. The wraps are 100% FSC certifi ed and recyclable via single-stream recycling.The package will stand up in cold-box environments or in water, such as in an ice bucket or ice chest, for extended periods with no visual changes. It can also be reused for more occasions.About Truett-HurstTruett Hurst's partnership includes a vast network of vineyard sources all over California and specifi cally in the acclaimed Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. Winemaker and partner Virginia Lambrix not only oversees winemaking of the Evocative Wrapped Bottles series, but she also contributes inspiration and creative input for the wrap art. The company's mission since its establishment in 2011 is to integrate the contributions of the grower, winery, and marketer to change the way people buy wine. CEO Hurst says, "From innovative packaging to channels of distribution and the Internet, we want to differentiate and disrupt the marketplace a bit." The company has future plans to license the Evocative Wrapped Bottles series all over the globe. In the spirit of innovation, the company has recently retained Kevin Shaw as an equity shareholder to design new labels for a diverse list of wine marketing channels.

Vineyard Materials Recycle Day

Wednesday, November 28 th

8:00am–3:00pmIndustrial Carting

3911 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa

FREE drop-off for:Vineyard drip hose Drip tube & tape

Steel posts PVC and metal irrigation pipe

Rolled & tied bird nettingBring in your materials fairly clean of

dirt and plant materialNo need to sort load, one drop-off pointRegular recycling charge: $89 per ton

Accepted for a FEE:Pressure-treated grape and tree

stakes and posts$160 per ton pro-rated fee;

$16 minimum amount acceptedLoad for separate drop-off and weigh-in

For information on materials accepted and logistics call Industrial Carting: 585-0511For general information call Karen: 522-

5862

Plastic Pesticide Containers Are recycled on November 7th

in Healdsburg. Contact Pete at 565-2371 or

Karen at 522-5862 for information.


THE SEA SQUIDS 4-H CLUB STARTED IN JANUARY OF 2011. FAMILIES IN THE CLUB LIVE IN BODEGA BAY, BODEGA AND VALLEY FORD. As a new club we are still small, but growing. We have a rabbit project, a fi ber project, a cooking project and a meat goat project.We have been supporting 2 community groups. We have helped the Slow Food Group with the Bodega Red Potato Project, distributing and growing a rare type of heritage potato, the Bodega Red. We have also participated in the Bodega Big Event Parade, part of the Big Event, a fundraiser for the Bodega Volunteer Fire Department. This year we ran the kids games area, raising $156 for the Fire Department.This fall we will be doing outreach in our area schools, so more kids can join us in our fun projects.Our meetings are the second Saturdays at 9:30 at the Bodega Bay Grange Hall. Come join us!

LILY FROM THE SEA SQUIDSLiberty 4-H Junior Garden wins Gold!The Sonoma-Marin Fair needed to fi ll a couple vacant junior plots in their garden area. Liberty 4-H stepped up and offered to help them out. In a last minute effort, several Liberty 4-H’ers came together to plan and plant their plot. Adults were not allowed to help in any way! We worked together and created a beautiful junior garden that won a Gold award. Yay!!! Special thanks to the Dennis Family, Landscapes Unlimited Inc and Friedman’s Home Improvement Store for their generous support. Kendall from Liberty 4-H

HI, I AM BEN FROM LIBERTY 4-H AND I AM THE NEW REPORTER FOR 2012-2013 4-H YEAR. I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT FAIR YEAR. I ENTERED THE EGG LAYING CONTEST, EGGS, WOODWORKING AND ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECTS AT THE PETALUMA FAIR. IT WAS AWESOME! BEN

DID YOU THINK THAT 4-H WAS JUST ABOUT RAISING ANIMALS???........It is about learning respect, ethics and responsibility through raising animals as well as through all of the projects offered. Sonoma County has 25 clubs with approximately 70 projects to choose from. Clubs are located throughout the entire County. Each club has a selection of projects that are of special

interest to their members. Here is a sample project list that Liberty 4-H club offers. Arts and Crafts, Beekeeeping, Canning, Cavies, community Service, Cooking, Dairy Goats, Dog Care and Training, Livestock Judging, Poultry, Rabbits, Scrapbooking, Sewing, Sheep, Swine and Woodworking. Sound like fun? Call the 4-H offi ce for information about how to join a club near you. Now’s the time to call! 707 565-2681 Ages 5-19.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE COUNTY-WIDE DOG CARE AND TRAINING PROJECT?This project is open to 4-Hers of all ages enrolled in the county wide project. The project will mainly focus on dog showmanship and obedience practice to allow members to be ready to compete in the show ring. An emphasis will be placed on health and care for dogs as well.Members (or immediate family) must own the dog that will be used for meetings and shows. Dogs that attend meetings must be at least four months of age or older and be up to date on all vaccinations.Please bring a current vaccination record showing that your dog has had vaccines for DHLPP series (mandatory), Rabies (mandatory), and Bordatella (highly recommended).All dogs are welcome (after proof of vaccination). Your dog does not need to be purebred to attend or compete! Dogs should be well socialized and not show aggression towards other dogs or humans.Contact the 4-H offi ce for more information.

ANNOUNCING “TASTE THE DIFFERENCE; A REVOLUTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FUNDED COUNTY-WIDE PROJECT”

Project Goals: To raise awareness of the taste of locally grown agricultural products and to help create a marketplace advantage for Sonoma County, when possible. To accomplish this, we will teach scientifi c based sensory and consumer research skills to members. Techniques will be similar to methods taught at the University level (Davis, Cal Poly, Cornell, University of Illinois, etc.) in their food science programs. We will set up four competitive product sets using local and national producers of things like apple juice, cheese, jam, yogurt, honey, etc., Participants will be given an orientation on the scientifi c nature of sensory research and why it can be important for producers and consumers. Then, project members will help select the categories to study. They will then create a research experiment and conduct a taste test with our 4-H community. Each product will be taste unbranded and rated by volunteer respondents. The resulting data will be analyzed statistically to determine liking/preference and specifi c taste characteristics. A brief discussion of the types of programs offered at Universities and in companies (not just food and beverage, but all consumer goods), will be provided. We have a variety of committees within the project that need members, as follows.

•Product category selection (everyone)•Purchase and code supplies•Scorecard development and printing•Research fi elding (everyone)•Product preparation•Product serving•Decode scorecards•Data entry and analysis•Report preparation•Marketing and promotion (everyone)•Presentations to the communityContact the 4-H offi ce for more information 565-2681

HEY EVERYONE, WELCOME TO THE 2012-2013 YEAR. MY NAME IS CARLY AND THIS YEAR, I WILL BE YOUR LIBERTY CLUB PRESIDENT. I AM 14 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS MY 8TH YEAR IN LIBERTY 4-H. I OWN 9 DAIRY COWS/HEIFERS AND I ENJOY SHOWING THEM

AT ALL THE LOCAL FAIRS. THIS YEAR, I WILL ALSO BE JOINING FFA. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS COMING YEAR AND CAN’T WAIT FOR ALL OF OUR EXCITING MEETINGS AND ACTIVITIES. CARLY FROM LIBERTY.

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Santa Rosa High Agriculture to Host Annual Pumpkin Patch

On October 20th, bring your family and friends out to the Santa Rosa high

school farm. The farm is located on 4260 Alba Lane (across from the Cardinal New-man Fields) off of Old Redwood Highway. Join us for a day of fun and picking the perfect pumpkin, petting zoo, barbeque and much more! The pumpkin patch will be open from 10-4pm.

If you would like more information on how to support agriculture at Santa Rosa High School, please contact the SRHS Agriculture Department at 707-528-5291. Or please visit the Santa Rosa FFA website at: http://santa-rosaffa.weebly.com/


Jacki Strand Seeking Miss Grand National Rodeo title

Sonoma Compost Receives State Award for Leadership in Organics Recycling

Will Bakx, co-owner of Sonoma Compost Company, with Tracie Onstad Bills, president of the California Resource Recovery Association

Sonoma Compost Company, the regional compost processor for

Sonoma County, was awarded the Dave Hardy Leadership in Organics Award at the annual California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) Awards Dinner in Oakland on August 7.Sonoma Compost Company processes nearly 100,000 tons of yard debris, wood scraps, vegetative food scraps, and other organics each year. These materials are the basis for the production of high quality, organic composts and mulches that are utilized throughout Sonoma County and the North Bay.Besides providing high quality and affordable products to landscapers, gardeners, grape growers and backyard gardeners, compost program play a signifi cant role in diverting nearly 30% of Sonoma County’s waste stream away from landfi ll disposal. Keeping organics out of the landfi ll is important in the reduction of greenhouse gas production.Sonoma Compost was recognized for their overall excellences in the production and marketing of organic materials. In addition, Sonoma Compost has been an active participant in stakeholder groups and meetings at the State and local levels to assure that regulations continue to protect quality compost standards and practices.The Dave Hardy Leadership in Organics Award is given each year to an individual, business, government agency, community-based organization or school that exemplifi es excellence in the production, marketing and/or utilization of organic materials. CRRA is

Jacki Strand, a 23 year old Sonoma County resident who is studying agriculture at California State

University, Chico, is running for the title of Miss Grand National Rodeo, 2012.Strand was fi rst runner up in the Sonoma County Fair’s Miss Wine Country Rodeo competition and is now seeking the Miss Grand National Rodeo title at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. As part of the contest, Strand is selling tickets for the evening of Friday, October 26th at the discounted rate of $17. Strand is extremely passionate about the sport of rodeo. She invites Sonoma County residents to a night fi lled with American traditions, fun, and the Miss Grand National Rodeo Queen coronation.Strand served as an intern at Sonoma County Farm Bureau and has been a recipient of agricultural

scholarships awarded by the Farm Bureau Foundation of Sonoma County. The Grand National Stock Show is Oct. 18-20, with Cattlemen’s Day on Oct. 20. The Grand National Rodeo performances are Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27. Contact Strand for tickets by e-mail, [email protected], or telephone, (707) 888-9875.

Chris and Karen London and their daughter Irene, owners of the Spring Hill Ranch and Vineyard in Petaluma, were among the Sonoma County Farm Bureau members who were exhibitors at the 2nd annual Heirloom Exposi-tion held Sept. 11-13 at the Sonoma County Fair-grounds. The Londons are pictured with one of their Scottish Highland cows. They also raise Wagyu cattle and wine grapes on their Petaluma ranch. The Heirloom Exposition, billed as the “World’s Pure Food Fair,” featured heritage livestock and poultry breeds as well as heirloom fruits and vegetables. The Heirloom Exposition attracted more than 15,000 visitors during its three day run. (Photograph by Steven Knudsen of the Farm Bureau staff).

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SaleS: 707-433-3318 • PartS: 707-433-6598 • Service: 707-433-6596453 HealdSburg avenue • HealdSburg

Trevor Sanderson W.C. Sanderson Ford in Healdsburg


The “Business” of Farming – Transforming the Vision into a Financially Viable Operation—By Linda Peterson of Sonoma County UCCE

Our Sonoma County ag entrepreneurs are approaching the end of their journey as

participants in this first group of the UCCE’s Beginning Farmers & Ranchers training pro-gram. Over the past six months, they’ve been exposed to many facets of agriculture, from dairying to hydroponic tomatoes, small scale grains to goat cheese; and have had to face the underbelly of the “running your own business” beast – business planning…Thousands of entrepreneurs start small busi-nesses each year, and they are the backbone of our economy. Unfortunately, a huge per-centage fail, much of the time due to a lack of planning. To be successful, anyone looking to start a business must do research around the “vision” – who else might have already thought of it and is doing it in your community; how can you differentiate yourself, add value, and be sure you’ll have a market for that product before you begin. Putting the vision down on paper can be excruciating and somewhat disheart-ening. We’ve watched our beginning farmers and ranchers pass from passion to doubt over whether their ideas would become a reality. The safety net our program offers is one-on-one counseling with Small Business Develop-ment Center (SBDC) counselors. In addition to the training and coaching these fledgling farmers receive from our Business Instructor Paul Bozzo, they also get small group and in-dividual attention from the SBDC counselors. Early on in the program, the beginning farmers and ranchers presented a two-minute version of their farming or ranching idea to the class. Over the past six months, they have fleshed out and refined that idea into something they can use as a tool for their business, to help them get a loan if needed, and guide them going for-ward. I received permission from four of them to share a bit about their journey.Amber began with a laudable and much need-ed approach - to grow fruits and vegetables for schools. She has done her research and

developed a carefully crafted multi-faceted farm operation with a focus on organics and education: bringing the public onto the farm to enjoy, educate and co-create community using social media, as well as face-to-face interac-tions with customers. Her goals around educa-tion include nutrition, seasonality, soil and en-vironmental health, and possibly cooperative farming. Offering her farm as a meeting place will enlighten groups who may not otherwise think about what’s involved with running a farm, and turn them into new customers.Tooti participated in 4H as a youngster raising market animals. Her son follows in her foot-steps. She came to the program with a plan to continue that path of four-legged farming. She’s raising heritage breeds, heirloom fruits

and vegetables. With the boomer generation as a target market, her farming methods include pasture raised beef and poultry, fruits and vegetables without pesticides. The farm will utilize animal power, and re-use all materials responsibly, i.e. gleaning, re-use, composting on-site, as well as creating biodiversity and stewarding the land. Tooti intends to edu-cate her customers about the health benefits of fresh, local product through her marketing, on-farm tours, and social media. Jason grew up on what he refers to as a small hobby farm. He was in 4H for some years, but as an adult he took a different path. When his parents wanted to leave their small property, he and his brother bought the land, and spent time and money rebuilding infrastructure to

function as a working ranch. As a youth, Jason had raised animals, and now that he’s back in the business of ranching (aside from nursing school and his paramedic job), he and his new bride, Jessica, have settled on raising dairy goats. In his research, Jason talked with cheese-mak-ers, dairy farmers, distributors in the region, as well as reading reports and data on value-added dairy opportunities. Marketing aspects of a value-added goat milk product include more complete protein, less fat, and easier for lactose intolerant people to digest. Thanks to many entrepreneurs over the years, value-added goat products have come a long way. Jason plans to focus on “local”, raising pasture fed dairy goats See Business, page 23

Participants in Sonoma County’s UCCE “Beginning Farmers and Ranchers” training program during a session at SRJC’s Shone Farm.


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The Sonoma County Agricultural

Commissioner’s Offi ce will hold a plastic pesticide container and fertilizer recycle event again this fall.

The event will be held Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 9:00am – 3:00pm. There is no cost to participate.The collection site will be the Sonoma County Healdsburg Corporation Yard, which is located on Alexander Valley Rd. in Healdsburg. From Hwy.101, take the Lytton Springs exit, turn right on Healdsburg Avenue, and then turn left on Alexander Valley Rd. The corporation yard is on the left, approximately 0.1 mile. This site is across the street from the Healdsburg Transfer Station.This event is open to growers, nurseries, pest control businesses, golf courses, parks, and government agencies. Plastic containers ranging in size from 1 pint to 55 gallons will be accepted. Containers must be:Triple rinsed, punctured and dryThe plastic lids and caps must be removedAll label booklets and plastic sleeves must be removed from containers before recycling, glued labels are ok Containers in size from 15 gallons to 55 gallons must be cut into quarters before bringing to the recycling event5 gallon buckets must have metal handles removedPLEASE - No PVC pipe, plastic tubing, metal containers, or containers that have held motor oileuropean Grapevine moth Program wins awardThe California Department of Agriculture (CDFA) announced the European Grapevine

Fall Agricultural Plastic Recycle EventMoth (EGVM) program will be receiving the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Administrator’s Award. In response to the detection of EGVM in California, CDFA teamed with stakeholders at USDA, University of California, county Agricultural Commissioner’s Offi ces and industry to put an eradication plan in place. This plan has been successful so far and has resulted in four counties being removed from quarantine and reductions in additional counties. There is the potential for an additional three counties to be removed from quarantine at year’s end and reductions in other counties, including Sonoma County. This program has relied largely on fruit removal from residential properties and industry-driven treatment programs in commercial vineyards. So far, the EGVM population has decreased dramatically, and as of early September, the only detections during 2012 have been in Napa County.

Vineyard erosion and Sedimentation Control ordinance UpdateErosion and Sediment Control InspectionsThe Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s Offi ce is preparing to conduct this season’s site visits for new Level II vineyard and orchard development projects. These inspections are done to verify that the engineered plans for each project have been followed, and “winterization” has been completed. Erosion and sediment control structures for new plantings must be in place by October 15th. Replanting projects must have erosion control measures in place by November 15th. To schedule your inspection, please call us at (707) 565-2371 as soon as your site is winterized.VeSCo Projects 2012

as of September 13, there have been: 34 new vineyard/orchard planting projects submitted, this includes:

766 total acres25 projects and 223 acres - Level i9 projects and 543 acres - Level ii42 vineyard/orchard replanting projects submitted, this includes:485 total acres39 projects and 456 acres - Level i3 projects and 29 acres - Level iiThis data indicates the number of projects submitted, not necessarily the projects completed (planted) in 2012.

new regulations adopted to Help Protect Surface waterThe California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) adopted new regulations in late July to help protect surface water. The new regulations place restrictions on 17 pyrethroid insecticides when applied outdoors by structural pest control businesses and landscape professionals. These insecticides are frequently used for control of ants, spiders and other pests around homes. The new restrictions do not affect pesticide use by individual consumers. The new regulations were prompted by continued detections of pyrethroids in urban waterways at levels toxic to some small aquatic organisms.The regulations signifi cantly limit the amount of pyrethroids applied to concrete and other non-permeable surfaces where the insecticides are more susceptible to runoff with rain or irrigation water. Pest control businesses and landscape professionals apply more than 70 percent of the pyrethroids targeted by the regulations. DPR expects to see a signifi cant reduction in pesticide contamination in runoff from homes, driveways and landscaped areas. You can view the text of the new regulations on DPR’s website: www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/legbills

Sub-metering for Gas, electricity, and waterTesting and regulating utility sub-meters used to measure the consumption of natural gas, electricity, and water use is one of the main functions that Sonoma County Weights and Measures offi cials perform throughout the year. Utility sub-meters are used to measure and charge for utilities in mobile home parks, RV parks, marinas and some newer apartment complexes that meter water consumption.The local public utility company provides the natural gas, electricity and water to the land owner who in turn provides utility service to their tenants. These businesses typically fall outside of the jurisdiction of Pacifi c Gas and Electric (PG&E) and the local water agency. The regulatory responsibility falls to the local weights and measures agency. Current California Public Utilities Code (CPUC) regulations prohibit mobile home parks from reselling the natural gas and electricity to their tenants at a profi t. The mobile home park must provide these services to their renters at the same rates the utility company would charge the end user. The mobile home park is afforded a discounted utility rate by the charging utility company so the mobile home park may recover any costs it incurred in maintaining the equipment and the electricity service to their tenants. Water sub-metering in newer construction apartments follows a similar pattern. Local city and regional water districts provide water to the property owner who in turn provides water to the tenants through a metered service. What makes water regulation more challenging is that there is no statewide or regional authority that regulates water rights or sets statewide water regulations. As water demand rises and the expense to treat waste water increases, more businesses are moving towards installing water sub-meters in order to accurately recover the true costs that they incur when paying the water bill to the local water utility company. The Sonoma County Sealers of Weights and Measures Offi ce has 119 registered local businesses that sub-meter utilities to their customers. These businesses manage and operate 10,821 electric meters, 8,500 natural gas meters and 7,062 water meters. Sonoma County weights and measures inspectors are involved in making sure the utility meters are registered with the county, that they are installed properly and operating correctly. Billing practices are also reviewed on a complaint basis in order to ensure that businesses are not billing at infl ated rates.


Tony LinegarAgricultural Commissioner


HolidayFancy

PeanutBrittle

Truffles

AssortedChocolates

MilkChocolates

Bridge MixNuts &Chews

SoftCenters

GiftCertificateDark

Chocolates

Toffe-ettes

AwesomeNut & Chew

Bars

Awesome Peanut BrittleBars

MolassesChips

GoldFancies

Name of Cardholder

Credit Card Number

Take advantage of your Farm Bureau Membership and save on See’s Candy for Christmas 2012. Example: If you buy your See’s Candy through the Farm Bureau you pay only $15.10 per pound instead of the retail price of $16.90 per pound—that saves you as much as $1.80 per pound!

Please fi ll out the order form below and mail payment made payable to Sonoma County Farm Bureau - 970 Piner Road - Santa Rosa, CA 95403 or fax it to (707) 544-7452 NO LATER THAN NOON TUESDAY, NOV. 13. If you have any questions please give Ronda a call at (707) 544-5575.

The day to pick up your candy at the Farm Bureau will be Wednesday, December 5th.

Happy Holidays from Sonoma County Farm Bureau!

Assort. Chocolate .....$15.10/ lb. – 1,2, 3 & 5 lbs

Milk Chocolate .......$15.10 / lb. – 1, 2, & 3 lbs

Nuts & Chews ........$15.10 / lb. – 1, 2, & 3 lbs

Dark Chocolates ...........$15.10 / lb. – 1 & 2 lbs

Soft Centers ................... $15.10/ lb. – 1 & 2 lbs

Gold Fancy ...................................$22.20 / 1 lb

Gold Fancy ...................................$42.10 / 2 lb

Truffl es .........................................$9.60 / 8 oz

Truffl es .........................................$19.30/ 1 lb

Holiday Fancy ..............................$19.60 / 1 lb

Victoria Toffee .............................$15.10 / 1 lb

Polar Bear Box .............................$6.70/ 7.5 oz

Bridge Mix ....................................$15.10/ 1 lb

Peppermint Twist Gift Box ..........$7.20 / 1 lb

Toffee-ettes ...................................$15.10 / 1 lb

Peanut Brittle ....................... $16.10 / 1 lb 8 oz

Awesome Nut & Chew Bars ........$8.05/ 8 bars

Awesome Peanut Brittle Bars ......$8.05/ 8 bars

Awesome Walnut Square Bars .....$8.05 / 8 bars

Almond Royal ...............................$15.10 / 1 lb

Molasses Chips (Assorted) ..........$7.50 / 8 oz

Little Pops - Assorted ...................$3.45 / 4 oz

Little Pops - Cafe Latte ................$3.45 / 4 oz

Gift Certifi cates ............................$16.30 / 1 lb

Name: Address:City, Zip: Phone:

Grand Total:

CANDY QTYLBS / SIZE PRICE TOTAL

Signature

Exp. 3 Digit

E.Mail

Peppermint Twist Gift Box

Victoria Toffee

Assorted and Latte Little Pops

Awesome Walnut

Square Bars

Polar Bear Box

More!

What's New at this Year's Sonoma County Harvest FairOne of Sonoma County's most popular

annual events is back October 5, 6 and 7, 2012. New at this year's Sonoma County Harvest Fair will be a fun contest for high school-aged budding chefs, as well as cooking competitions for professionals where fair-goers can watch and learn. There also will be a "school" any beer afi cionado would love, lots of new farm-themed attractions and activities, some special pricing for admission, and value-focused packages.Here's more on what's new this year:Cooking CompetitionsFriday, October 5, students from Sonoma County high schools that have culinary programs will be competing in an "Iron Chef" type contest. Participants will each receive the same set of ingredients, and will create their best gastronomic masterpieces. The judging panel will consist of local chefs, restaurateurs and community leaders. High schools represented will include Piner, Maria Carrillo, El Molino, Sonoma Valley, Casa Grande, Healdsburg, and Windsor. Saturday, October 6, professionals and amateurs will be competing (in separate categories) to see who can create the best grilled cheese sandwich. Only Sonoma County products may be used during the grilled cheese cook-off, including the bread. And Sunday, October 7, another cooking competition will identify the best quesadilla in the county. Also open to both professionals and amateurs, and made with local ingredients, the quesadilla throw-down will conclude with samples for the audience (professional category only).The competitions will take place in the Showcase Café. All winners will receive prizes. For more information, including contest times, please visit www.harvestfair.org.Beer SchoolWhat could be better for beer lovers than engaging the senses and learning all about

their favorite beverage? The new Cheesy Beer School will include a Lagunitas "short course" using fi ve popular microbrews, paired with local cheeses. Attendees will experience aromas of the beers' ingredients, then taste the brews while experts describe how it all comes together. The courses will run for 20 minutes at 4:30 p.m. Friday; and 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Each session will be limited to 30 participants. People can sign up prior to the fair at www.harvestfair.org. And on Saturday, October 6 from 1-5 p.m. in the fair's village area between the Hall of Flowers and the Garrett Building, there will also be a microbrew tasting sponsored by Lagunitas. Farm FunKids and parents can experience life on the farm with some of this year's new additions. Sweet Lil's Farmery will be on hand with hatching chicks, barnyard animals, and perhaps best of all, a faux cow kids and adults can milk. Sweet Lil's Farmery will be at the "Stomping Grounds," next to the grape stomp stage, all three days of the fair. Another hot spot during the entire Harvest Fair will be the new Pumpkin Stage - the setting for not only the giant pumpkin weigh-off, but other pumpkin-themed fun, like carving, painting, and even an Easy Bake Oven bake-off to determine the best pumpkin cake.Harvest Dog DashThe County Fair has horse races, and now the Harvest Fair has dog races – but these aren’t greyhounds bred for speed. The Harvest Dog Dash is an endearing, fun, exciting event open (with no entry fee) to all small dog breeds and mixes under 25 pounds.Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in the “Bark Park” (near the village area), there will be qualifying races in three categories:•Youngsters, for puppies 12 months or younger

•Teenagers, open to dogs between the ages of 1 and 8 years old•Old timers, for dogs 8 years of age or olderThe top dogs in each category will win a prize and go on to compete in a championship race immediately after the qualifying races are complete. The championship winner will receive a trophy, an additional prize, and a commemorative photograph. People may register online, at the fairgrounds offi ce (by dropping off the registration form), or by mail.Bringing it HomeThe Harvest Fair has re-tooled the Marketplace this year. It's where fairgoers can bring home the award winning wines

from this year's entries, and a variety of Sonoma County's epicurean bounty. Many of the products available have changed, and this year similar items will be grouped together. For example, there will be areas for olives, cheeses, breads, etc., instead of being grouped by the displays of participating stores. The new layout is designed to make it easier for people to fi nd what they want. The Marketplace will again be in the E.C. Kraft building. Deals and Packagesamong the special deals and packages this year are:•The Family Pack, available from September 4 until October 4, includes three adult general

See Harvest Fair page 22


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Valley Ford Cheese Co. Wins Best of Show in Sonoma County Harvest Fair Cheese Competition—Yogurt, butter, cheese and ice cream among Harvest Fair entries

Valley Ford Cheese Co., owned and operated by Karen Bianchi Moreda and

her son Joe Moreda, took best of show honors for its Fontina in the cheese competition at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. The top cheese was made from Jersey cow's milk from the Bianchi family’s 640 acre dairy in Valley Ford where 400 cows are milked daily.Karen Moreda, a director of Sonoma County Farm Bureau, founded the Valley Ford Cheese Co. four years to showcase the rich milk from her family’s herd of Jersey cows. She began by making a farmstead Italian-style cheese that’s similar to the flavorful cheeses still crafted by her dairy-farming relatives in the Italian Alps. Two years out of the chute, Bianchi-Moreda’s cheese was winning awards and critical acclaim from chefs who were smitten with its nutty, buttery flavor and Alpine mountain character. Valley Ford Cheese Co. won Best of Show at the 2011 Harvest Fair for its 14-month aged Montesio, an Italian style cheese. The Bianchi family’s bucolic farm meets Humane Farm Animal Care Program standards,which includes a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones, and animals that are raised with sheltered resting areas and ample space.Sonoma County has long been known for its thriving commercial dairy industry - with both large-scale and boutique producers churning out creamy fare. Like Bianchi-Moreda, many dairies are moving into artisan cheese production to add value to their dairy farming operations. Many entered their products in the 2012 Sonoma County Harvest Fair Professional Food Competition's Dairy Products section.All dairy products entered in the competition were required to be commercially made, and derived from milk produced in Sonoma County. Also, products entered were required to be commercially available since January 1,

2012. JudgingThe Sonoma County Harvest Fair uses a Danish system of judging, which considers each item individually (if more than one entry is considered worthy, judges may award multiple gold medals). Judges for the Professional Dairy portion of the competition were Colette Hatch, a cheese buyer for Oliver's Markets; Sonoma's Sheana Davis of Epicurean Connection; and Juliana Uruburu, a cheese buyer from Oakland. AwardsProducts were awarded Best of Show, double gold medals, gold medals, silver rosettes, or bronze rosettes, depending on placement. The other winners in the competition were:Best of Show "Other Dairy Product"Best of Show "Other Dairy Product" went to The Killer Baking Company of Rohnert Park, California for its full-fat ice cream - Tahitian

Vanilla. Owner and Chef Michael Garzouzi, explained that his process takes two full days to make the award winning ice cream (and all of his flavors). He says "It's an old way of making ice cream, but to me, it's the best way. Doing something really well is hard to do quickly."Listed are double-gold and gold medal winners - by section - and the class within each section:Yogurt

Goat - FlavoredGold: Redwood Hill Farm Blueberry Yogurt - Redwood Hill Farm, Sebastopol, Calif.Fluid (Kefir; buttermilk; yogurt smoothies; etc.)Cow - FlavoredGold: Lactose Free Lowfat Strawberry Pom Acia Kefir - Green Valley Organics, Sebastopol, Calif.Goat - Plain Gold: Redwood Hill Farm Plain Goat Milk Kefir - Redwood Hill Farm, Sebastopol, Calif.Goat - Flavored Gold: Mango Orange Pineapple Goat Milk Kefir - Redwood Hill Farm, Sebastopol, Calif.

Ice cream - Full Fat

VanillaDouble Gold: Tahitian Vanilla - The Killer Baking Company, Rohnert Park, Calif.ChocolateGold: Chocolate Flake - The Killer Baking Company, Rohnert Park, Calif.Other FlavorGold: Brownie & Clyde - The Killer Baking Company, Rohnert Park, Calif.Gold: Lemon Drop - The Killer Baking Company, Rohnert Park, Calif.

Butter, cultured

SaltedGold: Salted Butter - Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Petaluma, Calif.Cheese, FreshGoat - Flavored

Double Gold: Redwood Hill Farm 3 Peppercorn Chevre - Redwood Hill Farm, Sebastopol, Calif.Cheese, All Surface Mold RipenCow - PlainDouble Gold: Fontina - Valley Ford Cheese Co., Valley Ford, Calif.Goat - PlainGold: Redwood Hill Farm Crottin - Redwood Hill Farm, Sebastopol, Calif.Goat - Flavored Double Gold: Redwood Hill Farm Cameo - Redwood Hill Farm, Sebastopol, Calif.

Natural rINd - aged cheese (aged uNder 6 moNths)CowGold: Estero Gold - Valley Ford Cheese Co., Valley Ford, Calif.Gold: Organic Cow Cheese - Carabiner - Weirauch Creamery, Petaluma, Calif.Gold: Rumpel - Weirauch Creamery, Petaluma, Calif.Gold: Tomme Fraiche - Weirauch Creamery, Petaluma, Calif.SheepGold: Farmstead Sheep Cheese - Saint Rose - Weirauch Creamery, Petaluma, Calif. Goat Gold: Aged Raw Goat Milk Cheese - Swiss Made - Two Rock Valley Goat Cheese, Petaluma, Calif.Natural Rind - Aged Cheese (aged 6 month and over)GoatGold: Aged Goat Cheese - Swiss Made - Two Rock Valley Goat Cheese, Petaluma, Calif.Rindless (feta, cheddar, jack, swiss, etc.) - Aged Cheese (aged 6 months and over)CowDouble Gold: Raw White Cheddar - Four Year - Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Petaluma, Calif.Gold: Raw White Cheddar - Three Year - Spring Hill Jersey Cheese, Petaluma, Calif.

For a complete list of all dairy award recipients, please visit www.harvestfair.org.

Karen Moreda with son Joe


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Do you have a mouse, rat, gopher, mole, or vole problem, but are concerned

about using toxic pesticides around your livestock, your grapes, your food crops, or your water supply? Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County can provide natural, poison-free rodent control for your agricultural property, with our Barn Cat Program!Forgotten Felines has been helping Sonoma County's environmentally-minded ranchers and farmers control their rodent problems for 20+ years. Through our weekly spay/neuter clinics we prevent untold thousands of unwanted kittens from being born, reducing the numbers of cats euthanized in shelters, as well as reducing the taxpayers’ burden for the housing and care of unwanted strays. Currently, Forgotten Felines has outdoor cats that have been displaced from their original home and are looking for a new spot to live out their lives. Each cat we relocate is healthy, altered, and vaccinated against rabies.We receive cats from a variety of locations. An elderly caretaker dies, a realtor contacts us about a foreclosure property with abandoned cats, a mom and kittens are found at a construction site in danger from the bulldozers.We also receive calls from our county’s shelters, asking for our assistance placing unadoptable cats. Cats that are feral (wild) are not appropriate as pets. We help as often as we can to save lives. We are constantly seeking more ways to let rural property owners know about this helpful service – providing rodent control for them, and a life-saving second chance for the cats. What Does Adopting Barn Cats Entail? The new guardian must care for the cats in a cage for one month, and agree to feed the cats daily after their release. There must be adequate shelter, or the cats will not choose to remain on the property. If there are dogs present we need to know that the cats will not be chased or harmed. A representative will

Barn Cats for Rodent Control? You Bet!come out and do a site check to determine where the cats will be set up.Success Stories: Jet and Rocco were two brothers up for adoption in our shelter room, but they were restless and bored, with too much energy to be cooped up, and way too rambunctious

for the average adopter! When we received a call from a rancher couple seeking two barn cats, we knew Jet and Rocco would be perfect. They would have 20 acres of horse and cattle pasture to patrol, with lots of rodents to keep them busy. They are living a wonderful, happy outdoor life as ranch cats, earning their keep by hunting, and having fun while doing it!The Donahue Kittens were three feral orphans living under a woman’s house after their mom was killed. The kind woman fed them for several months and then called us when she was getting ready to move, not knowing what to do with the kittens. We trapped and fi xed them, and a fabulous barn home opportunity came along shortly – they are now living happily on an 82-acre organic blueberry farm in Sebastopol!O’Malley was a handsome buff tabby abandoned on the Joe Rodota Trail. Although

he was not truly feral, he was NOT a house cat. He needed room to roam and hunt! Along with a few other cats from a foreclosure property, O’Malley was relocated to a large ranch/horse-camp in Santa Rosa. Here is a testimonial from the ranch owner.Dear Stephanie,Thank you for emailing me. I was glad you did – we were thinking of contacting you to discuss the possibility of even more feral cats for the barn. We are SO happy with O'Malley and Wrangler!! Perhaps, we should just keep them King and Queen of the Ranch. I can vouch for the fact that there have been no issues with the cats at all. The cats are good at maintaining their health, have no fl eas and are basically maintenance-free. Feral cats leave people alone so there has been no concern with having cats present around adults or children; their natural inclination is to hide from people. Our camp program outlines that children are not to pick up or interact with animals unless permission is given. So even if a cat wanted to interact with children (which they do not) we have rules in place to protect liability or any parents' concerns. The feral cats are not part of our structured camp program, therefore are not an issue for parents or campers. Since having the feral cats our rodent population is minimal (and having a natural system to eliminate rodents is great because camp families are always concerned with the presence of poisons, as is the EPA and Health Department). We have a great animal care program with chicks, goats, rabbits, horses, etc. And, while the cats are not directly involved in this program, we do discuss the feral cats on the ranch. We emphasize to the children that animals are a responsibility!! Living things are a responsibility. We explain that the feral cats are a good example of why it is important to be a responsible animal owner. The benefi ts of spaying and neutering are clear – pet and stray populations are controlled so animals are not over-bred, and then disposed of or neglected due to more animals than caretakers. We discuss all the things that a small or large animal needs to survive, and include an educational discussion of the feral cats we have on the property. This leads to discussions that really add to the children’s development and concept of the world, as a whole. On a small scale, they are able to see how a person's small decisions affect the economy, balance of the animal population, their community, etc., instilling great values at a young age... Isn't that what camp is all about? The cats have never been a liability to our ranch and have been a huge benefi t to our program. Thank you for what you do for our community and the wonderful job you have done establishing the wonderful cats we now have at Cloverleaf... I wish we had worked with you even sooner!Shawna DeGrange/Cloverleaf RanchFAQ’s:There are never any guarantees, but hunting is a natural instinct for cats. The cats currently needing placement have already lived outside,

and chances are high that they will hunt.Once the perfect cat or cats are selected for your specifi c situation, they will acclimate to you and your property during a four-week transition period in a temporary humane holding cage. After a month of adjusting gradually to their new surroundings, and learning that they will have a constant source of food and shelter, they should remain at their new home upon release.FF loans the cage, cover, linens, litterbox, and scoop.You will supply the dishes, daily food and water, clean litter, and daily litterbox scooping.The cage needs to be housed inside a structure or protected area where the cats will continue to be fed and watered daily after they are released. A daily meal of dry cat food and a bowl of clean water is required to secure the cat to your property. Even very well-fed cats will hunt. We request a $25 donation per cat which helps offset veterinary services and also includes delivery, set-up and pick-up of all equipment, post-release.Forgotten Felines is not subsidized. We depend 100% on donations. To support our many programs, we welcome support from the public. Our award-winning thrift store, Pick of the Litter, is located at 1701 Piner Road in Santa Rosa, and shopping and donating there is a wonderful way to help the cats! You may also make donations via PayPal through our website: www.forgottenfelines.com .For more information on our Barn Cat Relocation Program, our Spay/Neuter Program, or our Adoption Program, please contact Forgotten Felines at (707) 576-7999, or [email protected]

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The Russian River Watershed Symposium –Living, Farming, and Vitality in the Russian River

Mark your calendar for the Russian River Watershed Symposium, November

2nd at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds. Hosted by your local Sotoyome, Gold Ridge and Mendocino County Resource Conser-vation Districts, the Symposium will be a day-long event focused on topics important to the Russian River and its vibrant agricultural industry. From instream fl ow to agricultural solutions to economic vitality, the Sympo-sium will feature local experts, as well as leaders on a state and national level from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, CA Department of Fish and Game and the CA Department of Conservation. The event will discuss the many challenges facing the watershed as well as collaborative and innovative solutions to those challenges. For more information: [email protected] or (707) 569-1448 x100.


six trails each. Even as the maze’s mastermind, Groverman admits he gets lost occasionally amid the towering cornstalks.“I have even gotten confused,” said Groverman. He is proud of the roadside attraction he has built over the last 20 years and the pleasure it brings to families. But deep down he admits he is a farmer a heart.“I like growing the best. That’s the most rewarding part of what I do in this business,” said Groverman, a fourth generation Sonoma County farmer.As a relative of the Peterson farming clan, Groverman grew up watching busloads of kids arrive on the family ranch on Peterson Road in Sebastopol to pick pumpkins. Perhaps that sparked his interest in farming but it’s more likely that the urge to plant, grow and harvest is part of the DNA passed down by his agricultural ancestors.Like his pumpkins and corn, Groverman is a homegrown Sonoma County product. He is the second of four children of Dr. Fred Groverman,

a veterinarian and internationally-recognized Shropshire sheep breeder, and the late Pat Groverman, who for years was a fi xture at her son’s pumpkin patch and corn maze. Groverman grew up on his family’s 52 acre sheep ranch in Petaluma where chores were part of the daily routine. He began tending livestock and planting crops as kid. He raised pheasants and parakeets, planted pumpkins and shallots and at 9 years old was milking his own cow

and making homemade ice cream from the rich cream. He was a member

of the 4-H and FFA, showing sheep, hogs and dairy cattle at the fairs.He graduated from Petaluma High School in 1981 and then studied at Santa Rosa Junior College before transferring to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where he earned a degree in dairy science. When he returned to Sonoma County, he worked at various jobs on area ranches while getting his farming business going. Today, in addition to the Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze, he farms 15 acres of pumpkins on his father’s ranch in Petaluma and grows hay and silage crops on 110 acres of leased land. When not farming he is atop his horse doing team roping or hunting, his two passions.Groverman grows a variety of pumpkins. Many are sold at the Pumpkin Patch but the rest are sold throughout the Bay Area and shipped out of state to places like Wyoming where the growing season is too short to produce pumpkins.Groverman said the biggest threat to his bottom-line is rainy weather. Heavy rains

during October weekends reduce the crowds and his revenue. As a farmer he knows he is at the mercy of Mother Nature.He said his customers aren’t as forgiving when their outing to the Pumpkin Patch is dashed by a rain storm on an October weekend.“People get more upset than I do when it rains. The weather is out my control. Someone bigger than me is calling the shots,” said Groverman.

Corn From page 1

The Groverman family at their Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze in Petaluma (Photographs by Steven Knudsen)

Kimberly Groverman, 2, runs through the corn maze

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The Great Guide to Sonoma County Pumpkin Patches:

adobe Pumpkin Farm — 6-acre corn maze, haunted house, gift shop. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 2478 E. Washington St. at Adobe Road, Petaluma. Phone 763-6416. www.adobepumpkinfarm.com.Grandma's Pumpkin Patch — Hay pyramid, corn fi eld, climb-on tractors. Open daily 10 a.m. to dusk, 17740 Healdsburg Ave at Lytton Springs Rd, Healdsburg. Phone 431-8058. www.grandmas-pumpkin-patch.comGreat Peter Pumpkin Patch — Dig potatoes, milk a cow, baby animal petting zoo, U-pick pumpkins, hay pyramid, pumpkin ice cream, tractor rides, picnic areas, live music on

weekends, no activity/entrance/parking fees. Open daily 9 a.m. to dusk. Spring Hill Jersey Cheese Company, 4235 Spring Hill Rd., Two Rock/Petaluma. Phone 762-3446. www.springhillcheese.com.Hale's apple Farm — Pumpkins plus 30 varieties of apples and heirloom tomatoes. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1526 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. Phone 823-4613muelrath ranches Pumpkins — 21 varieties of pumpkins plus a hay tunnel, corn maze, pumpkin slingshot. Open Monday – Thursday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Fridays, 3 -9 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 3800 Walker Ave., Santa Rosa. Phone 585-2195. www.muelrathspumpkins.com.oluf's ranch Pumpkin Patch — Hay maze & rides, animal corral. Open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for school and groups; 1 p.m. to dusk for the general public; Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to dusk, 899 Shiloh Rd., Windsor. Phone 838-7588.Petaluma Pumpkin Patch & amazing Corn maze - pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the fi eld, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the fi eld, corn maze, prepicked produce, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, petting zoo. 550 Stony Point Road, Petaluma, CA 94952. Phone: 707-781-3132. Free parking & free admission to the pumpkin patch Sunday- Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday- Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Corn maze closes at 9:30 p.m. Don't miss the Friday & Saturday "Night Maze". www.petalumapumpkinpatch.com Peterson's Pumpkins - Pumpkins, tomatoes, honey. 636 Gossage Avenue, Petaluma, CA. 94952. Phone: 707-765-4582. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in October. www.petersonsfarm.commcClelland's Dairy Pumpkin Patch, 65475 Bodega Ave., Petaluma. A fun outing for the family. While picking a pumpkin learn about a working organic family dairy farm. Watch cows being milked, pet baby calves, and engage in farming activities. Every Saturday & Sunday in October, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


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Farm Bureau Offers Pesticide Applicator Workshop

The Sonoma County Farm Bureau is holding a workshop for north Coast Pesticide Applicators from 8 a.m. until 12 noon, November 7th, at the Farm Bureau offi ce,

970 Piner road in Santa rosa.

The Workshop, open to Pesticide Applicators and Certifi ed Crop Advisers in the North Coast counties, will cover information including avian pest management utilizing falcons and the

employment of barn owls. The workshop will also cover new pests and those expected in the northern area, regulations related to ground water and wellhead protection and instruction for

pesticide use reports submittals. The workshop will be presented in English.

Licensed pesticide applicators and crop advisers will have the opportunity to receive Continuing Education credits (four hours requested).

To receive credit, please bring license number to workshop.

advanced registration is required by october 30th and the cost is $55 per person.Late registration is $65 per person. For registration, mail or fax the form below to

970 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 or 707-544-7452. For questions, contact Anita Hawkins at 707-544-5575 or [email protected]

Researchers test robotic berry harvester

What has 10 arms and has intrigued strawberry farmers? The answer is a robotic harvesting machine being tested at the Monterey Bay Academy. The machine uses

sensors to choose strawberries of the right color and size. Next, robotic arms gently pluck the ripe fruit from vines, and deposit the berries on a conveyer belt that drops the berries into containers. The machine remains in the experimental stage.


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Sonoma County Farm Bureau coordinated the “Ag Day” programs for 80 Santa Rosa area students selected for

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, a program for high-achieving high school juniors identifi ed as potential community leaders.The tours were designed to show the diversity and complexity of Sonoma County agriculture and the dedication that farmers and ranchers have for their land, crops and livestock. The tours also highlighted farmers’ commitment to land stewardship and their efforts to protect natural resources and the environment for future generations. Students received the message that all farmers whether small or large-scale, organic or conventional have a place in Sonoma County and are needed to produce food and fi ber.The Ag Days tours were held on Sept. 17 and Sept 24 for the two classes of TLT students who are from public and private high schools in Santa Rosa. The tour on Sept. 17 visited the Beretta Organic Dairy in Santa Rosa, Laguna Farm in Sebastopol, Oliver’s Market on Stony Point Road and Kunde Estate Winery in Kenwood. The tour on Sept. 24 included stops at Beretta Oganic Dairy, Sonoma Compost in Petaluma, Castaneda Farm in Santa Rosa and the Dutton Ranch in Sebastopol. Both days included a Farm Bureau-prepared luncheon of Sonoma County farm products including chicken, vegetables, fruit, ice cream, milk and apple juice.Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Ag Day tours for Tomorrow’s Leaders Today students is part of the agricultural organization’s mission to educate urban consumers about the county’s thriving $3 billion farm industry. There are nearly 150 students from Sonoma County participating in TLT this year. In addition to the two classes for Santa Rosa students, there is a class for South Sonoma County students and a class for students from Windsor and Healdsburg high schools. TLT focuses on community education and leadership skills training. One Monday each month for eight months, the students spend a day getting an insider’s look at different segments of the community including agriculture, health care, law enforcement, government and the media.TLT was founded in 1991 with the mission of developing and encouraging youth to be community leaders. Today, there are more than 1,000 TLT graduates fulfi lling this mission.

Farm Bureau Hosts “Ag Days” for Santa Rosa Students in Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

I love visiting schools. When I see all those

young faces I see the future – bright-eyed children who will be leading us in 20, 30 or 40 years. Those of us in positions of responsibil-ity have an obligation to provide our children

with every opportunity to succeed in school and in life.We know a big part of that future success is the food young people eat. It is important to teach them about the advantages of a nutri-tious diet to help them achieve their potential and become healthy, productive adults. We can make progress by facilitating programs in our schools to help students learn about healthy eating.

That’s why I was honored to attend an as-sembly at Chatom Elementary School near Turlock. With help from the California Foun-dation for Agriculture in the Classroom and the California Bountiful Foundation, which utilized a Specialty Crop Block Grant admin-istered by CDFA, the school is offering its stu-dents a year-long farm-to-school educational program, including a school-wide farmers’ market, a salad bar in the cafeteria, and month-ly taste tests of healthy foods. The day I was there, the students had an opportunity to taste fresh and canned peaches, all grown locally.That local connection is critical. These stu-dents may not realize the amazing amount of food produced in their backyard and through-out the communities of the Central Valley. This program will help them gain an under-standing about the bounty in their own neigh-borhood and also learn about the commitment of farmers to grow food for consumers here and around the world.The program’s objective is to have students learn more about the foods that are best for

See Ross page 23

Tomorrow’s Leaders Today students at the Dutton Ranch in Sebastopol (Photographs by Steven Knudsen of the Farm Bureau Staff)

Students in the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program at Kunde Estate Winery in Kenwood


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Salmon Creek Watershed” day held at the Watts ranch in Bodega. This was the first event I’ve attended which highlights local products entirely sourced from within a specific watershed. It was a very successful program, with all the ingredients for a fun afternoon, that it may become an annual event. I would like to see appellations designated for food, just as they have with wines of a region, so consumers can taste and recognize the nuances between products grown in different regions. Through events such as the one held for the Salmon Creek Watershed, I hope policy makers will begin to recognize and acknowledge the diversity of products we are growing and manufacturing here in Sonoma County.I look forward to catching up with you next monthSincerely,

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the land to produce meat. Frosini uses rotational grazing to efficiently utilize the vegetation of the ranch’s natural ecosystem. He buys little outside hay or grain, which helps his profit margins.Frosini is joined on the ranch by Evan Wiig, 26, Holly Ernest, 26, and Matt Elias, 25, who “crop share” at True Grass Farms and are part of the Valley Ford Young Farmers Association. Elias, a professional chef, specializes in making cured Italian meats, like prosciutto and coppa, from the pasture raised hogs.In addition to Erickson and the farmers at True Grass Farms, the other mainstays in the Valley Ford Young Farmers are Dillon Franklin, 20, and John Gorman, 28, of Swallow Valley Farms near Valley Ford. Swallow Valley Farms, named for the birds who make the ranch their summer home, is committed to growing everything “beyond organic,” which means no insecticides or pesticides of any kind are ever used. Swallow Valley Farms raises and sells lamb, chicken, turkeys and eggs as well as artisan cheeses made from sheep and cow’s milk. The farm also has a one-acre green house that produces peppers and other produce, all marketed at farmers markets.Dillon Franklin, who grew up in the area, said he enjoys working with his hands and being outside on the land. He said he could never be cooped up in an office.“Farming is constantly interesting,” said Franklin. “I like the Zen aspect of it.”Frosini and the other members of the Valley Ford Young Farmers sell their products at Farmers Markets throughout the San Francisco Bay Area or direct to consumers, often wealthy city residents who support the members’ small-scale, sustainable farming philosophy. Frosini said the time is right for what he and the other young farmers are doing. He said there is a growing trend to eat local and to buy from small-scale farmers with strong connections to the land they farm. Consumers want to have a personal relationship with the farmer.

“Increasingly, people want to know more about the people who are producing the food that they are putting into their bodies,” said Frosini. “When I am at a Farmers Market I tell people that this is food I produced with my own hands. That is important to them.” Collectively, the Valley Ford Young Farmers also does a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which provides patrons with a box of food that includes offerings from association members. A weekly box could include eggs, pork or grass-fed beef, cheese, a jar of strawberry jam, red peppers and other seasonal produce. Additionally, the group routinely hosts visitors to their ranches as way to promote their farm products and celebrate their way-of-life“These days we’re busy at work collaborating to produce diverse CSA boxes, organize farm tours and offer on-ranch educational that provides a sense to what might just be the future of food,” said Erickson.

Young Farmers from page 4

Sonoma ~ marin Farm newS

published at Sonoma County Farm Bureau

Sonoma and Marin County Farm Bureaus do not assume responsibility for statements by advertisers in FARM NEWS, nor does either Sonoma County Farm Bureau assume responsibility for statements or expressions of opinion other than in editorials or in articles showing authorship by an officer of Sonoma and Marin Farm Bureaus.Sonoma-Marin Farm News (USPS 024-961) is published monthly by Sonoma County Farm Bureau, 970 Piner Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Periodicals Postage Paid at Santa Rosa, CA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER - Send address changes to: Sonoma-Marin Farm News Sonoma County Farm Bureau 970 Piner road, Santa rosa, Ca 95403 Ph. 707-544-5575 Fax:707-544-7452

will your life insurance needs. Care should be taken to ensure these strategies and products are suitable for your long-term life insurance needs. You should weigh your objectives and time horizon as well as any associated costs before making a purchasing decision. Life insurance has fees and charges associated with it that include costs of insurance that vary with such characteristics of the insured as sex, health and age, underlying fund charges and expenses, and additional charges for riders that customize a policy to fit your individual needs.Contact your local Allied or Nationwide agent, call 1-877-OnYourSide, or visit nationwide.

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and age, a million signatures’ is pretty easy to gather, especially when special interest groups have an agenda and don’t have to be truthful in telling you why their initiative is so important to them.The “Yes on Prop 37” campaign is built on fear and scare tactics. On their website http://www.carighttoknow.org/, they show videos that compare GE foods to Agent Orange, DDT and cigarette links to cancer. They infer that our government and large corporations said we should trust them about the safety of these products and GE foods are no different. With aerial spraying and smoke filled rooms, the graphics are alarming to many viewers. The most recent strike of fear aimed at consumers comes in an alleged scientific report claiming genetically engineered corn fed to rats caused cancer and they died at higher rates than the control group. Cyber space is inundated by claims, accusations and blogger’s hyping the scientific paper on GE ingredients causing cancer. In response to this hyperbole, an article in Forbes magazine (http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2012/09/24/does-genetically-modified-corn-cause-cancer-a-flawed-study/ ) concluded that the scientific paper reporting that GMO corn fed to rats caused cancer is a flawed study. That position was echoed by U.C. Davis professor of biotechnology Dr. Martina Newell-McGloughlin who said the study was flawed and utilized fantasy statistics. Discovery News and other sources also reported that the laboratory strain of rats used in the study were highly prone to cancer. But even more damaging to the credibility of the scientific study was that rats fed GE Round Up in their drinking water actually lived longer than the control group. A fact the so called scientists failed to share in their paper.In the weeks leading up to the November election there will be no shortage of lies and deception to convince the public that foods with genetically engineered ingredients are unsafe and should be labeled. The problem is consumers cannot trust the outcome.

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“The dominance of animal agriculture and fresh fruit production were being challenged by the development of the premium wine industry,” said Olson.In the early 1970’s, Thomas returned to U.C. Davis to earn a master’s degree in viticulture. He had the credentials and background to become the SRJC viticulture instructor when that position opened in 1973.Olson said when Thomas started the viticulture program at SRJC he had an immediate impact on the college and the future of the county’s wine industry.“Rich quickly developed new and innovative curriculum and began the establishment of an instructional vineyard at the college farm on Eastside Road. The vineyard quickly grew to over 60 acres thanks to Rich’s leadership and the generosity of dozens of wine industry supporters,” said Olson. Olson said the viticulture program prospered under Thomas’s direction and earned an international reputation as a place where students would learn both the theory and practical aspects of premium wine grape production.“Theory is important but there is no substitute for extensive hands-on training,” said Olson. “Rich could give a five hour viticulture lecture without missing a beat but he was at his best in the field - pruning, irrigating, training young vines and, of course, harvesting fruit.”Olson said it might be pouring down rain and the students would ask “aren’t we staying in the classroom today”? He said Thomas’s comment would be “grab your boots and raincoat, we have vines to prune”.“Students quickly learned that agriculture was 24/7 rain or shine,” said Olson.Olson said Thomas’s teaching and know-how went beyond the college classroom. Thomas believed the SRJC faculty should be part of the community. He spent many hours in the field, advising growers, helping establish professional associations and representing SRJC as “the place” to go if you wanted an outstanding education in viticulture.Thomas was a co-founder of the Sonoma County Grape Association and the Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group, which shared information for producing high quality, high-yielding wine grapes. He was the coordinator of the Sonoma County Harvest Fair Wine Competition and served as a consultant specializing in innovative trellising systems, canopy management, drip irrigation and many other practices related to the production of ultra-premium Sonoma County wines.Thomas retired from the SRJC in 2001 but remains both connected and active in the wine industry. He coordinates several wine tastings a year for Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine. He judges in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and other wine competitions. He writes a regular wine column

for North Bay Biz magazine.Olson said 2012 marks the 25th year the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce has bestowed the “Leadership in Agriculture” Award on a person who has made outstanding contributions to the success of Sonoma County agriculture.“I think it is only fitting that the 25th recipient, Rich Thomas, was mentored by our very first recipient, Wes Jamison,” said Olson. “This is but one more example of the importance a teacher can make in the lives of their students and the ultimateContributions these students make to the economic viability of our community.”

Santa rosa Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership in agriculture award recipients over the last 25 years.

1988 Wes Jamison, deceased1989 Louis Ricci1990 Bob Young, deceased1991 Gene Benedetti, deceased1992 Donna Furlong1993 Larry Bertolini, deceased1994 Bob Kunde, deceased 1995 Louis Giacometti, deceased1996 Joe Vercelli, deceased1997 Cecelia Mello1998 Louis Foppiano, deceased1999 Mitch Mulas, deceased 2000 Fred Groverman2001 Kip Herzog2002 Rich & Saralee Kunde2003 Earl & Dot Holtz2004 Al Grove, deceased2005 Dale Goode2006 Tom Crane2007 Joe Imwalle2008 Angelo Sangiacomo2009 Dominic Carinalli 2010 Arnie Riebli2011 Carmen Kozlowski2012 Rich Thomas

Thomas from page 8

on his land, controlling the milk quality, with the added aspect of an “artisan” product, because the dairy is on their farm. This “story about the farm” gives them a competitive marketing advantage. Rick has come up with a well thought out business plan over these past months for a vermi-composting operation. Vermi-composting is a form of composting that uses specific varieties of worms designed by nature to digest waste products (manure & food scraps), creating a high value compost product. While still somewhat unfamiliar to many, it has been shown through many studies to be a very effective fertilizer, and takes a much smaller amount to produce results. Think of it as concentrated compost.Rick will concentrate his efforts on education about composting options, methods, appropriate containers, and re-use of materials. He will incorporate an existing non-profit he created into his business model. These four are a sample of the over 20 farmers and ranchers in our class who’ve been working hard and absorbing their training on both agriculture and business. With only two more classes left before their business plan presentations in November, they’ll continue to meet with their counselors, visit more farms – poultry, sheep, grains, vegetable CSAs and farmers markets, and keep refining their plans.

business from page 14

admissions (13 and over), two child admissions (12 and under) and one parking pass for $35 ($46 value)•Discounted general admission tickets, available from September 4 until October 4, are $8 ($10 value) for Saturday and Sunday, and $5 ($7 value) for Friday•The Wine Passport, which is $40 and includes fair admission, a glass, six taste tickets, and a coupon good for $10 toward a purchase at the Harvest Fair's Marketplace

Returning FavoritesLast year's new Grand Tasting event proved popular with attendees and will be back this year on Friday, October 5, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. All "best of show" and gold medal-winning wines and food will be available for unlimited tastes with ticket purchase. Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $60 in advance and $70 at the door. Also, tickets can be purchased from September 4 until October 4 in blocks of 10 for $50 each. All Grand Tasting tickets include admission to the fair on Friday.Also, Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7, the Professional Food Competition winners will be serving two-ounce tastings at the Wine Pavilion. Wineries will be pouring tastes of their winning wines, so attendees can make their own food and wine pairings. Tickets for the wine tastings are $15 for a glass and four taste tickets. Fairgoers will also receive one food taste per ticket. Additional tastes can be purchased at a cost of $10 for four tickets.Of course, the World Championship Grape Stomp will be back this year with more than a dozen qualifying stomps before the big final on Sunday, October 7 at 5 p.m. Most years, even brides and grooms show up in dresses and tuxedos to compete. Anyone is welcome to enter.This three-day celebration of the Sonoma County lifestyle will also feature chef demonstrations, delicious cuisine, wine seminars, an art exhibition and sale, ongoing musical performances, farm and harvest agricultural activities for children and adults, and much more.For more information, people can visit the newly redesigned website at www.harvestfair.org, or call (707) 545-4203.

Harvest Fair from page 16

PLaCe YoUr CLaSSiFieD aD ToDaY! $8.00 a Line...Call (707) 544-5575 or email us at [email protected]

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For Sale: wood Pellet StoveBreckwell – P23 Deluxe - heats 1,600 to 1,800 sq.ft.

Flue piping included. $1,200. Please contact Anita: 707-544-5575.

them and to ask their parents for those foods in family meals. Last week, as I met the chil-dren at Chatom School and saw first-hand the commitment of their principal and teachers, I knew this program was in good hands. With more efforts like this to connect young people, healthy eating, and the people who grow their food, California will have well-informed agri-cultural policy decision makers in our future!

Ross from page 21

Governor signs timber reformRural regions that rely on forests and timber sales will benefit from a bill signed by Gov-ernor Brown. The new law gives forest land-owners a longer window in which they can harvest timber under state-approved plans, and makes other reforms to forestry regula-tions. The new law will benefit jobs by giving California-grown timber a chance to compete fairly against out-of-state lumber.


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Joe GazdowiczCommercial Account Manager

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Documents

Sonoma Marin Farm News - October 2012