Find special agricultural events offered on the Central Coast

When you plan your trip on the back roads of California's Central Coast keep in mind these annual events. Not much happens in the winter on ranches and farms. That's when we're all taking a rest if — you can call ordering seeds and repairing irrigation lines and equipment taking a break! All of the agriculture-related events start in the late spring with the beginning of the growing season and end in the fall with harvest. Ag Adventures members - Does your farm or ranch have an upcoming special event? Contact Joy at 238-3799 or e-mail to get your information posted on our website.
Photo Courtesy of Scott Loy
	April 2010
	Beginning Natural Dye Class, Paso Robles Saturday, April 17, 10 a.m. to ? Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch http://crossroadsranch.openherd.com Bring sack lunch. Class size 6-10 maximum. Cost is $75.00 per person. Call or email for application. 805-237-9640 swallace@rain.org
	Pioneer Pearls - A Gala Evening, Paso Robles Saturday, April 24, 5:30 p.m. Paso Robles Pioneer Museum This will be the Paso Robles' Pioneer Museum first ever gala fundraiser. Visit their website for more information about this exciting new event.
	Shearing Day, Paso Robles Sunday, April 25 Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch http://crossroadsranch.openherd.com Shearing will be done by Eddie Dunham. Let us know if you'd like to train as a fiber helper in exchange for fleece or end product or getting alpacas shorn here at cost (usually ends up at $24 per animal). We're going to sort into three bags this year...1sts (blankets), 2nds (neck), thirds (leg, britch,belly, etc.), plus recording weights. I will be purchasing Coarse Broads DVD to use in training sessions for all involved. For more information call Sandra at 805-237-9640 or e-mail: swallace@rain.org
	May 2010
	Advanced Natural Dye Class, Paso Robles Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. to ? Alpacas at Crossroads Ranch http://crossroadsranch.openherd.com Beginning Class a prerequisite (4/17/10). Bring a sack lunch. Class size 6 maximum. Cost is $75.00 per person. Call or email for application and details. For those who wish to bring 8 ox. of their own mordanted yarn to dye at the workshop, there will be a materials fees of $20. Call Sandra for more information at 805-237-9640 or e-mail: swallace@rain.org
	August 2010
	Kids Day on the Farm, Templeton Saturday, August 14, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com $6 cost per child - all ages welcome Jack Creek Farms will be offering a series of guided mini interactive workshops for children to participate in various farm activities and old time skills. Children will be allowed to: Churn Butter Plant Sunflowers Press Cider Make a Cornhusk Doll Make a Gourd Birdhouse Grind Wheat Berries into Flour Pet Farm Animals Play on a Haystack Rope a Dummy Steer Play in a Hay Maze Pump Water the Old-fashioned Way Cost is $6 per child. A pre-paid wrist band will allow your child to particpate in all of the workshops. Children will get to bring home a finished corn husk doll, a sunflower seed planted in a paper cup, a gourd bird house, a small bag of wheat and memories to last a lifetime!
	September 2010
	Old-Fashioned Threshing Bee, Templeton Saturday September 4th, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com FREE Admision. Jack Creek Farms will be hosting an Old-fashioned Threshing Bee. Starting with standing wheat, volunteers will bind, stack, thresh, sack, clean and grind the grain into flour the same way it was done in the early 1900s. Visitors may try their hand at grinding wheat using an antique grain grinder. There will be whole wheat bread samples to taste. For more information visit the farm website or call Joy at 238-3799.
	2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest, Templeton Entries Due: Friday, September 9th Setup Begins: Friday, September 10th thru Monday September 13th Voting Begins: Thursday September 16th Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com We will be hosting our 2nd Annual Scarecrow Contest this coming September. We had a fantastic turnout with some of the most creative scarecrows on the entire Central Coast! We are adding new categories, with a special division for young people under age 14. The contest is open to all ages. There is no entry fee to particpate. To see last year's winners, and for an application and full information, click for here for more details or visit www.ScarecrowContest.com .
	Heirloom Tomato Tasting, Templeton Saturday September 18th, 1 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com If you have always wondered what an heirloom vine-ripe tomato tastes like, or wanted to experience the subtle and bold differences between all the bright colors, shapes and sizes; here’s your chance to find out. The farm will be sampling a dozen or so different varieties of heirloom tomatoes, picked fresh from the field an hour before the event. Sample some old favorites like Mortgage Lifter Radiator Charlie, Cherokee Purple and Aunt Ruby’s German Green. The farm will supply the tomatoes, plates and forks. You supply the appetite. Admission is FREE! For more information visit the farm website or call Joy at 238-3799.
	October 2010

	Pumpkin Painting Workshop, Templeton Saturday October 3rd, 1 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com What could be more fun than a friendly Jack-o-lantern in early October? Instead of carving; paint your pumpkin and it will last all month! Children ages 7 and up are welcome. A $5 fee will includes a freshly picked from the field small sugar pie pumpkin and all supplies to paint and decorate it. Visit the farm website for photos and more details. Reservations are required. Call Joy at 238-3799.
	Paso Robles Pioneer Day, Paso Robles Saturday October 9th, 10 a.m. Paso Robles Spring Street www.pasoroblespioneerday.org Pioneer Day 2010 marks its 80th anniversary. The first Pioneer Day was held on October 12, 1931. The anual parade is filled with antique tractors, farm equipment, horse drawn wagons, equestian groups, bands, floats and more! The parade starts at 10 a.m. A free public bean feed in the park follows the parade at noon. It's Unique... THE WHOLE DAY IS FREE and entirely funded by the business people and dedicated citizens of our area who say: "Leave Your Pocketbook at Home".
	Paso Robles Pioneer Museum Annual Open House Saturday October 9th, 1 p.m. (following the Pioneer Day Parade) www.pasoroblespioneermuseum.org Some of the special activities that have taken place at past Open House events . . . enjoying the music, watching wool spinning and wheat weaving, listening to small gasoline engines, practicing cowboy skills --- roping a stationary target and branding a block of wood, seeing the huge Jeanesville Pump and viewing the tractors that were driven through the parade.
	Valley Harvest Festival, Arroyo Grande www.agharvestfestival.com The city of Arroyo Grande will be hosting their 73rd Annual Arroyo Grande Valley Harvest Festival. It is a celebration of the community and its history. The festival will include a hometown parade, live entertainment, contests, a farmers’ market, arts, crafts, food and more! Some of the contests include: costume, chili, scarecrow, cow milking, cow chip throwing, a skillet toss, baking, pie and canning contests. Even an adult spelling bee! For more information visit the above website or call 458-3321.
	Halloween at the Farm, Templeton Sunday October 31st, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com Bring your entire family to the farm on Halloween Day. Every person who shows up in costume and poses for a photo will receive a FREE Jack-o-lantern!!! (Quantities Limited – while supplies last).
	November 2010
	Western Art & Cowboy Gear Paso Gathering, Paso Robles Friday November 5th through Saturday November 7th www.pasorobles-usa.com Watch artisans in action and shop for the holidays for that special cowboy on your list. The Cowboy Gathering will feature western artists, saddle makers, rawhide braiders, bit & spur makers, silversmiths, horsehair hitchers, collectibles, cowboy grub and more! Check out their website for details on how you can attend or participate.
	Heirloom Winter Squash Tasting & Workshop, Templeton Saturday November 6th, 1 p.m. (heavy rain cancels to following weekend) Jack Creek Farms www.JackCreekFarms.com It is so easy to transform winter squash into fabulous autumn dishes. The folks at Jack Creek Farms will give you tips and detailed instructions on how to make a variety of dishes using heirloom winter squash. You will have an opportunity to sample at least 6 different varieties of winter squash. Take home recipes and your dish will be the highlight of your family’s fall festivities. You’ll be so proud, and your guests will be impressed. You can do it . . . it’s easy! Admission is FREE! For more information visit the farm website or call Joy at 238-3799.