OJAI, Calif. — On Nov. 3, more than 20 Ventura County farms will open their doors and invite the public to experience a day of agricultural activities and tours during the 6th Annual Ventura County Farm Day.
Farm Day tour hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public can go to www.VenturaCountyFarmDay.com, select two, three or more farms to visit and then map out their day. Farm Day visitors create their own itinerary, travel at their own pace to experience a day of agricultural activities and meet the farmers who grow the food they eat. Each farm is unique, but all feature a number of activities such as conducting educational tours and offering free produce samples.
Farm Day Kickoff BBQ: New this year, Farm Day will officially kickoff the night before, Nov. 2, with a “Farm-to-Table” barbecue at Oxnard Historic Farm Park. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., the public can enjoy live music by Mark David, farm-fresh food prepared by celebrated chef Tim Kilcoyne, locally produced craft cocktails, beers and wines, and kids’ activities. Barbecue tickets are $45 for adults and $15 for kids under 12.
Speaking at the BBQ will be the new Ventura County Ag Commissioner Edmund (Ed) Williams at strong supporter of Ventura County Farm Day and the need for the public to understand the importance of agriculture. “The lineup of farm tours will give the public a wide view of many of the farming and ranching activities, and the families involved in producing the high quality agricultural products Ventura County is known for,” said Williams.
Participating Farms, museums and farming operations include Reiter Affiliated Companies at Laguna Farms, Houweling’s Tomatoes and McGrath Family Farm in Camarillo, Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, Agromin (organics recycler), Deardorff Family Farms and Gill’s Onions in Oxnard and Petty Ranch in Saticoy.
Ventura County Farm Day is organized by the nonprofit Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture. SEEAG’s mission is to help children understand the farm origins of their food and benefits of proper nutrition through classroom agricultural education and free farm field trips.
“Ventura County has such a rich farming history,” said Mary Maranville, SEEAG’s founder and CEO. “Many of our farmers have been growing food for decades, passing the farming tradition from one generation to the next. Ventura County Farm Day is an opportunity for the public to get a behind the scenes peak at farming life and say thank you to those who keep our markets brimming with fresh produce.”
Ventura County Farm Day sponsors include Ventura County Coast, Farm Credit West, Reiter Affiliated Companies, Ventura County Ag Commissioner and Kaiser Permanente.
For more information about Ventura County Farm Day, go to www.venturacountyfarmday.com or call 805-901-0213. Farm Day t-shirts, hats, glasses and mugs are available for purchase on the website.
List of Participating farms, ranches and agricultural organizations:
Camarillo
Houweling’s Tomatoes
The Abundant Table at McGrath Family Farm
Fillmore
Chivas Skin Care (at Otto & Sons Nursery)
Otto & Sons
Moorpark
Apricot Lane Farms (pre-registration required)
Ojai
Boku Superfood
Earthtrine Farms
Ojai Olive Oil Company
Oxnard
AGQ Laboratory
Agromin
Beardsley & Son
Deardorff Family Farms
Gill’s Onions
Good Farm (Andrew Williamson Fresh Produce)
Laguna Farms (partner with Reiter Affiliated Companies)
Oxnard Historic Farm Park
Piru
Rancho Camulos Museum
Santa Paula
Ventura County Ag Museum
Saticoy
Petty Ranch
SEEAG’s Farm Lab (at Petty Ranch)
Somis
Alpacas at Windy Hills
Ventura
Rincon Vitova
— Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture