LAKEPORT— The Lake County Fair returned following scaled down pandemic versions the two previous years this past holiday weekend from Thursday Sept. 1 through Sunday Sept. 4 at the Lakeport Fairgrounds.
On top of all the rides, games and deliciously fried foods, the fair is home to a multitude of friendly competitions including baking, gardening, livestock, baked goods and art, highlighting local talent with blue ribbons. The farm auction also draws a large crowd each year, with this year’s auction including chickens and rabbits for the first time.
This year Liam Coburn of Crazy Quilt Farms in Upper Lake took home blue ribbons for almost all of his entries stating, “Giving back to the community is a big part of who we are and what we do.” Being a father of two, Coburn finds baking to be meditative and does it as a form of self-care, creating nostalgic treats like chocolate chip cookies and lake county grown jams owning the compliment “It’s just like Grandma’s, but better.” This year the Crazy Quilt Farm worked with the Fair to re-open the red barn for vending as it had previously been used for storage. After the fair, the storefront will be changing their hours of operation to Wednesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Despite the immense heat, the Farm Auction was in full swing starting with the buyer’s breakfast at 10 a.m., giving the 4h agriculture students a chance to meet the buyers and present their market animals. Holly Hoefler raised a market hog. She raised the animal to 292 pounds. Hoefler said, “It’s quite an experience, rough at first, but I got him in June and now this is the sad part of the process.” Hoefler also noted the education and experience gained from the 4h program. “It teaches leadership, competence and working with others. You gain a lot of work experience that a lot of kids don’t have.” Hoefler is also a member of K-Corps, a search and rescue team that works with the Sheriff’s Office helping find missing people and securing evidence. After high school Hoefler plans to join the military and attend college before returning to Lake to purchase her own ranch.
Kalen Rain presented her meat chickens this year at the auction sharing her insider information that “Chickens love hair dryers. It makes them fall asleep.” Currently Rain runs her own small business and plans to use the funds from her chickens to further her modeling and acting career. Quinn Murray presented his two market lambs for the second year in a row. This is Murray’s fourth year participating in the 4h program and every year Murray saves his earning from the auction in order to purchase next year’s animals as well as a saving for his future.
Organizers noted that the Farm Auction is a wonderful way to help out the youth in Lake County while also providing quality market animals to the public. The program is available to all children aged 8 to 18 years and has been running since 1902. The auction itself is fast paced and exciting with pens of rabbits and chickens starting with a $500 and steers typically going from $5 to 9 per pound.
Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture sponsors new competition
Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture was the inaugural sponsor for a new competition at the Lake County Fair called “Lake County Born” for local youth breeders who breed their own market animals.
“We are proud of our history of support for Lake County youth who aspire to become part of the agricultural economy. Along with our commitment to increased agricultural awareness in this community, we want to promote the success of the next generation of farmers and ranchers,” noted Annette Hopkins via a press release from the organization. The organization’s members added that this competition for youth breeders who breed their own market animals is an important aspect of an exciting, hands-on educational experience that they hope will inspire youth to seek careers in agriculture.
LCCWA sponsored two awards totaling $500. Annie Davis,of Middletown 4H with her Boer goats, earned the Grand Champion award of $300 and Katey Brown of Kelseyville 4H with her market rabbit project, earned the Reserve Champion award of $200.
Additional exhibitors in this competition were Tanner Hicks, Middletown 4H, swine; Gabriella Soria, Scotts Valley 4H, goats; Bentley Carter, Big Valley 4H, market goat; Cecilia Knight, Big Valley 4H, rabbit breeding project.
Chapter members Dana DiRicco, of Upper Lake and Rebecca Harper, Executive Director Lake County Farm Bureau, judged the competition.
