The first ever Carson Valley Ag Day will be held Saturday at Lampe Park in Gardnerville. This free, family friendly event celebrates the region’s rich agricultural history and provides the community a good understanding of where food, fuel and fiber comes from, how it’s grown and who the local people are making it happen.
“Our guests will get tips on horticulture from the experts, find new ideas about healthy eating, edible gardens and composting, explore the tractors and farm equipment that helped build our fertile valley," said Farm Bureau President Woody Worthington. "They will also be able to hear about the achievements of kids and teens in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, discover new innovations in ag technology and sustainable practices, eat great local grassfed beef, and hear about what other non-profit organizations are doing to make our region such a great place to live.”
The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Douglas-Carson Farm Bureau is a non-profit organization that helps sustain the farmers and ranchers in the communities that include Carson City and parts of South Lake Tahoe.
“We’re putting on this event to promote community awareness and tell the stories about all we’re doing to preserve this beautiful green valley,” says local rancher Meggan Stodieck-Melandow, who is spearheading the Ag Day.
“We've put together a day of great activities from learning how to rope a steer, getting up close with farm animals and playing some old fashioned games like sack races, horseshoes to a goofy Chicken Dance contest. You can also see how we support education for the next generation through Ag in the Classroom school programs, as well as sponsoring annual scholarships that will be supported with some amazing raffle prizes.”
The Douglas-Carson Farm Bureau includes Douglas County and Carson City. It is home to a variety of agricultural commodities, the number one being alfalfa followed by cattle, pigs, nurseries, poultry, and sheep. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, there are 255 farms/ranches in Douglas County with an additional 21 in Carson City.
Douglas County is also home to eight Centennial farms and ranches, which have been in agricultural production for at least 100 years.
Adding to the celebration, just down the street from the park, Yogurt Beach will support Farm Bureau educational programs by donating proceeds from 11 am to 2 PM on August 13.