Kelsey Schott, a second year FFA member of the Valley Center FFA, along with her heifer has gone undefeated in 2003.
Kelsey and her heifer, Daphne, began their show campaign at the Surfside Classic, where they earned the top award, Supreme Champion Heifer.
The winning streak continued for the pair, at the San Diego County Fair, Ramona Junior Fair, and the highlight of them all, the California State Fair. At each of these shows the pair was awarded the top prize.
On Aug. 19, Kelsey and her heifer, along with her family and friends traveled to Sacramento to compete at the California State Fair. Over 110 heifers of all different breeds were exhibited. Kelsey and Daphne shined above the rest.
After winning her class and division, the pair went on to the Championship Drive. Kelsey exhibited her heifer to her full potential. As the judge looked over all of the champions Kelsey was tense but kept her cool. Then her heifer was crowned Supreme Champion Heifer, the best in the state of California.
Kelsey looks forward to showing her heifer at future shows, including Grand National and 2004 jackpots.
An old-fashioned barn dance to raise money for agriculture education programs will be held Oct. 18 7:30 p.m. - midnight at Bear Valley Farm Supply.
The first annual Barn Dance was the brain child of Kim Laventure of the Chamber Ambassadors.
Money raised will be split between the Valley Center High School’s ag department, the middle school ag department and the Gang Ranch ag learning center.
As usual, all of these programs have continuing needs all year long. For example, the high school ag program needs fencing material to house animals.
It also needs money to repair a tractor that was donated to the program.
The middle school needs money to equip its new green house with racks for plants.
Gang Ranch, which provides ag education to elementary school students, needs a roto-tiller, garden tools (such as rakes and shovels) and some materials for the garden like polytubing and irrigation supplies.
The cost for the Barn Dance is $45 a couple to eat dinner and listen to the Tumbleweed band.
No host beer and wine will be provided by the VC Optimist Club.
Tickets can be purchased at The Roadrunner, Bear Valley Farm Supply, California Bank & Trust, Wallace Hardware, Krueger Realty and Community Pharmacy or call the Chamber Office at 749-8472.
About Tumbleweed
Front person for Tumbleweed is Nick Noah, who plays base, guitar and is lead vocalist. Noah just finished playing in Branson, Missouri for the last three years, where he opened for the Platters.
Kelly Dunn is on keyboard. Dunn has done several recordings with Jeff Walker.
Irvin Argeanton is the drummer and lead vocalist. He has toured with Hamilton Joe Frank and Reynolds.
Serge Mulitof plays lead guitar. He has played with Ike Turne, John Denver’s wife and various other artists.
John Erritt plays lead guitar and is lead vocalist. He is from Escondido and has played with various local groups.
About 70 friends and supporters of Pauma Valley’s Tierra Miguel Foundation Friday morning gathered at the foundation’s barn to celebrate a state, federal and Fallbrook Conservancy partnership that makes possible the first ever agricultural conservation easement in North County.
The 85 acres has what are considered to be prime soils, a reliable water source, but also faces development pressure. No longer. The acreage once placed into an conservation easement, will be safe from development in perpetuity.
“This is a remarkable situation because a lot of people have come long distances to be here today, Charlene Orszag, president of the non-profit foundation declared at Friday’s gathering. “We’re very happy to be able to permanently preserve this beautiful Pauma Valley Land for agriculture. This project is a great example of how local organizations can work with the state and federal government to make a difference.”
The barn had been “spruced up” for the event (i.e. the compost and other boxes were moved out)
California Dept. of Conservation Director Daryl Young explained why making the 85-acre farm into a farming easement is so important.
“We want to keep rural farming in San Diego County and all of California. Rural farm land is disappearing at an alarming rate,” he said.
Chuck Bell, NRCS Station Conservationist, told the crowd, “As California’s population grows by nearly 15 million over the next 20 years, preserving farmland will become a major challenge.”
Through the California Farmland Conservancy program, the DOC will temporarily grant $1.4 million to Tierra Miguel Foundation to buy title to the property and about $240,000 to place a conservation easement on the farm. The Foundation currently leases the property.
“This will start a pattern of protection allowing for responsible growth but also preserving the land that feeds us— Protecting a way of life,” said Young.
The U.S. Dept. of Agricultural, through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, has agreed to fund $240,000 towards the purchase of the ag conservation easement.
TMF will seek donations and grants to help raise the $1.4 million to repay the state, and will continue to own and manage the ag operations at the farm.
It is partnering with the Fallbrook Land Conservancy in this project.
Wallace Tucker, chairman of the conservancy, commented: “I’m impressed at every level. I always like it when I come out here because it is a working farm and farms provide the basis for our economy.”
“People have often said that rural landscapes are the most beautiful in the world. They talk about places like Lancaster County but now they will have to include Pauma Valley.”
William Potter, who is the farm’s landlord, spoke about how the dream of the Tierra Miguel Foundation became his dream.
“In my business career vision drives everything. But now way did I ever envision this.”
Potter bought the land in 1987 and initially envisioned developing it. Then he decided to buy a tractor and work the land, but health intervened.
The visionaries of the Foundation, “swept me off my feet and have been doing so every since. Thus for five years they taught a guy who thinks with his brain to think with my heart.”
Tierra Miguel Foundation farm is an educational demonstration farm that offers a hands-on-opportunity for youngsters and other interested parties to learn about sustainable organic agriculture.
It supplies boxes of farm produce for classroom learning programs and distributes its seasonal products to 300 community supported ag participants in San Diego and neighboring counties.
To learn more about the foundation, contact Charlene Orszag at 742-1151.
This Saturday, Oct. 4 the VC Firefighters Assn. will hold its 11th annual Pancake Breakfast and Safety Expo at Lilac Fire Station to benefit the Burn Institute of San Diego, and the the association.
The Burn Institute of San Diego offers many programs throughout the country including a camp program for burn-injured children, a holiday party for burn-injured children, a burn survivor support group, emergency funds, a school re-entry program, and fire prevention education for all ages.
In 1972 the Burn Institute helped establish the regional burn center at the University of California San Diego Medical Center. The Institute continues to provide funding for the burn center.
The expo, which will also benefit the Firefighters’ Assn., will include:
• Pancake breakfast, 7 -10 a.m. Cost is $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Served will be pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice.
• Barbecue lunch, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Menu includes burgers, hot dogs, chips, sodas and water.
Many North County fire and law enforcement agencies are expected to participate.
You’ll see classic fire engines, TV’s Squad 51 and helicopters.
Fire extinguisher classes will be offered and there will be a vehicle cut and rescue demonstration.
Visitors will be able to tour the fire station, get fire prevention and information, and watch as dozens of fire engines drive away on a “Code 3 Engine Run.”
For breakfast and lunch tickets and information call the VC Firefighters Assn. at 751-7600.
Admission to the event is free.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
Copyright © 2002, Palomar Community Newspapers, dba Valley Roadrunner. All rights reserved. This content may not be archived, retransmitted, saved in a database, or used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of the Valley Roadrunner.