LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 2012 Lake County Fair provided the Lake County Farm Bureau with multiple opportunities to participate, support and have fun.

On Friday, Aug. 31, 400 elementary students from around the county were treated to individualized fair tours.  

The local 4-H office does a wonderful job organizing this annual event and reaches out to the community in search of docents to help guide the tours.

Docent volunteers including Lake County Farm Bureau Second Vice President Glenn Benjamin and his wife Dana DiRicco-Benjamin, along with staff members Claudia Street and Kristen Krohn, helped guide classes through the livestock barns.  

Lake County Farm Bureau also provided each teacher with a goodie bag filled with educational materials from the California Foundation for Ag in the Classroom, the recent issue of California Bountiful magazine, a copy of the 2011 edition of “Imagine This – Stories Inspired by Agriculture” and other classroom supplies.

Another way Lake County Farm Bureau supports local youth each year is through the purchase of an animal at the Junior Livestock Auction.  

Local 4-H and FFA members not only learn how to properly raise an animal during the project year, but they learn the importance of developing sound business practices and effective marketing skills.  

Prior to fair time, 4-H and FFA members often venture out in to the community in an effort to encourage buyers to bid on their animal.

This year, Lake County Farm Bureau purchased a hog raised by Erin Evans of the Anderson Marsh 4-H Club.

Following on last year’s success, Lake County Farm Bureau sponsored the Farmer for a Day booth in the Floriculture Building.  

Highlighting the bounty of our local agriculture, this booth featured two Lake County producers.  Sabina and Pascal Hue de Laroque were present on Thursday and Friday with their delicious jams, fruit spreads and flavored boutique vinegars.  

On Sunday, Janine Grothe of Two Bee Garden Farm displayed her handmade dried wreaths and beautiful, fresh cut flowers.

The Lake County Fair is a wonderful time to have fun, visit with friends and celebrate our local agricultural heritage.  

Lake County Farm Bureau appreciates the efforts of the fair board, staff and the many volunteers and is already looking forward to 2013.

Lake County Farm Bureau strives to protect and promote farming and agricultural interests throughout Lake County and to find solutions to challenges on the farm, at the ranch home and throughout the rural community. Lake County Farm Bureau is Lake County’s largest farm organization, representing over 550 farm families and individual members.

For more information, contact Claudia Street, executive director at 707-263-0911.