LAKE COUNTY – The Lake County Farm Bureau is proud to announce its 2010-11 scholarship winners.

The Lake County Farm Bureau Scholarship Committee reviewed all participants’ applications and chose the two applicants who best met the eligibility requirements.

This year’s scholarship winners are Sarah Johnson of Kelseyville and Kayla Delbar of Witter Springs.

Sarah Johnson is planning on enrolling at Mendocino College to major in agriculture business. She is very involved in school activities such as softball, basketball, and volleyball. Johnson also has participated in the Kelseyville FFA, ASB and CSF.

Kayla Delbar is attending Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming in August of 2010. She is planning on majoring in animal science to become a Large Animal Veterinarian. Delbar has participated in FFA, Basketball, 4-H, California Young Cattleman’s Association, and the CHSRA.

The Lake County Farm Bureau Scholarship Program was organized to give aid to Lake County residents with a desire to pursue a career in the agricultural industry.

The scholarships are awarded annually and are based upon academic achievement, career goals, extracurricular activities, determination, leadership skills and a commitment to study agriculture.

The Lake County Farm Bureau would like to thank all of its 2010-11 scholarship applicants as well as all of those who contribute to the Agriculture Education/Scholarship Program, helping to keep this program active.

For more information on how you can support our Agricultural Education Program, call the Lake County Farm Bureau, 707-263-0911.

MENDOCINO COUNTY – On Wednesday, June 16 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission will host its annual Mendocino Winegrape Grower Showcase at Fountaingrove Golf & Athletic Club in Santa Rosa.

The exclusive afternoon tasting, now in its sixth year, introduces winemakers and winegrape buyers to the boutique quality of Mendocino County grapes and the wines that are crafted from them.

Unique to this year’s showcase is Mendocino’s “Tons of Appreciation” door prizes. As a very special “thank you” to those who take the time to come taste Mendocino offerings, attendees will be entered into a drawing for several tons of premium, certified-biodynamic and organic grapes, courtesy of Mendocino’s local grower community.

The grower showcase has come to be known as the event where Napa and Sonoma winemakers in-the-know make valuable connections with more than 50 estate winegrape growers, who provide access to exceptional fruit rich with Mendocino terroir. It’s also the ideal place to scout resources and contacts for the future.

Appetizers will accompany the tastings, and resource booklets detailing wines and grape varietals available by grower, and grower contact information, will also be provided.

The showcase takes place at Fountaingrove Golf & Athletic Club, 1525 Fountaingrove Parkway, in Santa Rosa.

The venue was chosen for its adherence to green practices across all of its facilities and food services, and the gorgeous setting with sweeping views of the surrounding oak-studded hills.

To RSVP for the Mendocino Winegrape Grower Showcase, please email Ryan Henderson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call 707-468-9886.

Famous for its grape-stomping competition for kids and adults, the two-day festival will offer a chicken barbecue served by the local 4-H Club, as well as several vendor booths with plentiful food, fine art, arts and crafts, and other unique souvenirs and gifts.

In addition, various musicians will perform live both days.

Tasting of the Steele wine collection from Lake County vineyards also will be available throughout the weekend, and tasters will go home with a Steele Wines logo glass.

Children are welcomed to attend the event and hang out in the kids’ corner, featuring face painting, storytelling, kids’ crafts and more.

Sponsored by Steele Wines and held in conjunction with the Harvest Festival, the 21st-annual Vineyard Run for Literacy will take place Sunday, Oct. 10. A benefit for the Lake County Literacy Coalition, the 5K/10K run and 5K walk begin at Steele Wines, taking participants through autumn-colored vineyards and orchards.

Registration is at 8 a.m. Sunday, and the race follows at 9 a.m. The entry donation is $20 per person and $30 per family.

Steele Wines is located at 4350 Thomas Drive at Highway 29 in Kelseyville. The tasting room is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about Steele Wines or the Steele Wines Harvest Festival, call 707-279-9475 or visit www.steelewines.com.

For more information on the Vineyard Run for Literacy, call 707-263-7633.

For visitor information, contact the Lake County Visitor Information Center at 800-525-3743 or www.lakecounty.com.

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CLEARLAKE – The Friday Night Farmers' Market in Clearlake is taking place weekly at Redbud Park, off of Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake.

The markets run every Friday through August, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and September, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The market hosts more farmers and vendors this year, offering a variety of vegetables and fruits, arts and crafts, as well as live music and fun activities.

Local purveyors such as Cactus Grill will offer freshly prepared food.

Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the grassy knoll and listen to great music.

For information or to become a vendor, visit www.lakeco-op.org or call the Clear Lake Chamber at 707-994-3600.

CLEARLAKE – Please join the Lake County Community Co-op's monthly educational series at one of Lake County's local farmers in the hills of Kelseyville.

Love Farm is one of the co-op's many suppliers of fresh, local grown produce.

The public is invited to attend the free tour on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to noon, and will have the opportunity to purchase fresh, tender lettuces and more.

Meet at the farm at 8025 Highway 175 in Kelseyville. From Highway 29, turn south on Hwy 175 and go about eight-tenths of a mile until you will see a “Lake County ’s Farmers Finest” sign on the right.

Local farmer Teale Love and wife, Chris, have been operating their farm since 2005.

The 20-acre farm has an array of fruit trees (peach, nectar, plum) and a variety of lettuces and other vegetables that are growing for summer harvest.

Farmer Love, also an accomplished fiddler musician, takes pride in growing healthy soil on his farm. He strongly believes in nurturing naturally growing beneficial flora, fauna and insects that help make healthy soil which, in turn, naturally fights off crop damaging insects.

In addition to fruits and vegetables that are pesticide free, the Loves raise chickens and goats and are proud of their two beautiful Belgian horses.

Children are welcome on the tour; however, all are asked not to bring pets along and to be mindful of not transmitting germs to the livestock on the farm.

One of the Lake County Community Co-op’s goals is educating Lake County residents on how to live more healthfully and sustainably by keeping it local.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to tour another beautiful farm, meet good people, and have a fabulous opportunity to purchase fresh-picked, organic produce after the tour.

For more information, contact Lori Patotzka at 707-994-1618.

WASHINGTON, DC – North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) has introduced legislation that he says would bring tax relief to family farmers, ranchers and open space landholders.

The bill would allow family farms and ranches to pass down their land and farms, which is meant to preserve California’s strong agricultural heritage.

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“The estate tax as it is currently written unfairly burdens our family farmers,” said Congressman Thompson. “When farms pass from generation to generation, too often families have to sell the farm to developers in order to pay the estate taxes. We need to preserve our agricultural land and open space, which is why I introduced this legislation to fix the tax code.”

Robert Gayaldo, president of Lake County Farm Bureau, said the group appreciates Thompson's work on the estate tax.

“In our county, this is a big issue,” Gayaldo said. “Producers here are land rich and cash poor, and with the estate tax sun setting in 2011, this is an important step to keeping our family farms and keeping land in agriculture. We support what he is doing by keeping us viable in farming.”

Nearly three quarters of the land in the lower 48 states of the U.S. is in private ownership, with the vast majority owned by farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.

Thompson said these lands are vital to both healthy ecosystems and vibrant rural communities. They contribute to clean water, climate benefits, food and fiber production, and wildlife habitat.

“This bill helps prevent estate taxes from forcing the sale and development of the family farms, ranches and forests that are so important for clean water, wildlife, and our rural heritage,” said Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth. “We’re particularly pleased that Congressman Thompson included an estate tax exclusion for lands protected by conservation easements – so families that generously protect the conservation values of their land for future generations will not be forced to sell.”

“Agriculture faces special problems since it’s hard to sell off a portion of the farm to settle the inheritance tax without destroying the farm's economic viability. California has a rich history of family farms spanning multiple generations. Mike Thompson's legislation will help protect that proud heritage, while keeping land in agriculture and in the hands of family farms,” said Doug Mosebar, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation.

The legislation has many supporters in the First Congressional district including the California Farm Bureau Environmental Defense Fund, Land Trust Alliance, California Wine Grape Growers, California Farm Bureau, Western Growers and United Fruit and Vegetable Growers.

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