Family Gives Its All to Celebrate Life, Friends, Community Spirit

Drawn by discounts on carnival rides and an expanded Kiddie Land, hundreds of parents and children headed to Conejo Valley Days Family Night on Thursday.

But along the sidelines at Conejo Creek Park, a true family reunion and unofficial celebration of family life were in full swing.

With their barbecue grill sizzling and their daughter home from college, the Magruders of Thousand Oaks cooked a massive feast for 50 volunteers who helped set up the fair at Conejo Creek Park.

The grilled salmon, pasta salad and strawberry shortcake are a way to thank friends and celebrate life in Thousand Oaks, the Magruders said.

“I just think you have to look at the area,” said Steve Magruder, whose involvement with Conejo Valley Days stretches back more than 20 years.

“You’re away from the city. You’ve got a country atmosphere . . . clean air, great schools. Overall, if you look at our community, it’s one of the safest in the nation. I think it’s one of the best places to live.”

Drawn to the region during his years as a student at Cal Lutheran University, Magruder first went to Conejo Valley Days in 1975 with Judy, who became his wife a few months later.

There weren’t nearly as many entries in the Chili Cook Off as this year’s contest, Judy Magruder recalled. And there were just a few carnival rides, with the Ferris wheel the biggest attraction, her husband said.

“We went to the Badgeroo contest,” Judy Magruder said, referring to the annual search for the cowboy who has the most and best festival pins on his vest. “We couldn’t understand all the excitement.”

Yet it wasn’t long before the Magruders had children of their own, and their little girl, Shannon, was pinning badges on her younger brother Jeff’s cowboy vest in preparation for Conejo Valley Days.

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As Thousand Oaks’ population soared, the small-town magic of Conejo Valley Days became apparent, Steve Magruder said.

“It was small, but really close-knit,” he said. “Everybody was talking about it. Everybody came by.”

The Magruders worked hard to make the family business, M&M; Termite and Pest Control in Newbury Park, a success. Pushing baby strollers, they went door to door handing out fliers to promote their pest control shop.

But getting involved with Conejo Valley Days was the best way to get to know local folks.

“To me, this is my service club,” Steve Magruder said. “It’s my duty to the community. Conejo Valley Days is my community service . . . . I meet people from the Elks and Kiwanis, but when they get out here, they’re all one club.”

The Magruders’ official involvement with the festival began in the late 1970s, after Steve had persuaded his father to relocate the family pest control business to the Conejo Valley.

Don Magruder, Steve’s father, became the Conejo Valley Days parade grand marshal in 1978.

Steve worked his way up the ranks, from sign chairman to Badgeroo chairman to general chairman in 1993.

The family initiated its Thursday night feast about 10 years ago. Over the years, duck, quail and elk have been featured entrees. Last year, the Magruders’ homesick son, Jeff, a college student in Oregon, flew home for Conejo Valley Days.

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Being away for the festival “really heightened his homesickness,” Judy Magruder said. Coming home “seemed to hold him through the rest of the school year.”

This year, their daughter, Shannon, is back from classes at UC Santa Barbara. A lover of country music, Shannon spent Wednesday night at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Universal City. Back home Thursday, she helped her parents get ready for the big meal.

Linda Graham, a Conejo Valley Days volunteer who knows the Magruders well, was looking forward to the picnic. “They’re just good community people,” she said. “And they’re good cooks.”

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Conejo Valley Days Events

All events are held at Conejo Creek Park, Moorpark Freeway and Janss Road, unless otherwise noted. Carnival admission is $5 adults, $3 senior citizens and students, $2 children 6 to 12, and free for children under 6. On all nights, receive $1 off the admission price for taking a shuttle bus from Newbury Park or Thousand Oaks high schools.

TODAY

9 a.m. to noon: Invitation-only event for handicapped children, midway

5 p.m. to midnight: Carnival

5 to 10 p.m.: Bingo

7 p.m.: Your Moose, main stage

8 p.m.: The Turtles, main stage

10:30 p.m.: Lizards of Wisdom, main stage

SATURDAY

9 a.m.: Parade, Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Duesenberg Drive to Erbes Road

Noon to midnight: Carnival

Noon to 6 p.m.: Western pit barbecue, $6 adults, $4.50 children

1:30 and 4:40 p.m.: Rodeo

2 to 10 p.m.: Bingo

7 p.m.: Singer Chrissy Lomax, main stage

8:30 p.m.: Singer Eddie Money, main stage

10:30 p.m.: Peter and the Wolves, main stage

SUNDAY

Noon to 8 p.m.: Carnival

Noon to 6 p.m.: Western pit barbecue, $6 adults, $4.50 children

Noon to 8 p.m.: Bingo

1 and 4 p.m.: Rodeo

1 p.m.: Paul DeLay Band, main stage

3 p.m.: Bruce Brothers Band, main stage

5 p.m.: Flattop Tom and His Jumpcats, main stage