Festival Sows Agricultural Awareness

More than 1,000 people turned out for FarmFest 2000 at Faulkner Farm on Saturday afternoon, an event designed to give suburban families a firsthand glimpse into the industry that fuels Ventura County’s economy.

The warm weather drew a larger crowd than expected to the 27-acre farm off Telegraph Road.

The turnout inspired organizers to consider making the free festival an annual event that is even larger than the farm’s annual fall Pumpkin Patch.

FarmFest was an all-day family affair, with children darting through the dusty grounds, sampling fruit and vegetables from local growers, trying their hand at planting and getting lessons in everything from papermaking to worm farming.

The Hansen Trust, which has transformed the farm into a learning center, sponsored the festival for about $14,000, said the organization’s spokeswoman, Shari Klittich.

“It puts a face on farming,” said Henry Vega, a farm labor contractor who serves as chairman of the Hansen Trust Advisory Board.

Eventually, the farm will offer a variety of events, school tours and classes, she said.

“Even though we live in an agricultural county, there are lots of people who never get exposed to this,” Klittich said.

Local schools and community groups set up dozens of tents and booths around the farm. Some were raising money for their own gardens and others were just recruiting interest in their clubs.

Fifth-graders from Park View Elementary School in Simi Valley sold herbs, earthworms and pet rocks they had brought from their quarter-acre garden, said teacher Deni Lopez, 41.

“It gives them an understanding of where their food comes from,” Lopez said.

Demonstration gardens offered dirt lovers a variety of ideas from carefully planted edible nasturtiums, pansies and marigolds to the medicinal plot featuring aloe vera, garlic and chamomile.

Cages of farm animals lined one side of the farm’s bright red barn. In one, piglets buried their snouts in the sawdust as children squealed in delight. In another, volunteers held baby goats on their laps.

Under one tent, water-filled rubber gloves hung from a sawhorse and volunteers used them to teach six small children how to milk a cow.

Bruce Freeman, who teaches art to students throughout Ventura County, used the festival to recruit high school students for Faulkner Farm’s summer classes that blend art and agriculture.

“Most kids have never even stepped foot on a farm,” said Freeman. “So by locating class here, the kids will be immersed in it.”