On Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 10am to 3pm, more than 15 Ventura County farms will open their doors and invite the public to experience a day of FREE agricultural activities and tours (some requiring pre-registration) during the 7th Annual Ventura County Farm Day.
The event also includes a pre-event Wine Farm-to-Table Dinner BBQ at Topa Mountain Winery on Thursday, November 7, 2019.
Farm Day is Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 10am to 3pm
Ventura County farms, ranches, nurseries and other agricultural operations, from organic to conventional, row crops to orchards, will open their doors to the public during the 7th Annual Ventura County Farm Day and visitors will experience a day of agricultural activities and meet the farmers who grow the food they eat. Farm Day is free and for all ages.
Farm Day tour hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can select three or four agricultural operations (some require reservations) and then drive themselves to each location. Every stop is unique, but all farms feature a number of activities such as educational tours and free produce samplings.
2019 Participating Ag Operations include:
Camarillo
- Houweling's Group is is a family owned, world-renowned greenhouse vegetable grower dedicated to delivering a full complement of delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and herbs, while constantly innovating to reduce its environmental footprint. Join us for Ventura County Farm Day on a walking site tour of our Camarillo farm, where you will learn about hydroponic greenhouse growing and sustainable farming. Sample some scrumptious hydroponically grown tomatoes while you are here! Tours will run approximately 45 minutes. Please wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen, this is a walking tour, at times on uneven surfaces. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time for check in.!GUESTS NEED TO PRE-REGISTER FOR TOURS IN ADVANCE.
- The Abundant Table will be partnering with Baby Root Farm to offer tours and a welcoming experience to visitors.
Saticoy
- Visit Farm Lab to learn more about SEEAG and Farm Day participating location Petty Ranch with guest Rincon-Vitova Insectaries. A special Chivas skincare pop-up booth, Farm Fresh Van Farmer’s Market and kids activities will also be available providing fun for the whole family!
- Chivas Skin Care raises goats on their small family farm and uses the fresh goat milk to hand-craft gentle and moisturizing goat milk soaps. Visit their booth at Petty Ranch in Saticoy, where you can browse their selection of goat milk skin care products and receive a free soap making demonstration. GUESTS NEED TO PRE-REGISTER FOR DEMOS IN ADVANCE.
- Take a tour of Petty Ranch with fifth-generation farmer Chris Sayer and learn about the production of Petty Ranch’s citrus, avocados, figs, and other specialty fruit. Tours starts on the one-hour. GUESTS NEED TO PRE-REGISTER FOR TOURS IN ADVANCE.
- Rincon-Vitova will be at the Farm Lab at Petty Ranch. Come learn about insectraries' important role in agriculture, and how Rincon-Vitova participates in SEEAG's Farm Lab Education Program.
Oxnard
- Join the fun at Laguna Farms and meet Jose Martinez and his family as they guide you around their all organic raspberry ranch named after his youngest daughter, Andrea. See and hear about growing traditional in-ground raspberries and how innovation and technology are playing their part in the future of farming with substrate raspberries. Sample berries while learning about Sembrando Salud, a farmworker health and wellness initiative.
- Agromin plays a big role in our state’s thriving agricultural industry. Tour their operations and learn first hand how their custom blends enhance the soil to increase production and reduce water usage for growers. Tours every half hour.
- Tour AGQ Labs, one of the world's leading food safety and agricultural laboratories, with more than 20 years of experience in advanced analytical testing, agronomic consulting, specialized engineering, and environmental project management. Tours will be led every hour, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., by scientists who help farmers and producers meet the regulatory and industry requirements for food safety.
- Crisalida Farm welcomes the community to Farm Day on November 9th from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm for a unique on farm experience. Take a guided tour of our farm approach in raising a variety of high-quality strawberries. Gain knowledge on how the displayed farming machinery helps harvest superior produce from farm to table.
- Be sure to stop by the Oxnard Historic Farm Park for music, food and a variety of historic and agricultural demonstrations, from printing presses to hit and miss engines. Come for the history, stay for the food, prepared by Cowboy John’s Smoking BBQ.
Somis
- Alpacas at Windy Hill is a full-service breeding and boarding facility located on 25 acres of prime agricultural property in the rolling hills of Ventura County, California. Sunshine and cool ocean breezes provide an ideal environment for the health and well-being of our alpacas. Come visit our sanctuary and learn more about how we raise Suri and Huacaya alpacas for breeding, showing and alpaca fiber production.
Ojai
- Earthtrine Farm is a 12-acre paradise in the Ojai Valley that grows more than 100 different crops throughout the year. They are famous for their culinary herbs, and a wide assortment of greens, including, chard, dandelions, green leaf lettuces, and kale. Farmer BD will be on site guiding visitors around the farm, but you are more than welcome to tour the grounds yourself.
- Ojai Olive Oil is an award winning olive oil company known for its Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, and Olive Oil Cosmetics. Tour their fourth generation family owned and operated farm, the oldest producer of extra virgin olive oil in the region!
Santa Paula
- Take a guided wagon tour of HAREC (Hansen Agricultural Research & Extension Center) and learn about their ongoing agricultural research. Wagon tours will be held at 10 am, 11 am, 12 noon and 1 pm to tour the farm and learn from farm advisers about the different agricultural and horticultural research projects going on, including a cover crop demonstration, compost tea experiment, blackberry and raspberry variety evaluation, climate-ready landscape tree project, and rose fertilization project. Afterwards, people will be able to amble through the corn maze and Master Gardener demonstration garden and ask Master Gardeners about composting, fruit growing, succulents, and how to encourage pollinators. Water, snacks, and fruit will be available. GUESTS NEED TO PRE-REGISTER FOR TOURS IN ADVANCE.
- Tour the Limoneira site will walk through and learn about a newly planted citrus orchard, explore the benefits and process of largescale of compost and mulch application, witness a healthy soils rainfall demonstration and get to hear from local experts on the connection between climate change, soil health and our food system! Tours last approximately 40 minutes and start on the hour. Close-toed shoes are recommended. GUESTS NEED TO PRE-REGISTER FOR TOURS IN ADVANCE.
- At the Ventura County Agricultural Museum come learn how the agricultural industry helped attract settlers to Ventura County from around the world beginning in the 1800s. In addition to learning about the history of agriculture within the region, visitors to the museum can experience exhibits showcasing the machine-age artwork by artist Wendell Dowling, the history and evolution of tractors, and the role of aviation in agriculture.
Piru
- The story of Rancho Camulos Museum is the story of Southern California—an early Native-American village, the home of a prominent Californio land grant family (referring to early Hispanic settlers), the setting of an epic 19th century novel, a symbol of tourism and hospitality, and its ongoing history as a diverse agricultural operation that has endured and evolved for over a 150 years.
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Pre Event Wine Farm-to-Table BBQ Dinner at Topa Mountain Winery
Farm Day officially kicks off on Thursday, November 7 with a pig roast at Topa Mountain Winery in Ojai. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., the public (ages 21 and over) can enjoy live music, farm-fresh food including locally grown produce, craft cocktails, beers and wines.
- Barbecue tickets are $95 per person (early entry VIP tickets are $150 each).
- Buy Tickets at https://www.venturacountyfarmday.com/farmtotable
- See the MENU HERE
Ventura County Farm Day is organized by the nonprofit Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG). SEEAG’s mission is to help children understand the farm origins of their food and benefits of proper nutrition through classroom agricultural education and free farm field trips.
Ventura County Farm Day sponsors include Ventura County Coast, Farm Credit West, Brokaw Nursery, Al Lowe Construction and Ventura County Agricultural Association.
For more information about Ventura County Farm Day, go to https://www.venturacountyfarmday.com/ or call 805-901-0213.
You can purchase Farm Day t-shirts, hats, glasses and mugs at https://www.venturacountyfarmday.com/shop/ and wear your new gear on Farm Day
***This is a sponsored post and Ventura County Farm Day and SEEAG is a Macaroni Kid sponsor. ***
