Hot on the heels of the 2016 Olympic Games, Northern California's fittest bunch of folk have their own competitive edge taken care of with games more suited to the farming culture of our region!
Hay bale stacking, Drip-tape jumprope, egg & spoon race, competitive irrigation, Lexicon of Sustainability food label trivia, Farm-fresh pizza topping contest, Hole Lotta Farm-to-School Toss, Synchronized Grazing, T-Post Pounding and other exciting games of skill and strength are amongst the creative and fun roster at the Petaluma Fairgrounds for a September 17th Farmer Olympics.
The Farmer's Guild is an agricultural community founded by farmers for farmers who collaborate toward the economic viability of local agriculture as well as the social networks necessary to attract, cultivate and sustain a new generation ready to work the land while building a healthier food system.
Back in 2011, a handful of young farmers and ranchers convened over dinner to talk shop, trade ideas and share their experiences working to reform our agricultural system from the ground up. New friendships, opportunities and partnerships hard to find in rural areas grew. This dynamic group soon multiplied. Chefs and local food advocates joined the mix, young farmers began arriving from neighboring counties. They soon outgrew the kitchen table and found an ally in FarmsReach, an online resource where farmers connect, share advice, and find the resources they need to succeed. With their tools and support, they extended their mission to new communities across California, uniting an oftentimes disparate movement.
There are ten Guilds across northern California, today. Now a project of Ag Innovations 501c3, they work to maintain a growing network of Guilds by encouraging, inspiring and celebrating the resilience of local agriculture, young and old, large and small, cabbage growers and cattle ranchers alike. Each Guild is unique, served by local communities and partner organizations. The Farmers Guild keeps the wider network connected through events, online social media and by sharing practical resources, farmer to farmer, guild to guild, dependable even in the busiest throes of harvest season.
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