By Valley Ag Voice Staff
In an inaugural collaboration, the Kern County Farm Bureau and Bakersfield Republican Women Federated are hosting a From Farm to Freedom Mixer on June 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Crusader Brewing Company.
The idea for this mixer was born after an interview with KCFB President Jenny Holtermann on the BRWF podcast, “Guess What I Heard.” According to Linda Willis, president of BRFW, the mixer aims to foster a growing relationship between the organizations which share concerns about policies and regulations impacting the Central Valley, especially those affecting farmers.
“A lot of different clubs and organizations have so much that they have to combat — regulations, especially for the farmers, and different water issues and things like that,” Willis said. “We want to form a united effort with different groups who have the same goals, the same purposes that they’re striving for to impact legislation.
BRWF has become increasingly involved in agricultural and governmental regulation discussions this year, with several members actively engaged in agriculture. The connection between BRWF and KCFB was facilitated by Pam Brunni, a member of both organizations and a farmer herself. Willis emphasized the importance of involving local farmers and ranchers in legislative matters affecting their operations and livelihoods.
“I know they’re really busy and just the nature of what they do is so time-consuming that they really don’t have time to look at all the different legislation that’s coming down,” Willis said. “We just want to be another place for them to go, get support, and get information.”
While the event is intended to bring the two distinct organizations together, all are welcome to attend. Tickets to the mixer are $25 and more information can be gathered from Linda Willis at (661) 619-2818. To register, visit Bakersfield Republican Women, Federated – From Farm to Freedom Mixer (bakersfieldrwf.org)
