Originally published in July 2023 print edition.
By Timothy Collins, Kern County Young Farmers & Ranchers
July is here already, and the Young Farmers and Ranchers are working toward our 8th annual Charity Farmers Market on Saturday, July 15th, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. We are glad to be back in Chuy’s parking lot on Rosedale Highway, as it has been one of our most successful locations in the past. This year we will raise funds to support the school garden project for Kern Resource Center. As always, we are very thankful to those who donate produce to make this event possible, and we are always looking for more produce donations. Please reach out to us to donate. The event is only possible if people come by to support us and get produce. Be sure to make the trip to 8660 Rosedale Hwy on the 15th for the fresh local produce we have available!
Kern County YF&R would once again like to thank Steve and Vickie Murray for hosting us for our annual cherry-gleaning meeting back in May. This year, we met at their Little Purple Barn Copus Road location for the first time. We enjoyed a tour of the farm and, of course, picked cherries. It is always encouraging to hear the history of how Steve began with very little and, over time, was able to build Murray Family Farms, especially since there are so few first-generation farming operations today. He reminds us, young people, that there are still opportunities in farming!
The more I travel across the state and country I am reminded of how fortunate we are to live in Kern County, where so much of the food we eat comes from. Other places are beautiful and great to visit, but most of what they offer is recreation. It is good to be a part of a county producing what it takes to make the state, country, and world function. Few other countries have the agriculture, oil, and even renewable energy that Kern County does. Those other counties would not be able to function without us–that is something to be proud of! There is a reason we all live here and have such a great community. The Kern County Young Farmers and Ranchers are part of what makes that possible.
Email: kernyfr@kerncfb.com
Instagram: @kern_yfr
