There is truly no better way to capture the essence of the Sky Valley then by attending the Sky Valley Farm Festival. A vastly inclusive celebration of the area's rich farming heritage, the yearly event does not disappoint.
The festival is coordinated by Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce volunteer Elizabeth Emmons and Chamber Director Debbie Copple, who work collaboratively with several local farms. This year's event took place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, and welcomed attendees from all around the region; some from as far away as Olympia.
"Our motives are pure,GÇ¥ said Emmons. "We want people to learn about where their food comes from by experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of working farms.GÇ¥
Typically, the farm festival invites folks to come and "Get Your Mud On,GÇ¥ but this year, "Get Your Sun On,GÇ¥ may have been more a more appropriate sentiment. Temperatures reached the mid-70s as guests rode on tractor-pulled wagons up and down Fern Bluff Road just outside of Sultan.
Guests spent time at Stockings Garden and Nursery; River's End Cattle Ranch; Johannsen's Farm and Groeneveld's Dairy Farm.
"I am humbled by our farmers,GÇ¥ said Emmons. "They work so hard readying their
farms for the public. They add extra work onto an already full load so that they can invite strangers onto their property GÇô it's so generous.GÇ¥
One of the highlights at Groeneveld's was their new "Moo-telGÇ¥ which housed numerous baby calves. While the dairy farm has always featured baby calves during the farm festival, the "Moo-telGÇ¥ is a permanent structure which replaced the calf tents they've had in previous years. Families were allowed to interact with the baby calves, many of which had a tendency to mistake hands for milk bottles, inciting countless giggles as kids passed through.
Baby calves at Groeneveld's are fed milk from a bottle from birth until they are two weeks old. The new baby calf facility was built to facilitate increased socialization among the calves, allowing them to live in open-paneled pens, side by side with other calves. The babies are raised in the new structure from the time they are one day old until they are three months of age.
The "Moo-telGÇ¥ had a tiny female Jersey calf which had just been born on Friday, Oct. 3. The adorably clumsy critter was alert and watchful as folks passed her pen. Baby calves are on their feet and hungry within one hour of being born.
Anna Groeneveld, wife of third-generation farmer Chris Groeneveld, explained that the baby calf barn offered guests the opportunity to view three different breeds of dairy cows.
"The black and white ones are Holsteins; the little gray ones are Brown Swiss; and the little brown ones are Jerseys,GÇ¥ said Groeneveld. "Sometimes people call them the deer cows because they have big doe eyes.GÇ¥
The farm was purchased by Chris Groeneveld's grandparents in 1938, and was already a working farm at that time. Anna explained that, in 2015, the barn that they use for milking the cows twice a day will celebrate its 100-year birthday.
Farm festival attendees were all invited to attend the 4 p.m. milking on Saturday during the farm festival. Currently, Groeneveld's is a commercial dairy farm, and customers can enjoy their milk via Darigold and Beecher Cheese.
Sultan Safe and Sober Senior Grad Night volunteers set up shop at Groeneveld's, giving attendees the opportunity to enjoy homemade
baked goods in the name of charity. Sultan High School senior Emily Miller manned the booth with several parent volunteers including Crystal McClelland and Bobbie Low.
The bake sale was raising money to contribute to Sultan High School's Safe and Sober graduation night event, an overnight even which is coordinated to promote safe fun for graduating seniors. Seniors take buses to the overnight which is held at an undisclosed location.
Further west, down Fern Bluff Road, farm festival attendees were able to enjoy many family-friendly activities including horseback rides, lasso lessons and arts and crafts at River's End Cattle Ranch.
Food was available at the nearby Johannsen's Farm, along with a petting zoo which featured two miniature donkeys, Porcelain the dairy cow, and two fluffy bunny rabbits.
At Stocking's Garden and Nursery, award-winning chefs Gordon MacDonald and Mimi Stockmann cooked squash soup and flatbread pizza, all made with fresh ingredients. This year the pair received assistance from Brett and Stephanie MacDonald.
Volunteers hauled passengers all afternoon on tractor-pulled wagons, giving attendees the opportunity to easily visit all four farms.
"Everybody steps up and the outcome is a festival which has grown into a beloved Sky Valley tradition GÇô it's my favorite day of the year,GÇ¥ said Emmons. "Seeing all the happy, dirt-smudged faces is just the best. I can't wait for next year!GÇ¥
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