The Ventura County Farm Day and BBQ held yesterday was a great way to spend the day.  It started by having the opportunity to visit 23 farms and ranches located in all parts of the county. 
The concept of having people visit the places where agriculture is so important was originally founded by the Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture to educate Ventura County school children on the important role farming plays in the County.
But the Farm Day gives residents and visitors the chance to see how Ventura's crop value of $2.1 billion is
actually produced.  The visits on Farm Day are free and some of the Farms, on this day, allow visitors to carry away samples  of the produce grown.
We visited three during our afternoon including Deardorff Farmily Farms.  Here we took a guided tour conducted by fourth generation member Scott Deardorff.
We also found Gills Onions, also family owned, which in thirty years, has brought the distribution of red and yellow onions to all of the U.S. and Canada.
Tickets were required to attend the gala BBQ that started at 4 p.m. at the Ventura Fairgrounds.  This also included entertainment by the Coldwater Canyon country western ensemble.
The food was prepared by young Farmers and Ranchers, as well as culinary arts students from Pacifica High School in Oxnard.  We had the opportunity to meet Kristren Ofeldt, Pacifica Chef Instructor, and complemented her on the success of the culinary arts program at the school.
We thought our visit was very rewarding and the weather cooperated with a perfect autumn day.