Toasting to the Trail

The Sierra Oro Farm Trail kicked off this weekend, and what a weekend it was. After such a thunderous storm that swept through the are a couple days earlier, today couldn't be better for people to go out and tour local wineries and farms. After traveling to Europe, I had a different perspective on the event. I realized that what event provides is really a unique opportunity for people to explore the great offerings that come from our local area. There was really a lot to see and visit for just two days. With 11 wineries and 17 farms to visit, maybe the event should loose the "trail" and become an expedition.

Teresa Barry (left) and Tracy Gassiot (right) toast to a wine sample as Maria LaRocca (back) continues to serves samples of wine at tasting for people that took a self-guided tour of LaRocca Vineyards on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Forest Ranch, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Phaedra LaRocca Morill (right) shows Theresa Barry (center) and Tracy Gassiot (left) part of the process of making the wines as people a self-guided tour of LaRocca Vineyards on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Forest Ranch, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A view of LaRocca Vineyards on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend which featured 11 wineries, 17 farms in the area Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Forest Ranch, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

Grapes soak up the sun at LaRocca Vineyards on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend which featured 11 wineries, 17 farms in the area Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Forest Ranch, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record) 

Norm Rosene (left) points out a demonstration of what fermenting white wine looks like and what yeast looks like under a microscope for people on a tour of Odyssey Winery and Vineyards on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Cohasset, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Glenn Loo pours samples of wine for people that take a self-guided tour of Odyssey Winery and Vineyards on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend which featured 11 wineries, 17 farms in the area Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Cohasset, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Janice Rosene (right) pours samples of wine for Kelly Billinger, visiting from South Carolina as she was visiting a friend and took a self-guided tour of Odyssey Winery and Vineyards on the Sierra Oro Farm Trail Passport Weekend Saturday, October 8, 2011 in Cohasset, Calif. 

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bee Careful

I had the great opportunity to photograph bees hives the other week. Dan Cummings is a bee keeper who suited me up so I could get close to the bees. Dan is in the business of mating queen bees and gave us an close look at what goes into the business. Even though you have a bee suit, a swarm of bees flying around you can still be intimidating. Although I wasn't scared, it doesn't mean I wasn't nervous. I've never been stung by a bee and don't even know if I am allergic to bee stings. As it turned out, I still don't know. And I am perfectly ok with that.

Bee keeper Ray Olivarez Jr. opens up a bee box in Bee operator Dan Cummings facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A queen bee is seen in a bee colony at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bee larva are seen in a bee colony at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Pollen is seen in pockets of the cells of the colony as Bee operator Dan Cummings shows his facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bees fight another bee as it tried to enter the wrong colony as bee operator Dan Cummings shows his facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bees fly around a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Specialized queen bee colony boxes, that have variations of color and location were created by Bee operator Dan Cummings to grow queen bees as he shows his facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bee keeper Ray Olivarez Jr. uses the smoker in Bee operator Dan Cummings facility to grow queen bees at a property along Hwy 32 Friday, May 5, 2011 in Hamilton City, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Thursday Night Market Opens

The Thursday Night Market began its 2011 season bringing in the flavors and colors from local vendors. I was able to set up some time lapse cameras to record the change from day to night. I also put it all together in a short video of the market's opening.

Austin Hagerman looks at some vegetables as people walk through Downtown Chico for the first Thursday Night Market of the season Thursday, April 7, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Marisol Andrade (left) and Jamile Balli (right) walk through Downtown Chico for the first Thursday Night Market of the season Thursday, April 7, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Terry Huitt of Bordin & Huitt Ranch watches people walk through Downtown Chico for the first Thursday Night Market of the season Thursday, April 7, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

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FFA Kids Put to the Test

Butte County is a big farming community. Each year we host a statewide championship that brings in FFA groups from all over the state to be tested in their future careers. It is always impressive to see the 1800 or so kids that come in and test on their practical professions. They are the backbone workforce that powers our nation.

Aaron Ramirez, 18, of Clovis FFA (left) and Jordan Isaacs, 17, of Elsie Allen FFA (right), study different cuts of meat as they compete in meat contest the 43rd annual FFA Field Day at Chico State University Farm Saturday, March 12, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Chico Enterprise-Record)

Nathan Corchero, of Bear River FFA, competes in electrical contest the 43rd annual FFA Field Day at Chico State University Farm Saturday, March 12, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Chico Enterprise-Record)

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