As anyone who’s ever attended the Gravenstein Apple Fair knows, the Fair and its parent organization, Farm Trails, are all about being local. Whether it’s the fabulous food, the wonderful libations, or the charming arts and crafts featured at the Fair, it all comes from Sonoma County producers. So, it’s no surprise that Sonoma County’s hometown financial institution, Exchange Bank, is one of the Fair’s key sponsors.
Always Local
Co-founded in 1890 by father and son, Manville and Frank Doyle, Exchange Bank has been a North Bay institution that has never strayed far from its local roots. As a committed Santa Rosan, Frank Doyle believed that Exchange Bank should stay locally owned and managed long after his death. To ensure that the bank’s and his Sonoma County legacy lived on, he endowed the Frank and Polly O’Meara Doyle Scholarship Fund “to assist in the education of …worthy young men and women attending Santa Rosa Junior College.” The community now knows it as the Doyle Scholarship. Since 1948, the scholarship fund has provided over $100 million dollars to more than 140,000 students. The trust ensured that Frank Doyle’s legacy of community commitment would always stand as an active example for all of Sonoma County. (Source: Exchange Bank website http://www.exchangebank.com)
Partnering with the Gravenstein Apple Fair
Exchange Bank is a proud sponsor of another local institution – the Gravenstein Apple Fair, as the primary fundraising event for its parent organization, Farm Trails. The partnership represents a continued commitment to and investment in Sonoma County – its agricultural heritage and future, as well as its focus on supporting local producers.
“The Gravenstein Apple Fair is a delightful event that highlights so much of what makes Sonoma County special. Farm-to-table food, a variety of tasty libations, not to mention adorable farm animals, the Fair showcases our shared commitment to this wonderful community. We’re honored to sponsor the Kids’ Area with its fun crafts and activities. It’s a great opportunity for the youngest Fair visitors to enjoy the best of the county.” says Beth Ryan, Community Relations & Engagement Officer at Exchange Bank.
Kids’ Area Sponsorship – EB Invests in the Future of Sonoma County
Through its many dedicated volunteers, Exchange Bank provides banking support during the Fair, while also sponsoring the Kids’ Area – a big attraction for the smallest fairgoers. Learn more at: https://gravensteinapplefair.com/highlight/kids-activities/
Come Join the Fun!
Without sponsors like Exchange Bank the Gravenstein Apple Fair wouldn’t be possible. Come join the fun at “the sweetest little fair in Sonoma County,” happening on August 12 – 13, 2023, at Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol. While there, visitors will experience the commitment to Sonoma County’s agricultural community that both the Fair and Exchange Bank are famous for.
