Dwight Harrington

Dwight Harrington

Cidermaker, Ethic Ciders

Saturday at 3:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Home-Scale Cidermaking with Dwight Harrington of Ethic Ciders

Dwight is the former founder and Head Cidermaker for Sonoma Cider. In 2015, he moved to Portland, OR to be the Head Cidermaker for Reverend Nat’s Hard Cider, where he fermented and blended with every known ingredient, making countless small batch and intriguing ciders. Now with Ethic Ciders in Sebastopol, CA, he helps manage the organic orchard and makes delicate and balanced ciders with fruit from the farm while focusing on regenerative and sustainable practices.

About his presentation: Saturday, 3:30 pm / Home Cidermaking – Learn how to ferment cider at home with a step-by-step instruction by a master cidermaker! Dwight will provide guidance on apple varieties, sourcing, pressing options, equipment, yeasts, fermentation, bottling, and cofermenting with other fruits. You don’t need a lot of fancy, expensive equipment! You can get started in your own kitchen, with a bumper crop of backyard apples.



Emily Robinson

Emily Robinson

Sunday at 3:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Hand Spinning and Weaving with Emily Robinson

Emily is a fiber artist and teacher who enjoys spinning wool, repairing clothing, weaving, and building fiber tools. She has four very friendly sheep and loves working with their wool in particular. She teaches weekly sewing and knitting classes at the Sebastopol Library, as well as providing mending services at local clothing swaps.

About her presentation: Sunday, August 13, 3:30 pm / Hand Spinning & Weaving — Brief overview of the wool to yarn process, demos of spindle spinning and wheel spinning, demonstrations of two types of weaving (rigid heddle and bandweaving).



Franchesca Duval

Franchesca Duval

Head Chicken Wrangler, Alchemist Farm

Saturday at 11:00 am — Farm Bureau Arena
How to Raise Backyard Chickens with Franchesca Duval of Alchemist Farm

Franchesca Duval is the Head Chicken Wrangler of Alchemist Farm in Sebastopol. With 20 years of chicken-keeping under her belt, she is a natural speaker and educator. From learning the language of chickens as therapy animals to keeping chickens as a way to move towards zero waste, Franchesca believes that there is a breed of chicken for everyone no matter what their situation.

Alchemist Farm is a Humane Hatchery that runs on 100% renewable clean energy, has removed all plastic from their packaging, and rotationally grazes their breeding groups on pasture alongside a food forest in an effort to sequester as much carbon as possible.

ABOUT HER PRESENTATION: Keeping Chickens for Beginners: Interested in keeping chickens and do not know where to start? Join us for chicken keeping 101 with Franchesca Duval! She will cover everything from setting up a safe space for your baby chicks, to coop design, all the way up to expecting your first eggs from your new flock. The presentation will have plenty of space for questions from the audience, come learn and ask all the questions you have from a true chicken wrangling professional!



Hilary Williams

Hilary Williams

2023 Poster Artist, Hilary Wiliams

Hilary Williams is an artist living and working in Sonoma County California. She creates fine art screen prints on paper, and mixed media paintings in which she takes inspiration from the landscapes of California, and a fantastical imagination.

Hilary received her BA in Printmaking from California College of the Arts in 2002 where she was presented awards including the Trillium Prize. Hilary has been working as a professional artist since 2006 and her work is collected across the US and internationally as well. Hilary’s prints and paintings are regularly on display at premier fine art festivals around California, as well as select galleries in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Hilary creates her work from a studio on her property where she lives and has a happy homestead. In between creating artworks you can find her milking goats, petting chickens, making flower bouquets, planting seeds or canning jams.



Karen Norman-Boudreau

Karen Norman-Boudreau

Owner, Munchkin Meadows Ranch

Saturday at 4:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Sheep Shearing Demo and Fiber Talk with Paul Vosseler and Karen Norman-Boudreau

Sunday at 4:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Sheep Shearing Demo and Fiber Talk with Paul Vosseler and Karen Norman-Boudreau

We moved to Sonoma Co. in 1980 to finish my graduate work at the Bodega Marine Lab. Having grown up in the concrete jungle that is LA county, I immediately starting filling my life with animals. Now my kids are grown and my neighbors have provided me with 8 acres of pastures and barns to use.

I have worked my way through the livestock choices but found myself attracted to Shetland Sheep because they are small and loving creatures and easy to care for.  This particular breed has multi-uses and retained many of its original features (hardiness, good mothers, and disease resistant).  They are what is know as an unimproved breed.   My flock and I are always learning from each other.



Katia Vincent

Katia Vincent

Owner, Beekind Honey

Saturday at 12:00 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Intro to Beekeeping Equipment & Protective Gear with Katia Vincent of Beekind

For 19 years, Katia Vincent has been the owner of Beekind Honey in Sebastopol with her husband, Doug. Beekind has been the local go-to shop for everything bee since 2004. They sell local and varietal honeys, beeswax candles and supplies, lovely gifts, cards, books, beekeeping supplies year-round, and live honeybees every spring. They encourage and support many new beekeepers.



Leah Scurto

Leah Scurto

Owner/Chef, PizzaLeah

Judge

Saturday at 3:00 pm — Northern California Public Media Stage
Apple Pie Baking Contest Winner Announced

Leah Scurto is the owner and operator of PizzaLeah in Windsor, Ca. She is a world champion pizza maker and a nine year member of the United States pizza team.  She has competed in pizza culinary competitions across the United States and Italy. 

Since opening in March 2020, PizzaLeah has been included multiple times on the San Francisco Chronicle’s list of the 25 Top Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area.  In 2022 Leah was featured on Hulu’s original show, Best In Dough. Leah has also judged international pizza and beer competitions around the US.



Liza Hinman

Liza Hinman

Chef / Owner, The Spinster Sisters

Judge

Saturday at 3:00 pm — Northern California Public Media Stage
Apple Pie Baking Contest Winner Announced

Liza Hinman is the Chef and Owner of The Spinster Sisters, and a part of the Sonoma County restaurant community since 2004.

Chef Hinman got her start in restaurants during her summers in college- sparking her interest in all things culinary.  Upon graduating Middlebury College, Liza took a job as a member of the editorial staff of Gourmet Magazine, working directly for the Executive Food Editor.  This job launched her into the culinary world, and, she departed Gourmet in 2001 to attend the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco.

After receiving her culinary degree, Liza trained in San Francisco under Chefs Dana Tomasino of
Woodward’s Garden, Loretta Keller of Bizou and Craig Stoll of Delfina.  In 2005, she migrated north to Sonoma County- and began work at the renowned Santi Restaurant in Geyserville, under Chefs Franco Dunn and Dino Bugica.

The Spinster Sisters is Chef Hinman’s current project.  Located in the SOFA district of Santa Rosa, CA, the restaurant opened in 2012.  The menu focuses on “Sonoma County Cuisine” – bringing a fresh example of New American dining to Santa Rosa.  Awarded with both local and critical accolades, including the Bohemian’s Best Restaurant in Sonoma County, The Spinster Sisters is now entering its 11th year of operation- and continues to be at the forefront of the dining scene in Sonoma County.

In 2017, Liza and the partners in The Spinster Sisters renovated and opened The Astro, a mid-century modern motel located on Santa Rosa Avenue.  The Astro embraces the same brand of hospitality established at The Spinster Sisters- with a deep focus on the neighborhoods and experiences of Sonoma County.

In 2017, Chef Hinman also completed The James Beard Foundation’s inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program- bringing a new focus of business development to her role at the company.  She also became deeply involved in The Healthcare Foundation of Sonoma County, and is currently a co-chair of their largest annual fundraiser, Women, Wine & Shoes. Liza is also Vice President, Les Dames d’Escoffier, Sonoma County Chapter. In 2023, she won first place in Guy’s Grocery Games, Wine Country Chef edition.

Chef Hinman is a mother to three children, and resides with her husband in Healdsburg.



Marlys Green & Maria Butzbach

Marlys Green & Maria Butzbach

Llamas of Wine Country

Saturday at 10:30 am — Farm Bureau Arena
Living with Llamas with Marlys Green & Maria Butzbach

Marlys has been raising llamas for 20 years and has been sharing her animals with Apple Fair guests for over a decade. Over the years they have been in parades and gone to fairs under the name Llamas of the Wine Country. Llamas are smart, quiet, and lovely to look at. They are a joy to have. 



Michele Anna Jordan

Michele Anna Jordan

Chef / Author, Michelle Anna Jordan

Panelist

Saturday at 1:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Farmer Panel: 50 Years of Sonoma County Ag with Clark Wolf

Michele Anna Jordan operates micheleannajordan.com, which gathers together her passion for writing, editing, home cooking, and Sonoma County, augmenting her work for The Press Democrat and Sonoma Magazine and her books, 24 to date.

Among her many awards are a James Beard Award for Magazine Feature Writing (1997) and Best Chef Sonoma County (1990). She was a 1994 SSU Distinguish Alum for the School of Humanities and her radio show, Mouthful, has been a four-time James Beard Award nominee.



Nick Schwanz & Spencer Scott

Nick Schwanz & Spencer Scott

Founders, Solar Punk Farms

Panelist

Sunday at 1:00 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Farmer Panel: Future of Farming with Clark Wolf

Nick and Spencer are the founders of Solar Punk Farms in Guerneville, California. Solar Punk Farms is a community-run homestead designed to engage folks (particularly queer folks) in regeneration, land-stewardship and agriculture through ecological creativity and joy.

After a decade of working on climate from a science and business lens, Nick and Spencer were looking for a way to create climate impact from a cultural perspective. Through a combination of educational programming, community events, and technology demonstration, they aim to show that a more regenerative lifestyle is not only essential, but aspirational.



Nicole Tracy

Nicole Tracy

Vineyard Manager, Eco Terreno Wines & Vineyards

Panelist

Sunday at 1:00 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Farmer Panel: Future of Farming with Clark Wolf

Nicole Tracy is Vineyard Manager at Eco Terreno Wines and Vineyards located in the Alexander Valley in Cloverdale, CA. Certified Organic and Biodynamic vineyard and farm since 2018. Selling high quality grapes and produce and making exquisite estate small-lot Bordeaux varietals.

We utilize our 150 flock of chickens to help with pest management, we have pollinator gardens and hedgerows to promote native bee and insect populations and farm a variety of produce to promote local produce for the community as well as for our kitchen at our tasting room in San Francisco. Email us at info@ecoterreno.com or visit our website www.ecoterrenowines.com to learn more or purchase wine.



Paul Vosseler

Paul Vosseler

Sheep Shearer

Saturday at 4:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Sheep Shearing Demo and Fiber Talk with Paul Vosseler and Karen Norman-Boudreau

Sunday at 4:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Sheep Shearing Demo and Fiber Talk with Paul Vosseler and Karen Norman-Boudreau

Paul Vosseler is a longtime Sonoma County sheep shearer.



Preeti Mistry

Preeti Mistry

Chef

Judge

Saturday at 3:00 pm — Northern California Public Media Stage
Apple Pie Baking Contest Winner Announced

Acclaimed chef, author and speaker Chef Preeti Mistry is honored to have been twice nominated by the James Beard Foundation as “Best Chef of the West” 2017 & 2018.  They were the Co-Founder & Exec Chef of Navi Kitchen and Juhu Beach Club (both closed) as well as the co-author (with Sarah Henry) of The Juhu Beach Club Cookbook. 

Born in London and raised in the US, Preeti held Exec Chef roles at the deYoung Musuem in San Francisco and Google HQ in Mountain View, CA. They were a contestant on Top Chef Season 6. Preeti has been featured in numerous publications including Food & Wine Magazine, NY Times, Time Magazine, Bon Appetit, SF Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, Vogue India, Eater, Harper’s Bazaar in addition to Anthony Bourdain’s PARTS UNKNOWN on CNN. They have been a keynote speaker and panelist at numerous events including WSJ Talks, Cherry Bombe 2014, 2017 & 2018, Eater Young Guns 2019, FAB Charleston Keynote 2019 and James Beard Foundation Summit 2019. In April 2021 Preeti launched a podcast, ‘Loading Dock Talks’ in partnership with award winning podcast team ‘Copper & Heat’. They are currently collaborating with J Vineyards on a Chef in Residency program featuring BIPOC chefs making an impact in the industry. Preeti and their wife, Ann Nadeau, live in Sebastopol, California and spend time caring for their apple orchard and growing organic herbs and veggies. 

Accolades/Awards:

  • James Beard Nominee Best Chef of the West 2017 & 2018
  • Best Chef of the East Bay 2017: East Bay Express
  • Anthony Bourdain Parts Uknown; Bay Area 2015
  • 30 Chefs to Watch Out For, Plate Magazine 2016
  • Frequent Speaker & Featured Chef (Wall Street Journal Talks 2016, Stanford Innovation Conference 2017, Cook It Raw 2015, Cherry Bombe Jubilee 2014, 2017 & 2018, Star Chefs Intl Congress 2016, FAB Charleston Keynote 2019, Eater Young Guns 2019)
  • Women In Hospitality United Advisory Board Member
  • Cherry Bombe 100 List
  • 100 Most Influential Asian Americans 2017


Scott Bice

Scott Bice

Farm Manager, Redwood Hill Farm – Capracopia

Sunday at 11:00 am — Farm Bureau Arena
Goat Milking Demonstration and Talk with Scott Bice of Redwood Hill Farm-Capracopia

Scott Bice is the Farm Manager of Redwood Hill Farm – Capracopia in Sebastopol, California. The Bice family have been raising dairy goats in Sebastopol for over 50 years and have been pioneers in bringing delicious goat milk products to people throughout the country.

While Redwood Hill symbolizes goats, Capracopia Farm symbolizes the new diverse farm being managed here in Sonoma County. The Bice family have a diverse fruit orchard with Gravenstein apples, Pluots, and olives for oil.  Capracopia Farm also has a half-acre flower field and you can find their roadside stand out on Thomas Rd. Capracopia is also helping to bring hop production back to Sonoma County and supplies multiple Sonoma County breweries with fresh hops being used to make seasonal wet hops beers. You can reserve farm tours on their website.



Sheana Davis

Sheana Davis

Co-Owner, The Epicurean Connection

Sunday at 11:30 am — Farm Bureau Arena
Butter Making with Sheana Davis of The Epicurean Connection

Sheana Davis, an esteemed cheesemaker hailing from Sonoma Valley, possesses a wealth of experience as a culinary educator and is the visionary behind The Epicurean Connection. For over 25 years, she has wholeheartedly championed the artisan and farmstead cheese movement.

As an accolade-decorated cheesemaker, Sheana proudly unveiled her own cheeses in notable years. In 2009, she introduced Delice de la Vallee, followed by the release of Creme de Fromage in 2013. Notably, Creme de Fromage clinched the prestigious ACS 1st Place award in 2010, propelling it onto the national market. These exquisite cheeses are exclusively available for purchase at The Epicurean Connection and are prominently featured on the menus of esteemed chefs throughout the wider Bay Area.

Sharing their extensive knowledge and passion, Sheana and  her husband/business partner Ben Sessions conduct captivating cooking and cheesemaking classes, both in-person and virtually. Additionally, their corporate team-building classes have gained recognition as a delightful way for groups to bond and enjoy themselves. Sheana frequently makes guest appearances as a celebrated chef at local and national culinary events.

She wrote the book Buttermonger with her daughter, Karina Davis, which was published this summer. Learn more about the book online: https://www.buttermonger.com/.



Stephenie Chow

Stephenie Chow

Owner, Poppies & Petals Farm

Sunday at 3:00 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Bouquet Making with Stephenie Chow of Poppies and Petals Farm

Stephenie Chow is the owner of Poppies & Petals Farm, a U-cut flower farm near the Laguna in Santa Rosa. She grows many dozens of specialty cut flower varieties, with an emphasis on new flower trends. In addition to the U-cut, she hosts floral design workshops and other experiences, with the goal of helping her guests create beautiful bouquest and precious memories.

About her presentation: Do you have beautiful blooms but don’t know how to turn them into stunning bouquets? A professional flower farmer will teach you the fundamentals of floral design. Learn about the best specialty cut varieties, harvesting and care techniques, and methods for arranging for shape and texture.



Steve Schwartz

Steve Schwartz

Owner, New Carpati Farm

Sunday at 12:00 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
DIY Mushroom Growing with Steve Schwartz of New Carpati Farm

Steve Schwartz is the owner of New Carpati Farm in Sebastopol, where he grows shiitake & oyster mushrooms, raspberries, blackberries, mint & medicinal herbs grown to organic standards. He also raises alpacas, ducks, and rare Jacob sheep.



Tim Tesconi

Tim Tesconi

Saturday at 1:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Farmer Panel: 50 Years of Sonoma County Ag with Clark Wolf

Tim Tesconi, a native and lifelong resident of Sonoma County, was the agriculture reporter for the Press Democrat for 33 years. In 2006, he joined the staff of Sonoma County Farm Bureau where he wrote for the Sonoma-Marin Farm News and coordinated = agriculture education programs.

He served as Farm Bureau’s executive director for three years, retiring in 2015. He remains a contributor to the Sonoma-Marin = Farm News.

A resident of Healdsburg, Tesconi serves as a director on several boards including the Youth Ag & Leadership Foundation and the Santa Rosa Junior College Ag Trust.

Tim will be a panelist on the 50 Years of Farm Trails session with Clark Wolf.



Tucker Taylor

Tucker Taylor

Master Culinary Gardener, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens

Judge

Saturday at 3:00 pm — Northern California Public Media Stage
Apple Pie Baking Contest Winner Announced

Tucker Taylor grew up outside of Jacksonville, Florida on a three-acre plot of land where he helped his father tend their garden each summer. Not thinking at the time that his passion could become a career, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on finance from the University of Florida. While there, he worked as a prep cook at a restaurant next to campus called Café Gardens, where he convinced the owners to give him a small stipend to purchase some plants and help clean up the landscape.

At Café Gardens, he hung baskets full of flowers on the wrought iron fence, planted an elm tree for shade, and cleaned up the existing landscape, earning the restaurant the City Beautification Award. This experience sparked his initial interest in designing with plants. After graduating, Tucker began working at a bank, but quickly realized he would rather be outside gardening. He returned to the University of Florida to pursue a second degree in agriculture with a focus on environmental horticulture – a field that interested him with its combination of art and science, allowing him to be simultaneously creative and analytical.

Upon graduating, Tucker moved to Oregon, eventually settling outside of Portland, where he designed and managed his first organic farm. He later worked outside of Atlanta managing the production of specialty produce on another organic farm, before moving back to the west coast to take a job as a grower for Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry in Napa Valley, where he spent five years and redesigned the gardens across the street to be an extension of the restaurant.

In 2013, he seized the opportunity to join Kendall-Jackson and redesign their famous culinary gardens. At Kendall-Jackson, he works hand in hand with the culinary team, scouring the globe for new and interesting crops to grow. Tucker loves sharing the garden with visitors from around the world and hopes to educate guests on the importance of fresh food – and inspire them to plant gardens at home. He currently resides in Healdsburg, California, where he tends to his bonsai collection and enjoys preparing dinner with fresh produce from his garden – and a nice bottle of Pinot Noir!

 



UC Master Food Preservers

UC Master Food Preservers

UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County

Food Preservation Exhibit

Saturday at 2:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Preserving the Apple Harvest with UC Master Food Preservers

The UC Master Food Preservers of Sonoma County will be doing a demo on apple preservation at the Farm Bureau Arena, and will be at the Fair all weekend in the Exhibit Area, displaying methods for safe food preservation, with a focus on the apple harvest.

About the Demo: Learn how to make the most of your backyard or farmers’ market apple harvest! UC Master Food Preservers will share how to safely and easily use an entire apple to make a variety of different products including applesauce, apple fruit leather, dehydrated apple slices and peels, apple peel cinnamon, and sugar powder. They’ll also provide pointers on the right equipment, canning procedures, and storage.



UC Master Gardeners

UC Master Gardeners

UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County

Exhibitor
Resilient Gardening & Composting Exhibit

Appearing all weekend at the Life on the Farm Exhibit Area. The UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County offers educational outreach to home gardeners in Sonoma County on sustainable landscape practices.  We teach about a variety of topics via workshops, social media outreach and our web site. 

We also offer plant problem diagnosis and insect identification at our Information Desk at the UCCE Sonoma office at 133 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 109, Santa Rosa.  Any community member can walk with a specimen, email us at mgsonoma@ucanr.edu or call us at 707-565-2608.  Our website offers a variety of resources including publications and videos in English and Spanish. 

About their Exhibit at the Fair: find general information about gardening in Sonoma County, Integrated Pest management, firewise landscaping,  waterwise gardening. Information and demo materials for composting and vermiculture.



Yvette Bidegain

Yvette Bidegain

Owner, Saucy Mama’s

Panelist

Saturday at 1:30 pm — Farm Bureau Arena
Farmer Panel: 50 Years of Sonoma County Ag with Clark Wolf

Yvette Bidegain is the owner of Saucy Mama’s in Guerneville. Serving up traditional soul food family recipes taught by her father. Born and raised in West Sonoma County. Saucy Mama’s started as a once a week pop up in Guerneville for 5 years. We had such a following that we decided to open our own restaurant.