The San Joaquin AgFest kicked off at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on June 17 and runs through Saturday, June 21. This new junior livestock show was born after a decision late last year by San Joaquin County Fair directors to cancel the traditional county fair for 2014 due to lowered attendance and revenues.
The organizers of the new five-day event are focusing on the kids – several hundred 4-H, FFA, and independent youth exhibitors. The AgFest, which is being held at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, features traditional livestock competition, vocational education projects, and a junior livestock auction. The livestock competition will include beef, swine, sheep, goat, dairy, rabbit, poultry, turkey and canine. A queen will also be crowned during the week.
Admission is free. Parking is $5 daily.
*On Wednesday, June 18, breeding and market animal classes begin at 9 a.m. Market beef, market sheep, market swine showmanship, breeding rabbits, breeding poultry, replacement heifers, and dairy showmanship are a few of the livestock shows slated. At 4 pm., there’s a beef cattle fitting (show grooming) contest. Breeding sheep classes start at 5p.m.
Trucks and tractors will be on display. Instead of a carnival, there will be an interactive Digging in the Dirt Ag education children’s area. From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be the Food Truck Frenzy.
*On Thursday, June 19, dairy cattle classes begin at 9 a.m. Market sheep showmanship classes, market poultry, turkeys, market rabbits, and market beef showmanship are a few of the livestock shows planned. Dogs show at 5:30 p.m. The livestock costume contest starts at 6:30 p.m. beginning with swine, then goats, then sheep, and finally, beef and dairy.
Scheduled to appear at 11:30 a.m., renowned chef Patrick Mulvaney from Mulvaney’s B & L in Sacramento will prepare heirloom tomatoes and hand-pulled mozzarella. At 1p.m., Kim Porter of Gypsy Cowgirl Kitchen will be featured. At 3 p.m. Lorina Cajias of Lorina’s Edible Garden will be cooking with herbs. Also scheduled during the day are Murphy’s Mustard and Urban Honey.
Starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday will be a special gourmet evening called Farm to Fork. This $100-per-ticket gourmet dining experience fundraiser will feature local restaurants using the freshest of local ingredients. Chef Patrick Mulvaney will appear at the event. Featured restaurants from around the valley include Angelina’s, Mezzo’s, Pietro’s, Baker Boutique, Macaroni Grill, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and Country Catering. Featured rea wineries include McConnell Estates, Lucca Winery, Klinker Brick, Oak Ridge Winery, and Kautz Farms/Ironstone Vineyard.
*On Friday, June 20, starting at 9:30 a.m., there will be a livestock judging contest and pee wee dairy showmanship. Starting at 1 p.m. there will be an exhibition of San Joaquin County Horse Show champions. There will also be a hay bucking contest for exhibitors where they race against the clock to stack bales of hay by hand. The vocational auction starts at 5:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., 4-H and FFA master showmanship competitions for large and small animals will be held. Master showmanship winners will represent the county at the California State Fair in July. Awards and closing ceremonies start at 8 p.m.
*On Saturday, June 21, the Livestock Auction starts at 9 a.m. Swine, dairy replacement heifers, turkeys, beef, sheep, goats, rabbits, and birds will be featured.
The San Joaquin AgFest is a partnership of Delta Cal Section FFA, San Joaquin County 4-H, San Joaquin Office of Education’s Educational Foundation and the 2nd Agricultural District. AgFest is produced San Joaquin Junior Show and Auction Council – made up entirely of volunteers.
The San Joaquin County Fairgrounds are located at 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton.
For information go to www.sanjoaquinagfest.org.
