Huge draft horses, cattle, dairy cows, hogs, sheep and poultry are among the critters to be featured during the 14th annual Clallam County Harvest Celebration and self-guided farm tour Saturday.
“We have more ‘critters’ than ever at all the farms this year,” said Lori Kennedy of the Washington State University Extension Service, which is sponsoring the celebration.
“Our subtheme is ‘Critters on the Farm.'”
The celebration will be between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at nine farms in the eastern part of the county.
The cost per car is $10. Participants can show up at any of the farms on the tour, pay for entry and receive a hand-stamp that will allow them into the other farms.
After the tour, Nash’s Organic Produce, 1865 E. Anderson Road, will roast a pig for a fall barn dance and potluck.
The community potluck will begin at 6 p.m., when visitors can bring their dishes. The music will start at 7:30 p.m. with Port Townsend’s New Forge and Abby May and the Home Boys providing the tunes.
The cost is $7 for adults, free for children.
Farms on the tour are:
• Lazy J Tree Farm, 225 Gehrke Road; Steve Johnson, Lela Copeland and Mike Gwaltney.
This 85-acre Christmas tree farm also features a certified organic orchard of various apple, pear and Asian pear varieties; an organic vegetable garden; and a gift shop.
Coleman Burns’s heritage turkeys, called “chocolates,” will be on display, with some for sale.
Hayrides and a hay bale maze are planned.
The North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center’s culinary arts program students will serve barbecue sandwiches, corn on the cob and apple tarts made with Lazy J’s organic apples.
Live music is planned all day.
Jimmy Hoffman will entertain with country-rock music from 10 a.m. to noon. Kevin Magner and friends will entertain from noon until 2 p.m. Tom Schindler will play folk music from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Bowers’ Blue Mountain Belgians, 723 Gellor Road: Jim and Kris Bower.
Belgian draft horses will perform a variety of horse farming demonstrations.
Greg Lange will demonstrate horse logging, and Scott Whitmore will turn logs into lumber with a portable sawmill.
Del Sage will give wagon rides.
Steve and Christine Tormala’s Curbside Bistro will serve sausages.
Dave and Rosalie Secord will perform from noon to 2 p.m..
• Trade Winds Alpacas, 1315 Finn Hall Road; Ken and Chickie Hiyoshida.
This farm will offer nearly 20 alpacas, spinning demonstrations and a shop with garments made from Alpaca fiber.
• Freedom Farm, 493 Spring Road; Mary Gallagher and Jerry Schmidt.
This commercial dairy farm also raises beef cattle and hay and has an equestrian center, with a variety of horses.
It will offer pony rides, a scavenger hunt, and “horse skits,” along with demonstrations of horsemanship.
There will be a barrel of apple and carrot pieces to feed the horses.
• Lokalie Gaare — or the Lucky Sheep Farm — 702 Gunn Road; Patricia Pederson.
Pederson uses border collies as shepherds on this 5-acre sheep farm.
She and Becky Northhaven will give sheep herding demonstrations, Constance Wiseman will shear sheep, and spinners will demonstrate their craft.
• Dungeness Valley Creamery, 1915 Towne Road; Jeff, Debbie, and Kayla Brown, and Sarah and Ryan McCarthey.
This is the largest dairy certified to sell raw milk in the state.
Hayrides will be offered as well as the chance to pet Jersey calves, watch a cow being milked and tour the “milking parlor.”
Live music is planned between noon and 2 p.m.
The “Pure Country” 4-H Club also will have a petting pen.
• Nash’s Organic Produce, 1865 E. Anderson Road; Nash Huber and Patty McManus-Huber.
Children can have their faces painted, make pumpkin sculptures, and create bug costumes.
The farm will feature an exhibit on the importance of beneficial insects to organic agriculture, and the North Olympic Peninsula Beekeepers Association will have a live hive of working bees under glass.
The Clallam County Master Gardeners and others will man booths.
Sequimarimba will perform from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Abby & the Homeboys will play from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Bekkevar Family Farm, 273054 U.S. Highway 101; Dave, Trish, Nelson, Ole, and Eli Bekkevar.
This historic farm, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, will offer hayrides and views of its collection of working antique tractors and other farm equipment.
Spinning demonstrations are planned.
The Sequim Chapter of the Future Farmers of America will serve baked potatoes with chili and cheese, corn-on-the-cob and popcorn.
Jubilee will perform bluegrass and country music from noon until 2 p.m.
Miniature cattle breeds and other breeds of cattle will be on display.
• Sunshine Herb & Lavender Farm, 274154 U.S. Highway 101; Steve and Carmen Ragsdale.
This lavender farm also features miniature Southdown sheep.
Pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs will be available.
For more information about Nash’s after-tour celebration, phone 360-681-7458.
For more information about the tour, and a map of the farms, visit www.friendsofthefields.org or phone 360-681-8636.
