Ag exhibition enters the fair | Social news

REGIONAL — Changes are coming to the 2.5-acre corner of the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton — I think Old MacDonald is fit for the 21st century.

The $10 million multi-stage agricultural facility, dubbed “The Farm,” will be an immersive, hands-on experience for guests of all ages. Once completed, the complex will offer educational programs such as animal and plant science, agricultural technology, engineering innovation and renewable energy. The farm will also feature crops, pollinator gardens, dairy cows and chicken coops – all under covered pavilions and in indoor classrooms with teaching kitchens and other amenities.

“The main goal is to expose youth to agricultural technology and career paths,” said Jerome Hoban, CEO of the Alameda County Agricultural Fair Foundation, the program sponsor. “I think what’s unique is that we’re really looking at the career path to inspire kids and understand that farming isn’t just about digging in the dirt.”

There will be plenty of digging in the dirt, however, starting with Phase 1, which took place last week. The building, named Safeway Barn after the project’s first phase sponsor, is expected to open in time for the 2025 Alameda County Fair next summer. The barn will contain live pigs, sheep, cattle, horses, a chicken coop and a hatchery.

However, Hoban added, the barn will also be an opportunity to learn about animal husbandry and understand how technology has improved the lives of farmers and the communities they serve, including innovations in automatic milking parlors, lessons in hydroponics, renewable energy and water conservation.

“Children will see how the computer technology they use to play video games also serves the agricultural community,” Hoban said. “It will help them identify with their worlds.”

Farm programs will also provide visitors with an introduction to the latest developments in agriculture, increasing appreciation for sustainable practices, innovative technologies and career opportunities in the agricultural sector.

“We know there are “experience” and “opportunity” gaps among our youth, and we will fill these gaps by providing hands-on learning opportunities in animal science, plant life, nutrition, high-tech agriculture and sustainable careers ” said Kelly Bowers, CEO and president of the Three Valleys Community Foundation, an organization that connects donors with other nonprofit organizations to serve community needs.

Bowers, also a former educator and superintendent of the Livermore Valley Joint School District, spoke fondly during her tenure at an Ag Day event in the district that highlighted the disparities in children’s views about where food comes from.

“I remember well when one of the presenters asked eager kids: ‘Where do you think milk comes from?’” she said. “And he was surprised when a small chorus of voices responded, ‘grocery store and Safeway’…another youth thought chocolate milk came from brown cows.”

Phase two, which will be built as donor funds become available, is expected to include a garden space that will highlight flowers, pollinator plots, vegetables and other aspects of sustainable agriculture. The gardens are expected to open in 2027 and could also serve as a destination in the future, providing a source of income and education. Further stages of the project will also depend on available financial resources.

“I am particularly enthusiastic about this project, which will be a fascinating field trip destination for students and families of all demographics,” Bowers said. “It is a one-of-a-kind educational experience that draws on our region’s rich agricultural heritage.”

For more information or to donate, visit https://alamedacountyfair.com/the-farm/.