2008 Woodie Awards
Educational Hoe Down
Elizabeth Hilbig
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Culture
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Maybe you didn't think anyone would ask if you felt like stuffing yourself full of pies and dancing to The Bucky Walters all Sunday afternoon, but this is your chance. Pies, neighbors, students and true Humboldt bluegrass tunes make up the Ho'Down Benefit.
With a donation of $5 to $10, attendees help cover farm expenses at the Arcata Educational Farm, and enter into a raffle as well as enjoying the show.
Sarah Shimizu, an interdisciplinary studies senior at Humboldt State, is one of three farm managers for the next growing season at the Arcata Educational Farm.
She said the combination of good music, good food and pie contests has her looking forward to the event. Through the all-ages event, the farm workers hope to draw in more of the community to raise awareness and involvement in the Educational Farm.
In recent years, it has lost close ties with Humboldt State but remains largely student-run. The city-owned land, located in Sunny Brae, serves as a demonstration garden for curious community members.
"It's the community's farm," Shimizu said.
Besides a local bluegrass band playing a new take on foot-stomping music, the event will hold a pie-eating contest, a pie walk, a raffle for locally donated prizes from gift certificates to outdoor gear, face painting and a potluck. The pie-eating contest is set to begin at 2:30 p.m., and Shimizu said the volunteer cooks for the pie contest had yet to decide what sorts of pies would be included.
Becca Pryor, a Muddy's cashier and Sunny Brae resident, said she has seen several Bucky Walters shows at Muddy's since she started working there a year ago.
"Their music is so lively, you can't help but dance," she said. "It is refreshing that they are all talented musicians as well."
The Bucky Walters are a great fit for the Farm Benefit because they are dedicated to the local community, on top of being an engaging live band, Pryor said.
The band members are even shareholders themselves, Shimizu said.
The benefit would ease financial stresses for the next season's farmers at the community plot, she said. Money earned at the benefit concert would help ensure a strong start of the next season. With the Farm run by a few dedicated managers with no other income then the harvests, even a little bit goes a long way.
The managers work as a Community Supported Agriculture farm, with the responsibility to provide about 60 shareholders with weekly harvest baskets during the growing season. They about broke even in recent seasons.
Pete Barker, one of this last season's farm managers and a recent Humboldt State graduate, said the annual upheaval of farm management that seems to happen means that more permanent community ties are a key to long-term success.
"It is important to keep involving the farm with the community and with students, who can continue to go out and learn on the farm," Barker said.
Pryor is glad The Bucky Walters are playing for the benefit, since they always get a good crowd to turn out at shows. She said she hopes the benefit is a success. "That farm gets to contribute a lot to education in this area," she said.
Shimizu felt the same way. "The Bucky Walters brings good people together."
As for the pie-eating contest, she is looking forward to some sweet pumpkin pie but she just can't wait to see the frenzied contestants gobbling down pie.
All ages are welcome to attend for a $5 to $10 entrance donation. Admission includes one raffle ticket.
Elizabeth Hilbig can be reached at eah32@humboldt.edu
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