Courtesy photo.
VENTURA COUNTY — As part of this year’s activities for its 8th Annual Ventura County Farm Day, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is hosting a drive-in movie night on Sunday, November 1 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds featuring the award-winning, family-friendly documentary “The Biggest Little Farm.”
The evening includes a question and answer session with John Chester, farmer, cinematographer and co-founder of Moorpark’s Apricot Lane Farms where the documentary was filmed. “The Biggest Little Farm” chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature.
In previous years, over 15 local farms, ranches, nurseries and other agricultural operations, from organic to conventional, row crops to orchards would open their doors to the public on Ventura County Farm Day. Apricot Lane Farms was a regular participant.
“While we wish we were able to share Apricot Lane Farms with everyone in person during Farm Day as we’ve done in years past, we’re so glad we can still share the farm with our community in this unique way,” says John Chester. “We’re thrilled to be able to help support SEEAG and have everyone out to the Fairgrounds for this special one-night-only drive-in screening of ‘The Biggest Little Farm.’ We can’t wait to see you there.”
Proceeds from the evening will go to SEEAG’s mission to educate students and the public about the farm origins of food and agriculture’s contribution to our nutritional wellbeing. Since it began in 2008, it has reached over 65,000 elementary school members in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Santa Barbara County Farm Day is held in September. The 2020 Ventura County Farm Day will be held online on November 7 (no in-person farm tours).
“Hopefully Farm Day will return in person next year,” says Mary Maranville, SEEAG founder and CEO. “In the meantime, those who come to the screening of ‘The Biggest Little Farm’ and listen to John talk about his experiences will gain a deep appreciation for at all the hard work and dedication that goes into running a farm and producing the food we eat.”
The Fairgrounds open at 5:00 p.m. with the documentary at 6:00 p.m. followed by a half hour question and answer period with Chester at 7:30 p.m. Vehicle passes are $35 per car including popcorn and $75 per car including up-close parking and snack boxes filled with popcorn, cookies, chocolate, nuts and fruit. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.venturacountyfarmday.com/drive-in.
About SEEAG — Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program based in Ventura County teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs including Farm Day in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, over 65,000 elementary school students and community members in Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. www.seeag.org