Behind the Badge | Sheriff’s Family Day

BEHIND THE BADGE

Sheriff’s Family Day

BY IAN PARKINSON, SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF

Idon’t have to tell you that a lot of things changed in our lives during the age of COVID. Many of us got sick. Some of us lost loved ones. Our daily lives were turned upside down. Major events were rescheduled or outright canceled. It seemed like we couldn’t go anywhere or do anything. But I would like to think the worst is past us. And we are starting to return to normal. Or at the least, a new kind of normal. Life is opening back up again. It’s okay to have fun once more. That’s why I am so pleased to announce that the Sheriff’s Family Day is back this September. And we need it now more than ever.

Every year since 1996, the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation had sponsored Sheriff’s Family Day at the Madonna Meadows in San Luis Obispo. But then COVIDstruck. And the event was canceled in 2020. And because of a resurgence of COVID, the event was canceled again in 2021. But organizers of this event were determined to make it work this year.

For those of you who don’t know what this event is all about, let me give you some background. It began in 1996 under then Sheriff Ed Williams. It was a collaboration between Sheriff Williams and members of the nonprofit public benefit organization Sheriff’s Advisory Council (now called the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation). At that time, it was called Sheriff’s Family Day at the Ranch. The name has been shortened, but it is long on fun for the whole family. And the best part. It’s all free. Free is good!

Sheriff’s Family Day is always entertaining. There are all kinds of displays and demonstrations like the Sheriff’s Posse, Search and Rescue, and the Sheriff’s SWAT vehicle. You can check out emergency response helicopters, along with demonstrations featuring the Jaws of Life, Bomb Task Force, and of course, everyone’s favorite, the Sheriff’s K9s. We have a special emcee of the event this year, kid favorite Retro Bill!

We have something for everyone. There are free T-shirts, hot dogs, junior sheriff badge stickers, coloring books and bike raffle tickets for all children up to age 12. And don’t forget, we will have two Sheriffs there that day, yours truly along with my famous movie pardner Sheriff Woody from “Toy Story.” And did I mention it’s all free!

This is a chance to see the men and women who are sworn to protect and serve. It allows the public to see we are your neighbors and friends, and we all want the same thing: a safe and secure community. It’s an opportunity to sneak a peek behind the badge to see how we do what we do.

The event is hosted by the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation. For those of you who don’t know what this worthwhile organization is all about, let me tell you about the important work they do. Quite simply, it is a local nonprofit which provides additional funding and support to the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies in San Luis Obispo County. Its members do good work by providing additional funding to help build things like our Behavioral Health Unit at the jail, supporting programs like our K9 Unit and buying much needed equipment for law enforcement.

Mark your calendar, this year’s Sheriff’s Family Day is Saturday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Madonna Meadows in San Luis Obispo. Oh, and it’s free! So, bring the whole family and see the real-life heroes behind the badge. 

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DANCING WITH OUR STARS

Pavilion on the Lake Sept 14, 15, 16, 17, 2022 Tickets on sale July 1st at Eventbrite.com

Theme: Prime Time Atascadero, Season 11 Show Directed by Molly Comin & Christina Troxel Event produced by Jeannie Malik & Friends of the Atascadero Library PROCEEDS BENEFIT ♦ Atascadero Library ♦ Atascadero Performing Arts Center Committee ♦ Central Coast Dance Foundation / Artistry in Motion ♦ Friends of the Charles Paddock Zoo ♦ North County Economic Foundation / Leadership North County ♦ Sheriff’s Advisory Board / Atascadero Police K9 Foundation ♦ Templeton Community Library Association

2019 Grand Champions Tom Butler Kara Frenzel

Photo provided by: Cheryl Strahl Photography For information visit friendsoftheatascaderolibrary.org

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FARM LIFE

San Luis Obispo County Agriculture

BY BRENT BURCHETT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FARM BUREAU

100 Years LATER

an Luis Obispo County farmers and ranchers banded together in 1922 to form our Farm Bureau, and I can’t help but wonder what they’d say if they could see the state of agriculture a hundred years later.

Our agricultural forefathers would likely be awed by the abundance and diversity of commodities being produced on so few acres and by so few people.

This county produces $1 billion of agricultural commodities each year. If you combine that with the value of processed commodities — namely turning grapes into wine — and add in all the purchase of equipment, seed, supplies and inputs, San Luis Obispo County agriculture contributes $2.5 billion to our local economy every year.

I’ve only lived in this county for three years, but I can’t help but notice our community often takes its world-class agriculture assets for granted. Agriculture is fundamental to what makes San Luis Obispo County a special place to live. Imagine our viewsheds without agriculture. Imagine what our tourism would be like without vineyards, vegetable fields, orchards, and pastures. Agriculture is a special industry worth protecting.

Today’s farm and ranch families are doing more with less than at any time in our history. We are a leader in production efficiency, using less water, fertilizers, labor and pesticides per unit of production than we ever have before. But the pressure to keep getting better is not going away. Our rising global population demands more food, and our climate challenges demand we produce it in an ever-more sustainable way.

For those that may not know, SLO County Farm Bureau advocates for agriculture. We are a not-for-profit, grassroots membership organization whose policy positions come from our 700 member families and businesses.

On December 22, 1922, the first meeting of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau was held under the leadership of the University of California Cooperative Extension Service with support from the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the County of San Luis Obispo. Local farmers and ranch families from Shandon, Annette, Cholame, Las Pilitas, Edna, Park Hill, Arroyo Grande, Union, Templeton, Creston, Estrella and Atascadero formed our county Farm Bureau to unify common interests of local farmers and financially strengthen the agricultural community.

Over the next 100 years, the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau played an essential role in growing our local industry to become a worldclass agricultural leader. We’ve sown the seeds for a more prosperous future by supporting local agricultural youth through our work with 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, the California Mid-State Fair, the annual Great AGventure, and Cal Poly. Farm Bureau supports the safety and prosperity of agricultural workers by partnering with local healthcare providers, community organizations, labor contractors, agricultural employers, and government agencies. The advocacy and education provided by Farm Bureau preserves the ability of farmers and ranchers to provide essential food and fiber for our local community and people around the world.

If our founders in 1922 were around today, they would surely remark on the loss of farmland, the influx of people into SLO County, and likely could not comprehend the regulatory regime California has put into place on farmers. But more than anything, I hope they would be proud of the organization they founded. From droughts and market volatility to pandemics and anti-agriculture legislation, Farm Bureau’s century of work to help agriculture overcome adversity honors their vision to protect our freedom to farm and ranch in SLO County.

Whether or not you work in the industry, if you believe in agriculture, you should belong to Farm Bureau. Learn more at slofarmbureau.org.

Brent Burchett serves as the Executive Director of San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. He can be reached at bburchett@slofarmbureau.org or (805) 543-3654 