Barn dance and dinner was a hoot

Tehama County Farm Bureau held a Barn Dance and Dinner at The Red Barn on Hwy 99E near Los Molinos last Saturday night. I, along with Mike, Kendra, and Jenny McCluskey, was fortunate to be the guest of Lucky Dog Farms, owned by Martin Spannaus, TCFB President. Also at our table were JoAnn Mellon, Jinnelle Kvalik and Linda Martin.

It was the first annual Dinner and Barn Dance Fundraiser. We were greeted by Stephanie Mills, Kari Dodd, Martin Spannaus, Lisa and Shane Humphreys, with Patty Daly and Debbie Camacho selling the drink tickets.

The committee of Bailey Randel, Janet Rabo, and Dana Baker, with the help of Farm Bureau Manager Kari Dodd, organized the evening, and their goal was to “just have fun.” There were no introductions, no keynote speakers, and no awards, and I believe they reached their goal because Mistress of Ceremonies Shanna Long, with a microphone, had trouble speaking over the 150 happy voices.

O’Dell Craft Barbecue served Beef Brisket, Smoked Chicken, Green, Broccoli and Potato Salads with Honey Butter Rolls. Nearby were large containers for us to enjoy iced tea, lemonade, or glasses of ice water.

The dessert auction had many interesting items, and Tehama County has many good cooks. Auctioneer Drew McElfresh alternated selling the desserts with firearms.

An Apple pie from Betty Resch to an anonymous buyer. Elderberry Pie (then five more pies, 1 for each succeeding month) from JoAnn Mellon to Mike McCluskey; a Cookie Assortment from Milkhouse Cookies to Tim Renstrom; Caramel Apple Cake from Patty Daly to Brian Hamre; Chocolate Cake from Little Things Bakery to Michael Willey; Snickerdoodles from Debbie Camacho to Brian Hamre; Flan from Sofia Perez to Greg Long; Brownies from Linda Pitter to Casey Miller; Peach Cobbler from Shelley Macdonald to Steve Gruenwald; Lemon Meringue Pie from Linda Borror to Heritage Insurance & Steve Mora; Carrot Cake from Kendra McCluskey to Lucky Dog Farms & Martin Spannaus; a Pumpkin Cake from Joann Mellon to Kerry Crain.

A paper bag with small plates, forks and napkins accompanied each dessert and we did enjoy tasting the desserts at our table.

After the shock of prices in San Diego, it was a delightful surprise to see beer, wine or seltzer at $4 and mixed drinks at $5.

Thanks to the Gold Sponsors: Crain Ranch and Crain Walnut Shelling. Silver Sponsors: Crain Orchards, Inc; Sierra Pacific Industries, Ranch Cal Excavating and TBM Family Farms.

The Bronze Sponsors were: Crown Nursery, Lucky Dog Farms, Cornerstone Community Bank, Red Bluff Bull Sale, Red Bluff Motorsports, Heritage Insurance, Western Crop Insurance, Ag-Land Investment Brokers, Fox BBQ, Hamre Equipment, Jones & Son, California Investments.

Thanks to the following for Additional Contributions: Red Bluff Sporting Goods, Cordi Winery, Alpen Cellars Winery, Sunbelt Rentals, Gentry Media, Sunsweet, College Fund Nut Co; Sierra Nevada Cheese, Farmers Brewing, Maywood Farms, Blach Beverage LLC, Impressive Print, Crown Nursery, New Clairvaux and Golden State Farm Credit.

Carrie Pray won the dinner ticket drawing of a firearm.

There was dancing to the Buck Ford Band following the fundraiser auction.

I was like many people I spoke to that evening. We have driven past The Red Barn for years and never stopped to investigate. It is a nice wedding and events location in Tehama County.

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4th grade Farm Day will be Sept. 12 at the fairgrounds, when nearly 1,000 students will gather to learn more about local agriculture. They will rotate through stations on timber, beef, bees, dairy, tree crops, roping, working stock dogs, tractors, sheep and goats.

Be sure to mark your calendars for Farm-City Night on Monday, Nov. 6th at the Red Bluff Community Center. The community and service organizations will gather to honor those who have gone above and beyond this last year.

A month earlier will be the annual Chamber of Commerce Mixer and Dinner on Oct. 5th at The Bluff Private Event Venue when community awards are presented.