[New post] Pear Festival welcomes faithful for 29th extravaganza
William Roller posted: " KELSEYVILLE— People come to the to the Pear Festival to enjoy the delicious Bartlett's, but they stay for the camaraderie of their neighbors. Saturday morning began under overcast skies, but sunshine brightened the 29th annual parade as it kicked o" Lake County Record-Bee
Full coverage and photos from the annual Kelseyville Pear Festival at Record-Bee.com and look for more in Wednesday's edition of the Record-Bee. (Minenna Photography)
KELSEYVILLE— People come to the to the Pear Festival to enjoy the delicious Bartlett's, but they stay for the camaraderie of their neighbors.
Saturday morning began under overcast skies, but sunshine brightened the 29th annual parade as it kicked off at 9:30 a.m.
"We're definitely the best pear in California because of our weather and region," Shirley Campbell, festival treasurer said. "Besides Clear Lake we have award-winning wine- but it's like a class reunion for the last few decades. It's just a great hometown feel."
Cindy Bain, festival team director was excited to welcome Grand Marshal Rick White who was selected since he is an outstanding volunteer and a part of the Kelseyville Business Association noted Bain.
"He's a hometown boy who's always pitching in to help the Pear Festival," she said. "What I love is the fact the fest brings out the pride and people to Kelseyville and Lake County."
Maile Field In charge of Pear Square where festival attendees were purchasing fresh pears along with pear pies and tarts has been farming since 1991 after a stint as a report for the Record-Bee. She began with 240 acres but slimmed operations to 40 acres.
"I have ripped out the reds, (pears) and put in Abate Fetel (French origin)," she said. "We went organic in 2001 and certified in 2001 and never looked back."
And a festival favorite is the Pear Eating Contest. Competitors vie in a time trial yet consume their 3-pound pies without the use of cutlery or their hands. Trista Fossa is a local realtor for Next Home Yvette Loans and sponsored the pie-eating event since 2018.
The champion was a last-minute entry, Micha Gruenwald who best the rest with a time of 4 minutes 29 seconds. He is just 22, who teaches band at Lower Lake High School. Gruenwald vowed it was his first eating competition, yet it will not be the last. While watching some of the musical performers setting up Gruenwald wandered to the flatbed truck with competition tables and asked Fossa if there was room for another. "I always feature a 'dirty dozen,' 12 competitors along with a winner," she noted.
Gruenwald, offered to donate his prize to the Clear Lake Lions Club. "I always wanted to be rich and famous- but I never thought it would be like this."
Pies were baked locally by Mickee Sommerville, who works as a paramedic for Kelseyville Fire. Meanwhile, pears were provided by Scully's Packing Company.
Broc Zoller, a plant pathologist aka the pear doctor, has worked orchards for 50 years but focused on pears since 1988. Initially he had 10,000 acres but that reduced to 1,700 acres, similar to the packing houses now down to two when at one time consisted of a dozen. "The Barlett is the favorite fresh fruit," said Zoller. "But oddly enough it was in part because of COVID-19 that helped the ancillary businesses since a lot of people began eating canned fruit. I still have an orchard, but it's leased to another working for other growers."
Cheyene Nau, who keeps horses (Mustang and Quarter Horse) at her father's 10-acre property in Lakeport, demonstrated the multiple steps of her 20-year-old gaited horse, "Joey" an Icelandic horse named for the country of origin and are renowned for their-sure-footedness and resistance to harsh conditions. Nau took Joey on a lead around his pen since he can perform more facilely than if she was riding. "I do Gymkhana with him (barrel racing, poll bending)," she said. "Being gaited makes him so comfortable, it's like riding a couch; and they love endurance, and he can do 13 miles in under two hours."
Besides walk, Joey also trots, tolts, gallops and do a flying pace. Joey also does English style, "dressage saddle" which is modeled exclusively for the discipline; designed with a long and straight saddle flap dressage as well as Western riding shows. "I can't brag enough about the Icelandic breed enough," Nau said. "Joey is such a wacko, he's a real heart horse (one like no other)."
And among the multiple crafts on display, the eye-catching stall for Old Gal's Garage, specializing in quilts and other fabric creations drew in a brisk clientele. Crafters Amy Casey and Nichola Bronk run their shop through www.esty.com/oldgalsgarage. They produce baby sized to large twin quilts priced from $150 to $400. "I sometimes do flannel, but I do a lot of Batik, but we use a wax dye and adds a lovey aroma to the fabric. The Batik projects a more intense color."
Pear Princess and Pear Prince were from the 4th and 5th grades, Kelseyville Elementary and Kelseyville Riviera School. Pear Princess was Graycee Taylor, while Pear Prince was Carlos Campero. Finalists in the Pear Essay Contest were: First Place; Keo Romero, from Terrace Middle School, Second Place; Bianca Saldana Pulido, Senior Carle High school; and Third Place, Eva Pasley, Senior Carle High School.
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