Isn’t this year’s Draft Horse Classic poster beautiful?! Featuring artwork by talented artist Elizabeth Hendrix, the piece is titled “Show Morning.” Mark your calendar for this year’s Classic – September 21 – 23, 2017
(Note: the 2018 Draft Horse Classic is Sept. 21-23, 2018.)
Dreaming of spring time flowers (although we think Kate looks beautiful during any season).
Counting the days – 197 until opening day. Photo by DeArlene Hughes-Wiggins.
“When finding a career path, be open to having a meandering path, but don’t blindly wander,” said Stephanie Ortiz, Executive Dean of the Nevada County’s Sierra College Campus, to a group of local high school students on Wednesday night. “Finding a career path is not always a straight line; it’s more of a meandering path with mistakes and learning opportunities along the way, and a path that allows you to look back with perspective.”
Ortiz addressed 20 students from Bear River and Nevada Union high schools as the guest speaker in the second season of the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series. The series brings business education – through access to business leaders and real-life leadership experiences and advice – to local high school students.
Ortiz has been in education for more than 30 years at the community college and university levels. She has served as the Executive Dean of Sierra College’s Nevada County Campus since 2009. Prior to that, she was the Dean of the Business and Technology Instructional Division. She’s also taught in business at Sierra College, Mt. San Antonio Community College and California State University, Fresno. Before beginning her career in education, she worked in human resources management for The Fresno Bee newspaper and General Dynamics, Pomona Division.
Ortiz discussed the opportunities available at Sierra College, the benefits of attending a community college, and the importance of exploring careers. She also shared the “soft” skills – adaptability, analysis and solution mindset, collaboration, communication, digital fluency, entrepreneurial thinking, empathy, resilience, self-awareness, and social diversity awareness – necessary for today’s work force.
The second season of the Speaker Series features six speakers, one each month, and will run through April. Upcoming speakers include Anita Oberbauer, Professor and Chair of the Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis; and Caroline Beteta, CEO of Visit California.
About the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation: The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s mission is to support and improve the community’s Fairgrounds, and to support youth in agriculture. For information, visit here.
Campers enjoying the sunshine at the RV Park at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Wherever you spend the weekend, enjoy it!
Photo by Suzy Calderon-Crabtree.
Sunshine on Treat Street!
Who’s ready for some Nevada County Fair fun? We’re counting the days – August 9 – 13.
The Nevada County Fairgrounds has been selected as the recipient of the Western Fairs Association’s (WFA) prestigious Merrill Award for its Community Involvement Day. WFA made the announcement in Reno on Wednesday at its annual convention, where more than 1,000 Fair CEOs, directors, staff, delegates and Fair-related professionals from throughout the Western United States attend to celebrate the industry and its accomplishments in 2016.
The Merrill Award, named in honor of WFA founder Louis Merrill, is the highest honor a Fairgrounds can receive, and is given to a program that demonstrates innovation, vision, and excellence.
“To receive this award is truly an honor for the Fairgrounds, the community, and the organizations who shared the passion and goal of Community Involvement Day,” said Rea Callender, CEO of the Nevada County Fairgrounds. “We’re proud of this community program, and we’re so pleased that the industry recognized its impact and importance. Special recognition goes to Robin Hauck, Deputy Manager at the Fairgrounds, for her vision of this program.”
After years of incorporating community giving into the Fair lineup, the Nevada County Fairgrounds decided to further showcase community nonprofit organizations by providing a separate Community Involvement Day. By creating a special donation opportunity, a week prior to the Fair, the Fairgrounds connected the community directly with local nonprofits. The first Community Involvement Day was held in 2014 as a day to donate items to nonprofit organizations, while also receiving discounted admission tickets to the Fair. The Food Bank of Nevada County, Foothill Lions, Nevada County 2-1-1, NEO Youth Center, BloodSource, Story Club, and the Domestic Violence Coalition are among the charities who have participated in Community Involvement Day.
Through this program, 295 new blood donors have been registered, 254 pints of life saving blood have been collected, more than 1,700 books have been donated, 6,000 pounds of food have been donated to feed those in need, school supplies have been gathered for more than 100 families, and 1,198 glasses and 20 hearing aids have been donated to Foothill Lions.
In addition to receiving the Merrill Award, the Nevada County Fairgrounds received 15 WFA Achievement Awards, which recognize the best practices of Fairs in a variety of categories. The Nevada County Fairgrounds received recognition for its work in Ag-Sperience, digital advertising, social media, the Fairgrounds Foundation Speaker Series, Califia Café, and Treat Street shade.
The 2017 Nevada County Fair, “Sea you at the Fair,” is August 9 – 13; and the 2017 Community Involvement Day will be held on July 31 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
