[ back ]
Butte County Gold Medal Winner
For the first time in Butte County history, the California State Fair booth has won Best Use of Special Effects in addition to a Gold Medal honor. Since 1986, only five California State Fair Gold Awards have been received by Butte County. Four of these occurred under the creative direction of Debra Lucero, in conjunction with builder/designer Richard Bay of Sacramento. Lucero has contacted with Butte County for the past seven years to administer its cultural tourism program.
SACRAMENTO - “Bartholomew Butte”, a puppet-like creature reappeared this year during the annual Counties Exhibits Competition, featured at the 155th California State Fair, which opened Friday and will continue through Labor Day, Sept. 1.The “Hollywood” theme prompted “Batholomew” to become Errol Flynn to represent the 1938 movie classic Robin Hood, which was filmed in Bidwell Park and starred Flynn and Oliva de Havilland. But Batholomew wasn’t the one who stole the show. It was definitely the talking Hooker Oak tree that won the judges hearts. The tree bids all those close enough to “ ... come on in and hear the green stories of Butte County.”
Apparently, the judges listened and liked what they heard.
“Each year, we try to be creative and innovative in hopes of drawing in the throngs of people who visit the state fair,” says Butte County Cultural Tourism Director Debra Lucero who oversees the theme and content of the booth, which was “Butte County: The Greening Experience.” Richard Bay of Sacramento is the master-mind behind the puppetry, animation and booth-building, Lucero says.
“We focused on the tremendous green stories we have in our area like Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s sustainable methods, education and partnerships developed at CSU,Chico, bike-friendly environments and the eco-positive farming methods at Lundberg Family Farms, Bayliss Ranch and Mountain View Christmas Tree Farm in Paradise,” Lucero says.
“We’re excited this year because for the first time in Butte County history, we won an additional award, ‘Best Use of Special Effects.’ The Hooker Oak is adorable. I watched kids and adults alike come over and listen to what the talking tree had to say. That’s what it is all about. That’s why we make such efforts to do what we do. If one person at the fair actually thinks, ‘Wow. I want to visit there’ then we’ve accomplished our goal.” The animated tree has a photograph of the actual Hooker Oak tree posted on its trunk with the story of Chico’s most famous tree.
Sponsored by Mooretown Rancheria and Feather Falls Casino, the booth features a “Green Contest” where visitors can deposit their names, e-mails and phone numbers to vote for their favorite “Green Activity” like
-- I have dusted off my bike and am taking it on the road!
-- I am leaving my car at home and walking more.
-- I am dining at local restaurants that believe in sustainable business practices.
Ag highlights include giveaway packets of sun dried tomatoes from Mooney Farms, display nuts from Masie Jane’s, rice products from Lundberg Family Farms in Richvale; wines from local vintners such as Quilici Vineyards in Oroville; and LaRocca Vineyards in Forest Ranch; beer products from Feather River Brewing Co. in Magalia, olive oil, soaps and more.
Monies to construct the booth come out of the county’s transient occupancy tax. Local businesses help with cash and product donations. “It’s always a challenge to go up against the counties who fund their booths at much higher levels,” said Lucero. “Despite the discrepancy in funding, I think we manage to make a good presentation to fair-goers who number more than a million each year.”
For information on how to participate, volunteer or have your product in next year’s booth at the California State Fair, please call Lucero at 530-228-2860 or e-mail her at deblucero@sbcglobal.net.
Participants included:
101 Things to Do in Butte County
Bayliss Lavender Ranch
Butte Creek Brewing Company
Butte View Olive Oil
California Olive Ranch
Chico Chamber of Commerce
Chico State University Farms
City of Chico
Delallo-Ehmann Olive Co.
Experience Butte County
Feather River Brewing Company
Feather Falls Casino
Friends of the Arts, Butte County
Grey Fox Vineyards
Gold Country Casino
Golden Harvest Almonds
Honey Run Winery
La Rocca Vineyards
Long Creek Winery
Lundberg Family Farms
Maisey Jane’s
Mooney Farms
Mooretown Rancheria
Mountain Fruit Company
Mountain View Trees
Noble Orchards
Oroville Chamber of Commerce
Paradise Chamber of Commerce
Quilici Vineyards
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Snow Goose Festival
[ back ]
