Interview with Lynette Sonne, Founder & Herd Boss
FARMstead ED / SLO County Farm Trail
HOW are you involved in agriculture?
Some call me an ‘agricultural match maker,’ connecting growers and makers is my way of helping our locally grown become our locally made. Others refer to me as the ‘go to gal’ when you need to know who grows and makes what. I’m also a huge fan and promoter of our local family farms and agritourism. FARMstead ED came about organically when I realized so many locals weren’t aware of the agricultural awesomeness growing right here in SLO CAL. Farm to Table was bringing awareness, to a degree, at local restaurants, though my goal was to get folks out to meet the farmers that grow and make their food. FARMstead ED serves as a conduit between visitors and farmers, educating folks on the importance of sustainable practices, local land and craft. We help our local farms create opportunities, for both tourists and townies, to learn about everything from meat to mixology via workshops, farm tours, ‘Table to Farm’ gatherings, and our annual Open Farm Days.
WHAT is the biggest challenge agriculture faces?
Our local family farms are becoming an endangered species. Between the rising costs of labor and supplies, and the tightening of government regulations and challenges, our small farms have a tough go of staying in business - one big reason why younger generations are not taking on the family farm. Agritourism helps bridge the financial gap by creating an additional revenue source for the farm owners while educating the public on where their food comes from and how its grown. People want to meet their farmers and shake the hands that feed them! With a county that brings in over $2billion in revenue via agriculture we should have a larger voice on what is needed to advocate and save our family farms. By inviting guests to the farms, we can further promote awareness of the sustainability and stewardship our farmers bring to the land that so desperately needs them.
WHY do you do what you do?
I am reminded at nearly every gathering we have why I love shining a light on our locally grown and made – so many have never gathered an egg, tasted fruit straight from the tree, made soap, snuggled a baby lamb, learned how sausage is made or have had the opportunity to get their hands in the dirt planting veggies. I LOVE AGRICULTURE and the people that work so hard to grow and make quality products that nurture our body’s and our souls.
What’s the most recent book you read?
Pastoral Song by James Rebanks is a book that is worthy of a re-read and reminder of all things, great and small! He passionately expresses his journey of enlivening his multi-generational family farm, the awareness of the global challenges we face and the human connection to the dirt from which we grow. I’m now reading Lori Rice’s The California Farm Table Cookbook. You may wonder about reading a cookbook, though I highly recommend this one for your kitchen, as well as your next good read, as it’s as much about the California farmers & ranchers behind the food they grow as it is about the delicious recipes that feature them. (My personal fave is the Santa Maria-style grilled rib-eye!)
What are your hobbies?
My absolute favorite thing to do is saddle up and hit the trail. These days it gets harder and harder to be in the moment – the view between a horse’s ears is just about one of the best and does just that! Whether packing in the Eastern Sierras, riding the beach or right here at home, being in the saddle is my happy place. I also really enjoy gathering and cooking with family and friends. Setting a table filled with dishes made from our local bounty and enjoying libations of local craft is pretty darned special!
What are words you live by?
Life is not meant to be a solo act; gather your herd and love them hard. And one of my favorite quotes: You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality. – Walt Disney
Moo-chas Gracias to @SLOFarmBureau for this feature article.