KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Drought Relief Food Drive at Big Fresno Fair

Drought Relief Food Drive at Big Fresno Fair

By Norma Yuriar

Fresno, Calif.  (KMPH News) - From the Livestock Show, to the Agriculture Center to the 36-foot tall Water Tree, the Fresno County Fair is using three main attractions to educate the public on the valley's water shortage.

"I think anything we can get out and get the message out [is a good thing]," Retired Famer Bob Hurlbut said.  "We need water because there is no way we could grow all of these crops without the water."

Hurlbut has spent the past 33 years setting up a produce display representing the City of Laton inside the Ag Center, this year is no different.

"The more people we can get the better," Hurlbut said.

People like Shirley and James Davies who say they learn something new every year.

"We produce 40% of processed tomatoes for the U.S., I didn't know that," Shirley Davies said.

This is the type of information fair officials are hoping visitors will share with others in an effort to continue a dialogue focusing on the importance of water to valley's agricultural industry.

"We are standing in front of the Kerman booth and Kerman is a community out in the Westside," Fair Deputy Manager Lauri King told KMPH News, during a tour of the Ag Center.

King refers to the Big Fresno Fair as a 'community venue'.  She says it's tough to ignore those hit hardest by the economy and the drought.

"We are doing a Give Local Campaign, you can get involved in our Drought Relief Food Drive and all of the food that is brought in will go straight to the Westside and it will benefit all of the folks out there," King said.

The Big Fresno Fair will join forces with Community Food Bank and the Salvation Army on Thursday, October 15 from 11:30am to 5:00pm.  If you donate three cans of food, you get admitted into the fair at no cost.

"It's a great day to come in for free and give back to your community," King said.  "It ties right in with the Give Local Campaign and taking care of our own."