The theme for this September's Dayton Valley Days is "Honoring Our Farmers and Ranchers, Past and Present."
The annual street festival is a family friendly event with something for everyone: music, local food specialties, unique parades, a Show and Shine, lively historical re-enactments and demonstrations, children's and adults' games, a silent auction, and this year, additional booths highlighting the products of area farms, ranches, and community gardens.
Dayton Valley has a long history of ranching and farming. The Dayton Valley was known as the Breadbasket of the Comstock in the 19th century when farmers were able to supply the miners and other settlers of the Virginia City region with large crops of hay, grains, and fresh produce.
Today, in addition to traditional ranches and farms, there are a growing number of micro-farms, backyard gardens, and community gardens as people become more interested in locally grown, organic and/or fresh produce and meat. The Dayton Valley Days Committee decided to bring more attention to both the important history of area farmers and ranchers, and to present-day trends in small farms and community gardens.
If you'd like to be part of making this year's event a success, The Dayton Valley Days Committee is looking for leaders to assist in many areas. The committee is seeking volunteer leaders with outstanding people skills and organizational skills to help organize subcommittees such as arts and crafts, parades, parking, vendor packets, entertainment, games, clean up, set up, etc.
If you would like to volunteer, or would like to know more about opportunities to participate as a vendor or performer on Sept. 18-19 contact Freida Carbery at 246-7550.