Saralee & Richard's Barn

For over 78 years, the backbone of the Sonoma County Fair has always been agriculture.

Generations of 4-H and FFA’ers grew up showing animals at the Fair and returned years later to watch their children and even grandchildren do the same.

One of these young 4-H members was Saralee McClelland Kunde, who showed her prized cows at the Sonoma County Fair as a youth in the 1950s and 60s. Saralee remained closely integrated with promoting agriculture and the Fair throughout the rest of her life, becoming and employee and later a board member of the Sonoma County Fair. She and her husband, Richard, hosted numerous fundraisers each year, helping to fund scholarships for youth in agriculture. When Saralee passed away in January of 2014, she left behind and incredible legacy as a grape grower, philanthropist, community leader and agricultural mentor.

As a county based in agriculture, be it dairy, grapes, or other commodities, having a location where agriculturalists can showcase their value to our community is essential. A permanent agriculture education center promotes better understanding of agriculture, which in turn provides support for farmers and ranchers. In an increasingly urban culture, educating youth about the importance of our agriculture industry and how it brings fresh food to their table daily is more important than ever.

The nearly 12,000 square foot facility will serve as the cornerstone for year-round agricultural education to showcase and promote the county’s heritage and $4 billion industry. It will provide lessons and first-hand farm experiences for youth and adults from all walks of life. It will also serve as a venue in honor of Saralee and Richard, hosting fundraising dinners and wine competitions, the Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Ag Days for over 4,000 elementary school children, culinary demonstrations and farm to table activities, 4-H and FFA seminars and meetings, private events and livestock events to name a few.

The future home of Sweet Lil’s Farmery
A special place for kids and adults to learn about life on the farm at the Sonoma County Fair
Helping those already familiar with agriculture is only part of Richard and Saralee’s legacy. They wanted to teach those who had never raised an animal or grown their own food what it was all about. Their desire culminated in the Sweet Lil’s Farmery, named after Saralee’s mother, where both parents and children can learn the basics of agriculture.

At Sweet Lil’s, you’ll find faux cow “milking”, baby chicks hatching and a host of other ag-tivities. Drive a tractor, venture into the hay maze, or visit the little pigs in their straw, wood and brick houses. Get in on the buzz with beekeepers and learn how important our pollinators are for farming. There are corn boxes and a chance to visit baby farm animals and their mothers. It’s a special place to learn, play and be down home on the farm.

While many may have been satisfied with this accomplishment, the Kundes didn’t want to stop there. After all, the fair was only three weeks out of the year, and even with the thousands flowing through Sweet Lil’s during those few weeks, it was Saralee’s dream to create a permanent location where agricultural education could continue throughout the year.