Animals | Julie Moree's News Watch

Small pumpkins were in the market place for easy access.

Running now through October 31, 2017, the Underwood Family Farms offers a little something for everyone to spice up their harvest season with the 20th Annual Harvest Festival located on their farm in Moorpark California. For only 20 dollars on weekends, visitors can come explore the land by way of a tractor ride that takes one to the self-serve fruit and vegetable picking where anyone can pick their own produce to take home at the end of the day.

There is also tons of children’s activities including a bean box, Pumpkin ring toss, petting zoo and pony rides for the smallest visitors to enjoy.

And a house made of pumpkins was a popular photo-op on the farm.

It was the old west with mining that kids could enjoy and take home a unique piece of the farm.

And the Tom Turkey got everyone’s attention.

People could feed the Emus through tubes in the cages.

And older kids got their chance to ride on their own John Deere Tractors.

In Lew of sand, a bean box held the young ones attention for hours while parents could shop next door.

Larger pumpkins were in fields for those to choice their own for Halloween.

The Popular corn maze had people trying to find their way through.

Those that succeeded got a mountain high view of the entire farm from inside the corn maze.

From 1 to 3, a tractor parade went through the farm showing off the antique tractors through the years.

Unique Cow and bumblebee trains took people around the farm in style.

Activities including duck races had children entertained as the used water pumps to propel the ducks down the stream.

In addition, there are two shows that on can enjoy including the ever popular pig races and a unique animal show introducing ones to the animals that live on the farm including Billy the Alpaca and Zazu the Rooster.

There is also live entertainment weekends by local musicians playing a series of bluegrass and country selections.

Race 1 of the pig races at the farm

Race 2 of the pig races at the farm

Race 3 of the pig races at the farm

Every weekend bluegrass and country bands perform for people as they take a break from the sights and smells of the farm

The festival is open daily from 10 to 6 and is only six dollars on weekdays.

August 22, 2017

79th Years of Fair Fun, Antelope Valley

Various displays were judged in the home arts section including ones with pop culture references such as these.

Fair goers could see the craftsmanship of woodworkers in action.

Homemade chocolate chip cookies were one of the first place winners in the baked goods.

Photographs like this Human Interest were one of the tops in the photography section.

Of course being the fair, the top fair themes were this cute kitten and berries.

Still more craftsman were on display in the gems section.

And it was too hot to handle with the blacksmith carefully crafting this jewelry.

Knitters and woolmaking entertained crowds.

This years Cele-Grape-tion, included various canned fruits and home grown fruits and veggies.

This harvest themed table setting won the adult competition.

The Miss Edwards and Miss Hughes Elizabeth Royal Courts were in the Home Arts Section to raise awareness of their cause.

The California Raisins collection took First place their array of scene.

There was even a dinosaur that showed up at this year’s fair.

As well as groups including this AGAPE Community Church group that performed at the select stages throughout the fairgrounds.

Floral arrangements in the Floriculture had a run for the first place ribbon won by this high heel decoration.

Various bunnies were in one barn for fairgoers to see.

And Roosters were bought out to showcase.

This Turkey was the reserve champion for its size.

The Historical society had displaying inside the barn.

Various old fashioned items had viewers in awe.

And scared as bees were also inside cases for everyone’s protection.

Kids were also able to make unique veggie creations.

The Antelope Valley Fair is also known for it’s Alfalfa and it was King here at the barn.

Young 4h teens had their animals up for auction.

Kids from the oldest to one of the youngest competed in the arena equally.

And sheeps enjoyed the attention from spectators.

Spectators also watched kids training their pigs to follow their commands in the arena.

And as the sun set, the fair rides lit up the sky of the desert air.

April 7, 2017

WWII Review

Focus Features is bringing to light a sensitive matter in the latest Zookeeper’s Wife. Jessica Chastain portrays a real life Polish woman, Antonina Zabinski, who lives a the Warsaw Zoo with hundreds of animals and her husband Jan (Johan Heldenbergh). Now as the German’s invade Warsaw and Antonina fears for her life as well as that of her animals and family, she is caught between rescuing both the animals as well as hiding hundreds of Jews in the grounds of the now abandoned zoo.

At over 2 hour run time, The Zookeeper’s Wife will bring you into the war-torn region of Poland as never before seen through the eyes of the camera. It’s a movie that will have you cheering the courageous heroism of the woman who rescued over 300 people and hundreds of animals from the clutches of World War II.

The Zookeeper’s Wife came out January 31, 2017 to limited theaters and currently has brought in over 4 million domestically at the box office, expanding its theatrical release April 7.

See it in a theater near you.

April 16, 2016

“Jungle Book” Remade

Disney has done it again, this time bringing Rudyard Kipling’s beloved tale to the big screen in an all new live action Jungle Book. The movie picks up with Mowgli, played by newcomer, Neel Sethi, being raised by a pack of Wolves. Everything is peaceful, until Shere Khan, voiced by Idris Elba, discovers the man cub and because of a deep run in that he had with an explorer and the “red flower”, Khan is determined to end young Mowgli’s life before he can end his.

Now it is up to Bagheera, the panther, voiced by Ben Kingsley, who has been watching out for Mowgli all his life as well as Baloo, a lazy, carefree bear, voiced by Bill Murray, who lives by the “Bear Necessities”, to join together and bring Mowgli back to the “man village”, but will they succeed and will Mowgli want to go back, after living with the wolves for so long.

At 105 minutes, its a movie that will keep you engaged with the scenery of the forest as well as beloved characters that show up along the way, including King Louie the Orangutan, voiced by Christopher Walken and Kaa the python, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Overall, the director, Jon Favreau, did a good job of sticking to the original animated movie. With familiar songs like “Bear Necessities” and “Trust In Me” generations will be taken back to their childhood, while new generations equally will experience the magic of the Jungle Book.

Jungle book opened in theaters April 15, 2016 and earned over 32-million in revenues its opening day. It is currently playing in one near you. See it and relive your childhood again.

October 28, 2015

Harvest Fest In Mission Hills, Calif.

It’s that time of year when local farms like this one in Mission Hills invite the community to enjoy family friendly entertainment, while shopping for fresh farm grown fruits and vegetables.

Forneris Farms, located on Rinaldi St. in Mission Hills, is open year-round offering a variety of fresh fruits and veggies to the community.

For the month of October, the farm is dressed up to accommodate the halloween spirit.

Residents can pick out their own pumpkins for as low as 15 dollars in the pumpkin patch.

Smaller pumpkins are available for just 4 dollars under the tent in the marketplace.

And for just 15 dollars, a wrist band can be purchased for addition fun.

Including walking through the corn maze,

Riding this train around the edge of the maze.

There was also a petting zoo, where children could see and touch chickens, ducks, and and other farm animals.

As well as the opportunity of hand feeding this goat.

And at the end of the fun, the wrist band could be turned in with a guess as to how much this giant lizard weighs.

The Festival concludes this weekend, on November 1 with more family friendly fun from 10-6. Don’t miss it or visit a local farm in your area. It’s the true definition of a “harvest” festival.

August 14, 2015

140 years of Fair Fun by the Ocean

It’s a Country Fair with Ocean Air, back again for its 140th year at the Ventura County Fairgrounds and and there’s a lot of fun things to experience from nightly musical performances by stars including Salt and Pepa, Leann Rimes, Neil Sedaka, Beatriz Adriana, Chaka Khan and its ever popular rodeo closing out the 12 day run on August 15 and 16, 2015 and all is included in the 12 dollar fair admission.

Masters of the trade demonstrated the art of various talents such as metal pressing and wire wrapping.

Trains, planes and more were on display for all the marvel at the work.

Collectors presented their best work for a chance of winning blue, red and white ribbons in the gems and minerals building.

Minerals and quarts were awarded for their color and texture.

As always ferris wheels and other carnival rides entertained teens and kids at just a dollar a ticket or 25 dollars for an all day wristand.

Creations of flowers were arranged in designs like this pink and purple teddy bear in the floriculture building.

Flowers are changed out every few days and rejudged for its uniqueness and color.

In the youth expo, projects, like this handmade dress, are displayed to show the talents of kids in the Ventura County School district.

Etiquette is key in the schools as this creative table setting won the blue ribbon for its creativity and properness.

Animals of all kinds were brought out to the fairgrounds for its patrons to see and bid on in the auction arena.

A poster contest where applicants created fair themed posters showing the best part of what the Ventura County fair had to offer.

Collections of of photographs, amateur and professionals showed even more talent of individuals that wanted to have their work displayed in the photography section.

This pastel painting was just one of the many runner ups for the blue ribbon of uniqueness and style.

There are also nightly fireworks at exactly 10 p.m. that illuminate the sky over the fairgrounds by the ocean which makes fairgoers stop what they are doing and enjoy the sights.

Just a few more days, don’t miss out, click here to buy tickets for the closing days.

July 24, 2015July 24, 2015

125 Years of Fun in Costa Mesa, Calif.

The fair is back at the Orange County Fairgrounds and there is a lot to do starting July 17 through August 16. For just 12 dollars, fairgoers can view the baby animals that are born throughout the month and fast the fun fair foods at the various stands throughout the grounds. There’s farm animals, floriculture, photography and more. See it now, before it’s too late.

Livestock entertained crowds at two different sections of the fair.

Ships with black wool and white showed off for crowds.

Residents gazed at turkeys big and small at the fair.

In the auction arena, cattle were paraded around for spectators to take in and bid on.

various photography and artwork was awarded ribbons for their uniqueness and style.

Baby Animals stole the show including these day old chicks.

Beekeepers brought their bees to educate on how bees work including learning about how to locate the queen.

Ice creatures were illuminated in bright colors to highlight the art of ice sculptures.

Residents ventured inside a one degree cooler to marvel over the frozen sculptures in the Ice Museum.

And woodwork was also on display to view and buy.

In the collection corner, people could vote on their favorites for the people’s choice award.

And people marveled over the 5 day old piglets born at the OC Fairgrounds.

There were even reptiles in the explorium area, including this

The OC Fair celebrates 125 years from when the original fair first began in 1890.

And for an addional charge, concerts entertained crowds at nighttime.

There’s a different concert each and every night all month long at the fair.

And of course pig races are a must see at every fair in So Cal.

Calves of only a few months rested in the nursery area of the barn.

April 25, 2015

Books Galore at USC

This year marks the 20th year of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California. As previously reported, there were thousands of books ranging from children to young adult and many more in between. There were also several celebrities that brought their own books for people to purchase as well as a cooking stage, music and much more.

Watch now to see just which books were the highlight of this year’s festival and stay tuned for a follow up with even more exclusive interviews from more of the authors at the 2015 LA Times Festival of books.

April 17, 2015

26 Years of Animal Fun in Costa Mesa

On the second weekend in April, hundreds of pet owners and enthusiasts showed up in Costa Mesa at the Orange County Fairgrounds for the 26th Annual America’s Family Pet Expo. This is the largest pet expo in the area and includes over one thousand dogs, cats, birds, fish, pot belly pigs, goats, rats, reptiles, rabbits, and miniature horse to name a few. There were also lots of different animal demonstrations including therapy animals, police dogs and more.

Watch the video below to see more about what what was at this year’s expo including an exclusive interview with the authors of a dog book called True Tails From the Dog Park.

Tag: Animals

County Fair Goes “Pop”

20 Years of Farm Fun in Ventura County

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79th Years of Fair Fun, Antelope Valley

WWII Review

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“Jungle Book” Remade

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Harvest Fest In Mission Hills, Calif.

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140 years of Fair Fun by the Ocean

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125 Years of Fun in Costa Mesa, Calif.

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Books Galore at USC

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26 Years of Animal Fun in Costa Mesa

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