A group of people seated outdoors under a wooden pavilion, some wearing hats, with a festive banner showing historical figures and events above them, and a few plants and flowers in the foreground.

Celebrating

Ventura County’s 150 Anniversary

at the Oxnard Historic Farm Park

On September 9, 2023, the Oxnard Historic Farm Park hosted a 150-theme event. We offered food examples from 150 years ago - roasted pig, trip tip, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, lima beans & beer, made from barley, the county’s first commercial crop. Period music was provided by the Wynema Orchestra. We had a performance by Connie Korenstein portraying Mrs. E.P. ((Orpha) Foster who shared stories of the early years of Ventura County. We had over 30 sponsors with ties to long time county families and represented with signs with images from the past. This event has inspired us to host the 1st Annual Lima Bean Fest coming September 14, 2024.

SPECIAL FLORAL DISPLAYS BY LINDA GALLARDO.

BORCHARD BEER - CHRISTIAN BORCHARD PLANTED THE FIRST COMMERCIAL CROP IN 1867 - BARLEY. POSEIDON BREWING CO PROVIDED THE 2023 VERSION.

CARRIAGE ONCE BELONGED TO JOHANNES BORCHARD WHO ARRIVE IN COUNTY IN 1871

COVARRUBIAS ARRIVAL DATE 1834. MAULARDT 1867 - LATE COMER

THE WYNEMA ORCHESTRA PLAYING MUSIC FROM 1870 ON INTRUDMENTS TYPES FROM 1870

MONICA MCGRATH, HER BROTHER-IN-LAW. DAN MCGRATH AND DEBBIE MAULHARDT

ON LOAN FROM HERITAGE SQUARE TOM VON ALLMEN AND CONNIE KORENSTEIN AS ORPHA FOSTER

MARSHA MAULHARDT SHARED HER HORSE'S SADDLE

CONNIE KORENSTEIN AS ORPHA FOSTER WHO ARRIVED IN THE COUNTY IN 1870

GREAT GRANDSON OF E.P. AND ORPHA FOSTER - PHIL RANGER

LET THE FEAST BEGIN. THE FIRST FAMERS ALL HAD HOGS, GREW CORN AND BARELY AND SOON GREW LIMA BEANS

1873 - MOST FARMER RAISED HOGS, CORN AND BARLEY

THANKS TO MIKE NAUMANN FOR SOME LOCALLY GROWN LIMA BEANS FOR THE EVENT

BOB VALLES AND FAMILY WERE ONE OF 30 SPONSORS FOR OUR EVENT. THE VALLES FAMILY CAME WITH THE OPENING OF THE SUGAR FACTOR IN 1898.

MRS. ORPHA FOSTER, WIFE OF E. P. FOSTER.

WYNEMA ORCHESTRA PLAYING THE TOP HITS FROM 1873.

DR. DAVE AND WIFE STROLLING THE VINEYARDS. CHECK HIS POCKETS.

RUTH MAULHARDT AT 102 YEARS OLD FLANKED BY HER SONS ALAN, LEFT, AND DEAN MAULHARDT

COUINS ALAN MAULHADT, JEFF MAULHARDT AND NANCY MAULHARDT HUFF SPEND TIME WITH AUNT RUTH.

MAULHARDT/BORCHARD & KAUFMAN/PETIT DECENDANTS - JEFF MAULHARDT AND GARY BLUM

A 1949 ALLIS CHALMERS. ONE OF 9 VINTAGE TRACTORS ON DISPLAY.

Outdoor event space with a brick-paved dance floor, wooden picnic tables under a covered structure, surrounded by greenery and a white house in the background.

THANKS TO OUR 36 SPONSORS AND HISTORIC FAMILIES