[AT] Notes about the National Heirloom Exposition and antique tractors and equipment

[Grant Brians]

I have been off list for a while thanks to excessively busy conditions. 
First, the farm and seed businesses have been requiring much more than 
full time attention including having to work 7 days a week 14-16 hours 
per day. Second, the week of Labor Day, my youngest son and I were at 
the National Heirloom Exposition in Santa Rosa at the Sonoma County 
Fairgrounds. The second thing attendees saw when entering the Expo were 
the Antique Tractors provided by local folks. They ranged from the 1930s 
to the 1950s.  Also at another location the fairgrounds has a 1909 
vineyard truck that has been mostly restored - so interesting.
      I was a speaker about vegetable genetics, heirloom varieties, 
modern varieties and what to choose for gardening and farming success. 
Additionally, I was handing out fliers for my seed website 
www.gourmetseed.com and talking to people solving their gardening and 
farming issues. My youngest son was exhibiting Ducks and Geese in the 
Poultry Show part of the Expo. He won Best in show for Waterfowl and 
multiple first place ribbons, beating out many very experienced 
exhibitors and he is only 13 still. He was very, very happy! Also, there 
were some chickens I had never heard of there that are really different. 
The chickens have all black plumage but they also have all black 
wattles, comb, beak and legs! They are called Black Swedish or 
Svarthona. Pretty cool.
        I need to close and get home to the family, harvest is going 
well at the moment and I hope that maybe we will recover from the losses 
of last year soon!
                  Grant Brians - Hollister,California farmer of 
vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, nuts and fruit and seedsman