Deer Hollow Farm Volunteer Recognition Event

Isia volunteered at Deer Hollow Farm in Rancho San Antonio during the summer. She was taking care of the animal pens, and played with little goats and piglets after work. Today we drove her to the volunteer recognition event at the farm. The farm was closed for the visitors, and the event was held at the barn and the vegetable garden. Probably close to 100 people was there, volunteers and farm donors, staff from the City of Mountain View and the Open Space District, and the accompanying guests. I did not realize that so much work at the farm is done by volunteers, who contributed over 6000 hours in one year.

Rancho San Antonio and Deer Hollow Farm were the first park that we visited after coming to the Silicon Valley. I remember that I found the information about Rancho in the phone book in the section listing local parks. This was in 1993, before the internet. We are coming the the Rancho ever since.

Today's event at the farm had a lot of attractions. There was a live folk band playing in the barn, a lunch with dessert at the picnic tables, a  pumpkin ruffle, and a lot of interesting people around. Thanks to Isia, we were able to be part of it.

Here is Isia with Jen, the farm staff.

One of the goats that Isia was taking care of during the summer. I remember them when they were just born several months ago.

The live band was playing and singing through much of the event. The band was very entertaining, but I do not recall its name.

Lunch was topped off with the pumpkin and apple pies.

After lunch the volunteers were recognized with letters and gifts. Here is Isia receiving the volunteer recognition letter,

and here is the entire volunteer group.

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After the event we walked back to the car on the Coyote Trail, which goes above the farm. In this picture the farm is hidden down in the valley behind.