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Members of the Lincoln FFA Club observe the nutcracking machine operations.

Clarence and Jan Davidson were the first people to sign up for the Colusa Farm Show 44 years ago. Their marriage is going strong after 53 years. Clarence and Jan are known for being the longest attending vendors since The Colusa Farm Show’s opening.

Clarence told me a couple of years ago, his wife didn’t attend, so he told her, “this year I’m giving away Gideons again” (meaning New Testament bibles) in addition to his regular selling nutcrackers. “I knew that would get her to come with me again.”

Clarence, owner of his privately held Davebilt Company manufactures a table rotary nutcracker,  high leverage crackers and nut gleaning tools.

A father and visiting orchardist from Butte City told me his boys (Skyler and Caleb pictured) are influencing him to make a purchase. It was clear the machine works quickly, and makes a crunchy noise that makes the activity really seem fun.

The rotary nutcracker is a popular novelty for youth and old alike. All day at the show people couldn’t help but want to the crank the it.  Each and every unit is hand-built by Clarence.  “I have 30 other vendors selling my product, two of which sell online, but I am the only builder.”

Clarence and Jan are an easy find just across from the Capital Press Booth #39 at the Colusa Farm Show.

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Colusa Farm Show is the longest running farm show in California.

Robby of Dobler Imagineering displays a harvester closure wing with the widest in wear strips: an integral part in managing grape and olive harvester operational costs.

Today I learned alot about precision machining from Robby Dobler next to the Capital Press booth at the Colusa Farm Show.

Robby couldn’t speak more highly of his father who started Dobler Imagineering 35 years ago. His father, Darrell he explained is something of a genius when it comes to producing a final product. When you got to have a part of any kind made quickly, and for less than the price of what you might buy it new, Dobler Imagineering is all about that. Be it plastic, metal, remakes, prototypes, metal work, farming, restaurant, and custom machine parts, conveyor parts, or even “that thing” that isn’t made anymore; they can make it. And they can make it cheaper. “If I could remember what half of what my Dad forgot, I’d be happy.”

I was curious to know why Dobler Imagineering was at the Colusa Farm Show. “We do the best precision machining around.” Robby said, “but these Closure Wings are the real reason we are here.”

What makes these closure rings special Robby?

“Our product has twice the thickness on the wear strip. Closure wings are typically replaced on harvesters with an inferior product. For olive and grape harvesters, that means alot of money spent. Our harvester closure wings have twice the wear strip compared to our competitor’s. Theirs will last maybe 60-80 acres. Our product will last an entire season without changing.”

Robby Dobler shared with me he is a resident of Lodi, California and will return from the Calousa Farm Show on Thursday to his wife Carolyn, and his really “great kids”….a skateboarding 11 year old and two 8 year old gymnasts.

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Dobler Imagineering, truly a high precision problem solver in machining… is based out of Victor, California.

Marsha Bucke of Bucke’s Feed and Grain stopped by the Capital Press showcase at the Red Bluff and Gelding Show this week. She couldn’t say enough about Capital Press Ag Weekly:

Both enthusiastic readers of the Capital Press. Feed store owner Marsha Bucke (left) is joined by her daughter Trisah Nissen.

“We don’t mind if somebody leaves the store with only a copy of the Capital Press. It is the last true assessments of agricultural news. If they stay and buy other things that’s a bonus.”

Bucke’s Feed and Grain has been open in Orland, California at 1308 Railroad Avenue since 1915.

A big fan of Capital Press, Maurice Grandquist lives on 198 acres in Red Bluff California.

This guy walks by my booth yelling, “The Capital Press…the main reason I go to the Colusa Farm Show.”

I laughed, and asked if I could quote him on that. He said, “yes.”

Then I said…”Can I get your name?”

“Yes.”

And your photo?  He grabbed a copy held it, and I took this photo.

Maurice is a subscriber to the California Edition of Capital Press Ag Weekly.

Although visiting the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, he renews his subscription every year at The Colusa Farm Show the following week.

Of course, yours truly will be there to take his order!

Up for Raffle: Beautiful Framed Cowboy Art, as donated by The Loft in Red Bluff.

Shelby (right) , a sophomore at Red Bluff High makes a big sale of raffle tickets to Jon Smith, who is visiting the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale for the first time with his fiance, Jennifer Gardner.

Army Mechanic who just returned from Iraq supports local FFA in Red Bluff.

Jon is a mechanic with the U.S. army who just returned from Iraq and will soon be stationed in Afghanistan. His fiance Jennifer (left) and he have set a date to be married in September.

Jon bought a double arm’s length of raffle tickets…39 purchases supporting local FFA in their effort to travel to the State FFA Conference in Fresno.

I’m really excited to meet new friends at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, this week as  sponsored by Phizer Animal Health.

This sale brings out the best in stock, and the best in newspapers.

Be sure to pick your free copy of  the California edition of  Capital Press Ag Weekly. Can’t make it to the show? Get your subscription online.

Hey, like my hat?

Pick up a new subscription (or renew an old one) …I’ll throw one in free. . Check the schedule for trade show hours.

Weather was beautiful today, around 65 degrees and sunshine. (Something us Oregonians have a special appreciation for.) When I left Salem, Oregon it was 27 degress. Tommorow will be sweet by comparison here in California.

Capital Press has four editions! This will be a big week for Capital Press in California.

Yours truly also be at the Colusa Farm Show next week, and World Ag Expo in February.

I remember years ago when oranges came from California and the  “Florida Sunshine Tree.”   Our backyard in Whitter,  California was filled with orange groves when I was twelve. Now the orange groves in California and Florida to a great extent are gone.  Oranges are largely imported from Brazil.  Apricot used to come from  California.  Now (according to Martha Stewart this week)  90%  of apricots from from Turkey.

Are hazelnuts the next orange?

And now Oregon, the foremost provider of Hazelnuts to the world has decided that imports from Chile are welcomed. Isn’t that how we lost Oranges, Apricots, and Avocados?

Outsourcing of farming makes me nervous.   Look what happened to manufacturing? It’s no wonder unemployment is so high. We are outsourcing the basics of life:  food, manufacturing, and services.

I guess we’ll just be nation of retailers, selling imported hazlenuts from Chile in Oregon.