SUNFLOWER  FESTIVAL  DATES MOVED UP !

In order to catch the fields in full bloom, the dates for the First Annual New Mexico Sunflower Festival have moved UP !!

August 25 & 26, 2012 is the weekend to visit Pena Blanca, New Mexico just north of Albuquerque and 8 miles from Interstate 25.

Music, food, arts and crafts and educational presentations will fill the buildings and parking lot of the local Community Center, on New Mexico Highway 22 in the middle of town.

Horsedrawn hayrides will carry merrymakers to view nearby fields of blooming flowers !

Vendor booth spaces are available now at special low prices and local musicians are invited to set up a time to play under the BIG TOP.

Call the Festival Director at (505) 917-8189 for a place at the center of attention!

PLANTING A THOUSAND SUNS

     Well ! Wish a mathematician could estimate the number of suns that were planted in Pena Blanca this week --- thousands! Seedlings are UP in three fields and irrigation will bring them up (5 days hence) in several more this coming week.
     Here's a link to a video of some planting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VskCHQK4rS0

     Now that this milestone has been reached, we turn our attention to planning the Festival in September.  Watch this space for news!

March 13, 2012

Here is a link to a short video excerpted from the October Bloom Field Day and the February Sunflower Workshop:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpczmctksqs Following the workshop we have over 50 acres committed to plant this spring and in the next few weeks we expect to sign up several more participants, still aiming for 100 acres under cultivation in our first season.... stay tuned!

SUNFLOWER WORKSHOP HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED

New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All programs are available to everyone regardless of race, color,
religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating NMSU-COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE SUN FLOWER INTRODUCTION WORKSHOP Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012 Time: 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Location: Cochiti Elementary School-Cafeteria If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting, please
contact Del Jimenez by February 10, 2012 at 505-852-2668. 5:15- 6:00 p.m. Dinner Sponsored by: Pena Blanca Sun Flower Project 6:00 - 6:15 Welcome & Introductions - Patrice Harrison-Inglis
6:15 - 6:30 Introducing a New Crop for the Area - Steve Lucero
6:30 - 7:00 Variety Trials & Agronomic Practices-Dr. Mick O’Neill
7:00 - 7:15 Break
7:15 - 7:45 Marketing and Cost Return - Dr. Terry Crawford
7:45 - 8:15 Crop Rotation with Alfalfa - Leonard Lauriault Hosted by:
New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service
Sandoval County Cooperative Extension Service
Northern New Mexico Outreach Program
Pena Blanca Sun Flower Project Contact: Patrice Harrison-Ingles at 505-917-8189
or email: oilgrowers@gmail.com

Resting on our laurels just a little while...

http://newscenter.nmsu.edu/news/article/8086/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UpLFyqY6t0.

DEAR FRIENDS, HERE IS A RE-POSTING OF OUR NEWS ARTICLE AND VIDEO CLIP FROM A FEW WEEKS AGO....

WE ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT FOR "THE HOLIDAYS" TO BE DONE SO WE CAN GET BACK TO WORK AND RESCHEDULE THE SUNFLOWER WORKSHOP...

MEANWHILE WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT? WILD BIRDS ARE STEALING OUR WILD BIRD SEED CROP FROM THE DEMONSTRATION FIELD IN PENA BLANCA, THE NERVE!! WELL, AT LEAST WE KNOW THERE'S A MARKET FOR IT, EVEN IF IT'S THE "BLACK (BIRD) MARKET".   STAY TUNED.......

This is how the BIG BOYS do it !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxs4nzCyF2k

Here are a set of videos from the National Sunflower Association on you tube.  doesn't that look like fun?  can we have that much fun here in New Mexico? click on it !

TONIGHT'S WORKSHOP CANCELLED

REGRET TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT'S SUNFLOWER WORKSHOP IS CANCELLED
DUE TO ROAD CLOSURES.
PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE FOR RESCHEDULED DATE.