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The Alameda County Fairgrounds celebrated the start of the first phase of construction last week on a new, state-of-the-art educational farm that officials say will serve as a prime field trip destination for students and a valuable community resource.
The groundbreaking ceremony, which took place on Sept. 18 at the fairgrounds in Pleasanton, featured renderings of what the 2-acre facility will look like once it’s finished and comments from folks like Jerome Hoban, CEO of Alameda County Agricultural Fair Association.
“Thank you to the Fair Foundation for achieving the remarkable milestone of raising over $2 million to kickstart phase one of The Farm,” Hoban said in a press release before the event. “This incredible support propels our mission to educate future generations in the vital field of agriculture, ensuring a lasting impact for years to come.”
Back in April, the Alameda County Fair Foundation announced its partnership with Safeway to formally name the foundation’s educational farm the Safeway Barn, as a way of meeting the project’s fundraising goals for this year in order to break ground on construction.
According to the press release, apart from the 19 other donors that joined Safeway in supporting the project, the fair foundation also raised funds in order to break ground on the first phase of construction.
The foundation had been campaigning to raise money for the farm’s construction since 2022 after getting approval from the county Board of Supervisors.
The first phase of the project includes constructing the barn, paddock and a petting corral
“Breaking ground on The Farm is a meaningful milestone for all of our supporters,” Valerie Shirk, executive director of the Alameda County Fair Foundation, said in the Sept. 4 press release.
According to the farm’s website, the educational facility will emphasize agriculture technology and will have programming and curriculum on things like animal and plant sciences, renewable energy and water conservation, health and nutrition, and many other topics. It will also have live animals and crops; a modern barn, greenhouse and lab; and indoor classrooms with kitchens.
“The Farm, which will be built and operated by the Alameda County Fairgrounds, will offer students and the public immersive, hands-on experiences with crops, livestock, and agriculture ecosystems,” according to the Sept. 4 press release. “Programming will also provide visitors with an introduction to the latest advancements in farming, fostering an appreciation for sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and career opportunities within the agriculture sector.”
The proposed location for the farm would be just inside the red gate in the grassy area, which is also known as AgVenture Park.
Shirk stated that while they are celebrating reaching the groundbreaking milestone for the first phase of the project, there is still more work to be done.
“Phase two of the project will focus on important components of The Farm, including ways to showcase local crops and an outdoor kitchen and gathering space,” she said.
She previously told the Weekly that the second phase will establish plant life and an outdoor pavilion, phase three will be adding the lab and classrooms and the final phase will be building the greenhouse. The overall cost for the facility is approximately $10 million.
A spokesperson for the foundation told the Weekly they are “aiming to have Phase 1 completed by the time the 2025 Fair opens in June.”
