News from Sunset Park
December 20, 2011 - Last Project for 2011
The final improvement to Sunset Farm Park for 2011 was completed today. In a project spearheaded by incoming President Roger Edmonds, a gravel path was made from the parking lot to the SE corner of the arena. (No more slogging through standing water to get to the arena in the winter. Thank you Roger!) The sign and black donation canister were also moved to make them more visible to Park users. More improvements planned for 2012... stay tuned! (photos here)
December 4, 2011 - Meeting of the Friends of Sunset Farm
The last meeting for 2011 at 2pm on Sunday, Dec. 4th...Held at the home of Robbie Harris, we were joined by Erik Axelson, the new Operations Manager at Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Dept. We went over the draft of our formal agreement between the Friends and the Parks Dept. and worked out a few details, it should be finalized early next year.
Elections were held, and the following positions were filled:
President - Roger Edmonds
Vice President - Rikki Smeltzer
Secretary - Sarah Erickson
Treasurer - Robbie Harris
The bylaws were ratifed and will be posted soon here on the website.
A new fundraising idea was brought to the table by Rikki and Robbie, we will try out a Trail Class schooling day in the spring. Open to everyone, but aimed in particular at 4-H kids trying to qualify for Fair, it will be a low key schooling opportunity scheduled a week or two before each qualifying show and the Fair itself. The all ages event camp will be repeated along with the event derby schooling day(s). Other ideas are still welcome, click here to send the board an email!
November 5, 2011 -
The portable cross country jumps have been "put away" for the upcoming wet season. They will back out on the field next year in late May or early June.
September 18, 2011 - Event Derby Jump Round Fun Day
A "last minute" replacement fund raiser for the September 10th Event Derby that was cancelled, we had a good turnout and lots of smiling faces.
August 31, 2011 - Final coat of paint on the arena posts
Six young men from Boy Scout Troop 4014 and their advisors, Antonio Machado and Andrew Lippie came out and put the final coat of white semi-gloss paint on the arena posts. Thanks guys! It's finally finished and looks spectacular...
August 27, 2011 - Painting the arena fence started!
Posts were all coated with primer and all the rails were coated with lovely white semi-gloss paint! Thank you to Lisa from Blaine and her two kids; Carol and Stash from Bellingham; Lynn, Rikki and Robbie from Ferndale; and Sally all worked from 9am to 1:30pm to get the job done! Debb M. from the Whatcom County Pony Club was also out at the Park pressure washing the paddock fences. Well done everyone!
August 14, 2011 - Water line extension is complete!
Two new freezeless hydrants have been installed at the Park, one at the arena and one at the paddocks. They will be available for scheduled activities so that the arena may be watered and paddock users will have a nearby source of water. At all other times, the freezeless hydrant at the parking area is always available to casual park users. Thank you to volunteers Dan Larson, Ferndale; Rikki, Todd, Taylor and Colt Smeltzer, Ferndale; and Robbie & Annika Harris, Ferndale. (photos here)
July 27, 2011
We were very fortunate to have six young men from Boy Scout Troop 4014 and their advisors, Antonio Machado and Andrew Lippie come to the Park on Wednesday evening and give us a helping hand sorting and re-stacking some of our building materials. It was a huge job and we are very grateful for their assistance. Scouts rock! (photos here)
July 12, 2011
The first of two compost bins near the paddock area is now complete! Second bin coming soon... (photos here)
June 21, 2011 - All Ages Event Camp
Preparations are almost complete for the event camp, which starts on Friday, June 24 at noon and goes until Sunday June 26 at 5pm. The paddocks and the picnic area are reserved for campers all weekend, the arena is reserved Friday noon to 5pm, Saturday 8am to noon and Sunday 8am to noon. The cross country field will be used at other times during the weekend, and may be used by other users, but event camp activities take precedence. The event camp is one of two major fund raisers for the Friends of Sunset Farm (the other being the event derby in September) , and all of the money raised stays at the Park for maintenance and improvements.
June 20, 2011 - Hay Mowing Starts
Doug Wiebe of D& T Farms, Blaine, mowed the main field at the Park to make round bale haylage. It should be off the field by the end of the week. Thank you Doug and Twila Wiebe!
June 19, 2011 - Water Jump Work Party
The annual cleaning of the water jump was accomplished in the record time of one hour and fifteen minutes. Ten volunteers and one tractor made it very easy! Thanks to volunteers Kim and Grace Sauter,Lynden; Roger and Riley Edmonds, Blaine; Linda Cain,Ferndale; Sarah Erickson, Ferndale; Viki Schimke,Bow; Janet Kurtz , Bow; Lynn Thordarson, Ferndale; Robbie Harris, Ferndale; and last (but not least!) the little blue Harris Farm Ford 1320 tractor.
The final improvement to Sunset Farm Park for 2011 was completed today. In a project spearheaded by incoming President Roger Edmonds, a gravel path was made from the parking lot to the SE corner of the arena. (No more slogging through standing water to get to the arena in the winter. Thank you Roger!) The sign and black donation canister were also moved to make them more visible to Park users. More improvements planned for 2012... stay tuned! (photos here)
December 4, 2011 - Meeting of the Friends of Sunset Farm
The last meeting for 2011 at 2pm on Sunday, Dec. 4th...Held at the home of Robbie Harris, we were joined by Erik Axelson, the new Operations Manager at Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Dept. We went over the draft of our formal agreement between the Friends and the Parks Dept. and worked out a few details, it should be finalized early next year.
Elections were held, and the following positions were filled:
President - Roger Edmonds
Vice President - Rikki Smeltzer
Secretary - Sarah Erickson
Treasurer - Robbie Harris
The bylaws were ratifed and will be posted soon here on the website.
A new fundraising idea was brought to the table by Rikki and Robbie, we will try out a Trail Class schooling day in the spring. Open to everyone, but aimed in particular at 4-H kids trying to qualify for Fair, it will be a low key schooling opportunity scheduled a week or two before each qualifying show and the Fair itself. The all ages event camp will be repeated along with the event derby schooling day(s). Other ideas are still welcome, click here to send the board an email!
November 5, 2011 -
The portable cross country jumps have been "put away" for the upcoming wet season. They will back out on the field next year in late May or early June.
September 18, 2011 - Event Derby Jump Round Fun Day
A "last minute" replacement fund raiser for the September 10th Event Derby that was cancelled, we had a good turnout and lots of smiling faces.
August 31, 2011 - Final coat of paint on the arena posts
Six young men from Boy Scout Troop 4014 and their advisors, Antonio Machado and Andrew Lippie came out and put the final coat of white semi-gloss paint on the arena posts. Thanks guys! It's finally finished and looks spectacular...
August 27, 2011 - Painting the arena fence started!
Posts were all coated with primer and all the rails were coated with lovely white semi-gloss paint! Thank you to Lisa from Blaine and her two kids; Carol and Stash from Bellingham; Lynn, Rikki and Robbie from Ferndale; and Sally all worked from 9am to 1:30pm to get the job done! Debb M. from the Whatcom County Pony Club was also out at the Park pressure washing the paddock fences. Well done everyone!
August 14, 2011 - Water line extension is complete!
Two new freezeless hydrants have been installed at the Park, one at the arena and one at the paddocks. They will be available for scheduled activities so that the arena may be watered and paddock users will have a nearby source of water. At all other times, the freezeless hydrant at the parking area is always available to casual park users. Thank you to volunteers Dan Larson, Ferndale; Rikki, Todd, Taylor and Colt Smeltzer, Ferndale; and Robbie & Annika Harris, Ferndale. (photos here)
July 27, 2011
We were very fortunate to have six young men from Boy Scout Troop 4014 and their advisors, Antonio Machado and Andrew Lippie come to the Park on Wednesday evening and give us a helping hand sorting and re-stacking some of our building materials. It was a huge job and we are very grateful for their assistance. Scouts rock! (photos here)
July 12, 2011
The first of two compost bins near the paddock area is now complete! Second bin coming soon... (photos here)
June 21, 2011 - All Ages Event Camp
Preparations are almost complete for the event camp, which starts on Friday, June 24 at noon and goes until Sunday June 26 at 5pm. The paddocks and the picnic area are reserved for campers all weekend, the arena is reserved Friday noon to 5pm, Saturday 8am to noon and Sunday 8am to noon. The cross country field will be used at other times during the weekend, and may be used by other users, but event camp activities take precedence. The event camp is one of two major fund raisers for the Friends of Sunset Farm (the other being the event derby in September) , and all of the money raised stays at the Park for maintenance and improvements.
June 20, 2011 - Hay Mowing Starts
Doug Wiebe of D& T Farms, Blaine, mowed the main field at the Park to make round bale haylage. It should be off the field by the end of the week. Thank you Doug and Twila Wiebe!
June 19, 2011 - Water Jump Work Party
The annual cleaning of the water jump was accomplished in the record time of one hour and fifteen minutes. Ten volunteers and one tractor made it very easy! Thanks to volunteers Kim and Grace Sauter,Lynden; Roger and Riley Edmonds, Blaine; Linda Cain,Ferndale; Sarah Erickson, Ferndale; Viki Schimke,Bow; Janet Kurtz , Bow; Lynn Thordarson, Ferndale; Robbie Harris, Ferndale; and last (but not least!) the little blue Harris Farm Ford 1320 tractor.
