Dear Friends, Supporters and Members and all of you who are about to become Members,

These excursions are designed to ensure guests are literally getting a taste of whatever season we are in and an education on, again, literally, how their produce grows. The concept seems to be working. Earlier Fields of Fresno stops included Mulholland Citrus while the fruit was still on the trees and, naturally, the Blossom Trail in the spring. When looking at the summer schedule, something surprising became clear. Many people were somehow not connecting the dots that the glory of the flowering trees in February and March lead to the abundance of stone fruit and nuts later in the year. I kid you not. 

Now, no offense meant to anyone – I know we pretty much all would say that it is not unusual to live one’s entire life in the Valley and not be able to identify a single tree or vine until its gifts are fully apparent. However, we would also likely agree that is not ideal. So, I started thinking about realistic remedies. One was easy – offer an Ag Tour of the Fruit Trail before and during harvest so people can ideate what happens in the months after the petals create their magical carpets on the earth. 

We did exactly that on July 29th with a full busload of extremely engaged folks. With stops at the Hudson Family Farms in Sanger and the Friesen Family Farms Fruit Stand in Kingsburg, our enthusiastic tourists were able to see, sample and even purchase fresh fruit, straight from the orchards. Ah ha! So, this is what happens once Mother Nature is finished delighting us all with her profusion of pink in the spring! Our growers fill in the myriad blanks with the massive number of steps they must complete annually to allow us the pleasure of that first juicy bite of pluot, peach or nectarine – pruning, thinning, protecting from unexpected weather, securing labor and trucking and the like.

I need to stop here to thank Liz Hudson and Paula Friesen and their wonderful teams for being such gracious hostesses to our group (yep, Liz made sure everyone got to sample her cobbler) and also to Bob Bagdasarian of Kings River Winery for his repeated hospitality and that incredible peach-mango wine. Everyone who has allowed us to interrupt their schedules with our tours has been so welcoming, gracious and informative. Please visit valleyhistory.org/ag-tour to join us.

August 27th will be another true treat as we head out to Huron to learn about tomato production with Chris Woolf, followed by lunch and tastings at A. Nonini Winery, founded in 1936 by Antonio and Angiolina Nonini, along with their oldest son, Reno. Antonio immigrated to the United States from Northern Italy in 1900. There is always quite a story to consume along with the delicious samples.

How many of us could describe the San Joaquin Valley beyond its fertile fields? Even more importantly, in all seriousness now, how many of us understand the agricultural-related issues and our representatives’ stance on them when we go to the polls to vote? And who is making sure our future generations are being fairly and fully presented with a well-rounded view of the issues surrounding their very existence and that of the Valley so they can make informed decisions? I recognize that sounds like a very PBS phrase and, indeed it mirrors the mission of the Fresno County Historical Society; not to tell you WHAT to think, but to help facilitate the preservation and presentation of knowledge of our region so your opinions can be grounded in evidence instead of innuendo. Please note – I am not referring to any specific topic here.

Part of any well-rounded presentation of a Society like ours must help people understand “how we got to now.” Whether intentions were nefarious or noble, contextualizing the progression of an issue is crucial, in my opinion, to being able to find palatable and sustainable resolution for just about any situation we face.

In relation to agricultural history. I utilize many resources for research, including a particular source which I am going to begin sharing with you today. I believe it is fair to say, no simple answers are within our grasp, but my hope is that each of you absorb at least ONE new piece of information about what our settlers were thinking as they began to move beyond the groundwork our pioneers laid in the late 1800s. Things were moving very quickly indeed!

On October 1, 1915, The Fresno Morning Republican newspaper published what would become a definitive and detailed snapshot of our region titled “The Valley of the San Joaquin.” This special edition was comprised of an incredible amount of information that had been compiled for the Central Valley’s exhibit at the Panama Pacific International Exposition, which was being held in San Francisco throughout the year. See this month’s ROOTS OF THE VALLEY for more info on the Expo.

The 24-page article contains its own incomparable, informational bounty and puts into perspective the tremendous value of our products, produce and potential, just over a century ago…

“The San Joaquin Valley of California, with its population of something over 300,000, is situated in the very heart of the state. It is bounded on three sides by mountains and extends down to tidewater on the north in Suisun Bay. The Sierra Nevada bound it on the east, the Tehachapi mountains on the south and the Coast range on the west.

“The valley itself in 250 miles long and between 60 and 70 miles wide, but with the foothills to the east and west, its actual width is even more than 70 miles.”

“The San Joaquin Valley is recognized as one of the greatest agricultural centers in the west. Its agricultural products are about one-fifth of the entire state production. In many of its agricultural products, it has practically a monopoly.

“The total amount of farm lands in the value is 6,361,642, of which 3,120,202, or about half, have been Improved.

“Irrigation has almost wholly been responsible for the wonderful development of the San Joaquin Valley resources. Without irrigation, the valley would be but a desert and without irrigation, some 45 years ago, it was but a desert. About 1,200,000 acres are under irrigation and each year sees an increase in the irrigation acreage.

“With irrigation, it has been possible to carry on varied agricultural pursuits. These include grain raising, live stock, dairying, fruit growing, rice growing and the poultry industry.”

“With irrigation, it has been possible to make the valley a great center for varied agricultural industries. Grain and live stock are raised on those that have not yet felt the magic touch of irrigation. Dairying and alfalfa raising rank among the principal industries that irrigation has developed and a large variety of fruits are grown. Poultry raising is rapidly gaining a foothold and the rice industry, though in its infancy, has already given promise of taking a leading rank.

“The San Joaquin Valley produces about 90 per cent of the raisins of the United States. It produces practically all the dried peaches grown in the state. The citrus products amount to about 6,000 cars annually, or about one-sixth of the state production. It produces practically all the figs grown in the United States. More than one-third of the sweet wine manufactured in California is manufactured in the San Joaquin Valley, and more than one-third of the grape brandy.”

“Nearly $30,000,000 of petroleum is produced in the valley every year from five fields, some of them among the largest in the world. Since these fields were started, nearly $500,000,000 of petroleum has been produced.

“From the forests of the Sierras, millions and millions of feet of lumber are taken every year and shipped to all parts of the world, and billions of feet remain. Practically all of the timber cutting is now done under government supervision.

“In manufactures, the San Joaquin Valley is only just making a start. The oil fields and the orchards and vineyards have developed considerable manufacturing in the way of refineries and canneries, but there is still abundance of room for more.

“With more than 1,600 miles of railroads, the San Joaquin Valley is well equipped with transportation facilities, but these are already taxed, because of the growth, and every year sees many expansions.”

No interpretation necessary to see that continued growth was presented as the centerpiece of the article with seemingly endless forests, water for irrigation and plenty of labor highlighted. To the outside world, this must have seemed a bright and shiny time for those fortunate enough to have found their way to the fruitful Central Valley. We can use this article as one bookend and, in future issues, we will examine the evolution of “how we got to now.” As always, the journey will be an integral part of the story as will point of view.

For now, as harvest of so many local crops is in full swing here in August 2022, we celebrate the successes of 1915.

Please don’t forget to get tickets to The Great Kearney BBQ Smoke Out on September 24th. Besides food, food and more food, a three-dimensional, outdoor agricultural photo exhibit will be on display for one day only!

Warmest wishes to all,

President, Fresno County Historical Society

The Fresno County Historical Society is excited to host the Central Valley's premiere barbeque competition on September 24, 2022. The Great Kearney BBQ Smoke Out is a KCBS-sanctioned Master Series event.

Get your tickets today and plan to join us for a full day of mouth-watering BBQ along with side dishes and desserts that showcase the bounty of the Valley. We anticipate many competitors from around the country and more from right here in Fresno County.

Guests will see professionals and amateurs at work on the grill, feast on BBQ and all the fixings along with beer and wine tastings all while watching live music and enjoying a stroll through our "Fields of Fresno - A Century in the Soil " outdoor agriculture exhibition; all presented in the lush shade of historic Kearney Park.

BBQ Teams should bring their “A” Game and vie for an $8,000 prize purse across four categories, as well as Grand Champion. BBQ Team Applications are now being accepted! 

Register here: valleyhistory.org/great-kearney-bbq-teams.

Here is a look at just some of the KCBS competition expected on September 24th:

The Great Kearney BBQ Smoke Out on September 24th

Inspiration often appears when you least expect it and cultivating inspiration may require allowing it to occur naturally through immersing yourself in nature, visiting new places, being around unique people, listening to music - or - all the above!

You may be asking, “but where can I possibly find all of those things in one place?” And that answer would be, “at The Great Kearney BBQ Smoke Out competition” on the main stage. We have cultivated a full day's worth of live music acts, where you can immerse yourself in the pool of sound and fill up on all the assorted flavors of artists offered.

You will experience everything from the local Fresno Larry Flores Band, offering Tejano Oldies Old School and Cumbias, to Fresno’s own Celtic Alchemy, bringing Irish but also offering Spanish to Classic Rock to Scottish and American tunes. The night will culminate with a dynamic performance by The Parris Brothers out of Visalia, featuring Rudy Parris from The Voice, Season 3, bringing their classic “Bakersfield Sound” with some Blues and Rock to the main stage near Kearney Mansion.

The American game of baseball has been around since the mid-19th century and managed to stay wildly popular in American culture. Even in its early years, baseball was always more than a sport but an entire industry. Tobacco companies became acutely aware of this and began manufacturing collectable cards featuring some of the most famous players in baseball, to advertise their brands. This was short lived however, as smaller tobacco companies were swallowed by the industrial giant, The American Tobacco Company. In 1890, President Harrison made the decision to enact the Sherman Antitrust Act, to outlaw monopolies such as the American Tobacco Company. Finally in 1901, President Roosevelt enforced the law and brought an end to the massive industrial conglomerate. This fractured the tobacco industry and created hundreds of independent companies. Thus, making way for the golden age of baseball cards. From 1909 -1915, cigarette sales skyrocketed as thousands of baseball fans across the nation scrambled to collect all their favorite players.

The Fresno County Historical Society is fortunate enough to hold three of these baseball cards in our archive today. From the T212 series in 1909, these baseball cards were distributed by Obak Mouthpiece Cigarettes. The T212 series ran from 1909 -1911 and featured players from the West Coast’s Pacific Coast League (PCL), a minor league currently still active. Still in their original cigarette box, these cards provide a piece of baseball history unknown by many.

The first card reads “W. Hogan, Vernon.” Wallace Hogan, better known as “Happy Hogan,” is a Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame member, known for his successful management of the Vernon Tigers, also known as “Hogan’s Tigers.” The card shows Hogan in his Vernon Tigers uniform, full chest guard and all, standing with his hands on his hips, looking off in the distance, with vast green fields, rolling hills, and an orange sunset behind him.

The second card has a similar warm gradient background, and reads “Smith, Los Angeles.” Hugh Smith, known as “Kid,” was a catcher for the Los Angeles Angels, a team that won the PCL pennant twelve times. This player’s bio is much less robust than that of his baseball card counterparts, as he stayed in the minor leagues and played for a short amount of time from 1909-1912.

The final and by far most notable of the three players cards is that of John Woolf Beall. Although his 1909 card depicts him as an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, Beall went on to play for several major league teams, including the then Cleveland Naps, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals. The player is said to have hit the first ever home run in Wrigley Field, although this claim has been disputed amongst sports writers. Not only is his story different from the other players’ cards, but his card itself differs. Beall’s card has a red background with a slight gradient, and shows Beall clad in his Angels uniform in a up-close shot.

Baseball cards continue to be one of the most highly collected items in history. With some cards selling for millions, collectable cigarette inserts memorialize players in a unique and clever way. These three Obak baseball cards provide a glimpse into baseball during the early 20th century and solidify its lasting importance in American culture.

The naming rights deal between Fresno State and Valley Children’s Healthcare breezed through the California State University committee on institutional advancement and on Wednesday was approved by the board of trustees. Bulldog Stadium is now officially Valley Children’s Stadium through a $10 million, 10-year partnership between the San Joaquin Valley icons. “We are thrilled to formalize this partnership by officially announcing the naming of Valley Children’s Stadium,” university president Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said in a statement from the university.

“We remain grateful and honored by Valley Children’s leadership for their support. This is the perfect first step for what is sure to be an incredible football season.” Portions of the $1 million in annual revenue is to go toward stadium enhancements, as well as operations, scholarships and support for students pursuing degrees in healthcare, and other collaborative opportunities.

But immediate impacts to the stadium prior to a 2022 football season that starts September 1st against Cal Poly will be limited to signage inside and outside of the aging 40,727-seat venue. The naming rights deal is far from a singular piece in a renovation of a stadium where the last major structural upgrades were made in 1991 and ‘92 with the addition of 10,000 seats and 22 suites on the east side. Jiménez Sandoval has formed a task group to address athletics infrastructure as well as revenue generation and brand marketability to build a more sustainable success on the playing fields.

Feelings throughout the community were strong and swift. Many attest they will always call the facility by its beloved previous name: Bulldog Stadium. Others wondered why one of the preeminent juvenile healthcare facilities in the world would offer so much of its hard-earned funds to become the sponsor of the football complex. The decision will no doubt be the subject for quite some time. 

The Panama–Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair held in San Francisco from February 20 to December 4, 1915. While ostensibly created in celebration of the 1914 completion of the Panama Canal, an engineering wonder that shortened travel between the east and west coasts of North America by 8,000 miles, the extravaganza was widely seen as an opportunity for the City by the Bay to showcase its miraculous recovery from the devastation of the 1906 earthquake. The fair was constructed on a 636 acre site along the northern shore, between the Presidio and Fort Mason, now known as the Marina District.

Earlier in 1915, a complementary Panama-California Exposition was staged in San Diego. While the Valley contingent participated there as well, the event was little-known and, according to research, mainly served to help people understand the community was spelled S-A-N D-I-E-G-O and not S-A-N-T-I-A-G-O!

There was great preparation made for the local display; in fact, Pop Laval was hired as the official photographer by the San Joaquin Valley Association to travel around the entire area to collect images that would be greatly and uniquely enlarged and, together with film, create a magical representation of all corners of our munificent land. Most who visited the exhibit were learning about the Valley and its importance to the nation for the very first time. One item of significance seems to have been missing from the display: the Fresno Scraper! Without that ingenious piece of equipment, it is most likely the Panama Canal would not have been completed and opened in 1914 and these expositions may not have happened at all if the timeline had been pushed closer to the time the United States joined WWI.

The following is an excerpt from an article published in The Fresno Morning Republican newspaper on October 1, 1915.

BY C.H. EDWARDS, Manager-San Joaquin Valley Counties Association

“The counties of Calaveras, Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus are represented at the Panama Pacific International Exposition at San Francisco and at the Panama California Exposition at San Diego as the San Joaquin Valley. These counties, comprising the greater and best developed section of California’s largest valley, are united in the San Joaquin Valley Counties Association.

“A year before the opening of the Expositions, these counties recognized the fact that a county line is arbitrary and not a natural line for advertising purposes, by organizing for the purpose of presenting their attractions and resources to the world collectively. Their plan has been to present their county to the world at the expositions as the Almighty made it, to show the greatest of the geographical divisions of California, flanked on either side by the same mountain chains, drained by the same river, with a similarity of climate and the same wonderful diversity of production in one great display at each exposition.

“The San Joaquin Valley building at San Diego is universally conceded to be one of the most striking and attractive buildings of the Panama California Exposition. Its interior decorations and its elegant display have made it the show place of the southern fair.

“This exhibit was awarded six grand prizes and 18 gold medals for excellence in every department. The ceiling and walls of the building are decorated profusely with fruits and grains of the San Joaquin Valley, and the whole effect is beautiful beyond comparison. The artistic presentation of material and design impels nearly every visitor to inquire the name of the artists who did the work.”

“At San Francisco, the San Joaquin Valley is represented in the California Building at the Panama Pacific International Exposition. More than half an acre of floor space is devoted to the collective exhibit of the valley and the special features of the counties. A series of dioramas on the south and west sides of the California Building present the scenic and material attractions of the San Joaquin Valley. The perfect model of the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Trees are the most artistic of these features, effectively presenting the wonders of the Sierra Nevada. The views of the city of Fresno and of the city of Stockton and the San Joaquin Valley, of the Malone’s stamp mill of Hanford and Kings county, of the Lagrange dam and a portion of Stanislaus county, presented in dioramas are among the impressive displays at the exposition.”

“That wall and ceiling decorations of the San Joaquin Valley Building at San Diego are duplicated in the ‘Palace of Plenty’ at San Francisco, both being the work of Mr. & Mrs. M.J. Wessels. More than a hundred fruits and grains were used in the artistic decorations of this structure. On the interior walls are shown the products of the packing and manufacturing plants of the valley, and about the exterior base are shown the fresh fruits and vegetables. A four-room glass cold storage case in the center of the feature carries for weeks the finest of the fruits and vegetables out of season.

“Enlarged photographs of San Joaquin Valley scenes and industries are a feature of both the San Diego and San Francisco displays. These great pictures, eight and ten feet long and 40 inches wide, tell the story of the valley. The hers of blooded dairy cattle, the irrigation canals, the quarries and the logging trains and many other subjects are presented in these pictures.

“The Indian basketry gathered by Mrs. George H. Taylor, contains over 500 baskets, many of them rare and of great value, the largest collection at the Pana Pacific Exposition. This display has attracted basket fanciers from all over the world.

“The mineral and forestry displays are equally complete. All of the minerals and ores of the San Joaquin Valley mines are shown by specimens, and practically every mine and prospect is represented. A cross-section scale map of the ‘mother lode,’ a geological cross-section of the oil fields, and a comprehensive report on the operating mines of the valley prepared under the direction of the California State Mining Bureau and the working model of Coalinga Oil Well No. 1 give complete information to the investigator.

“Specimens of timber, the foliage and the seed of all the forest trees of the valley and the Sierras are shown with curios of the forest, bark and polished burls and woods, making an attractive, as well as educational, display.”

“The display of processed fruits and vegetables and of natural grains and seeds presents a diversity f production probably never equaled anywhere. The pressed wild flower display prepared by Mr. Charles E. Jenney and Mrs. C.A. Younce has attracted the attention of many botanists and florists and has made a reputation for itself.

“The game, waterfowl, bird and fish exhibit form an important part of the exhibit. Artistically presented, it appeals to every man who feels the call of the forest and the stream. In the center of the exhibit at San Francisco rises a mountain, decorated with shrubbery, About its base are ranged the mining, lumber, game and bird exhibits. The interior of this mountain is a large and comfortable lecture room, in which a continuous moving picture show is conducted, accompanied by lectures on the resources, attractions and opportunities of the San Joaquin Valley.”

“The display of products at the San Francisco and San Diego expositions have made a reputation for themselves for diversity and artistic presentation. Through a series of graphics covering the most important industries of the San Joaquin Valley, they are made to tell a story of opportunity.

“A series of crop maps of the eight counties of the valley, all drawn to the same scale and colored to show the distribution of orchards, vineyards, irrigated crops, grain and grazing land and forests, have proved to be a very valuable feature of the display, enabling floor men to give clear and definite information about each locality to every visitor.

“The production a relative importation of the various fruits and other products of California and of the San Joaquin Valley are presented graphically, showing that development along the various lines is not now overdone and that a wide field for further development by more people, more capital and more labor is open even within the limits of the present California and American markets. This is the most comprehensive effort of the kind ever made in California. The displays are in a class by themselves and will bear the closest criticism from every point of view. They have served to draw the attention of the world to the San Joaquin Valley as the richest and most promising section of California.”