Agriculture, music to meet
Musician-farmer Thomas Tumbach and master rhythmic artist Bobby Bovenzi have teamed up to help make this year’s Summerland Fall Fair a memorable celebration of agriculture, music and community.
After a three-year hiatus, the 105-year fall fair tradition is back with a revamped format that promises fun and entertainment for everyone.
The fair opens at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, with a street party and dance called the Tastes and Sounds of Summerland, in which Tumbach and Bovenzi play key roles.
Agriculture and food are inextricably connected as the name indicates, Bovenzi said.
The “tastes” will be provided by local restaurants, wineries and a pie-eating contest featuring fruit fresh from local orchards.
Fresh-from-the-farm tastes will be available from participants in The Tailgate Party.
The idea of holding a tailgate event where farmers display and sell produce from their farm vehicles originated with Tumbach.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet and greet the people who grow our food. Don’t forget to bring a shopping bag,”î he said.
Tumbach and his wife, Celina, own Garnet Hollow Organic Farm in Summerland.
Bovenzi and his musician-wife Theresa, Tumbach’s sister, also live at Garnet Hollow.
In 2005, Thomas and Celina started Localmotive Organic Delivery, which offers customers fresh certified organic or sprayfree produce, plus an array of wholesome groceries delivered to their doorstep. Localmotive also supplies Okanagan grocery stores, restaurants and wineries.
“I trained as a classical violinist until I was 20, when I started looking at other styles of music,” said Tumbach, who has incorporated fiddle techniques from folk, bluegrass and western music into his current style.
When he decided that being a father and a professional musician were unsustainable, Tumbach turned to farming.
However, he has continued to be active in the music world by playing in various bands, helping to organize and continuing to participate in Jam Camps, and as a music teacher.
“Next year I will be teaching at the Penticton Academy of Music,” he said.
A professional African drum performer and teacher, Bobby Bovenzi heads the fair’s entertainment committee.
In Africa, drumming is a fundamental part of the culture, connecting people on special occasions, at markets and at the end of a work day in the fields.
On this continent, stringed instruments –fiddles and guitars – mainly replace drums in agricultural communities.
Bovenzi selected The Hillside Outlaws, a small group from Penticton with a rocking country style to be first up on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
“Our goal is to ensure that the musical entertainment reflects the flavour of the fall fair—country mixed with old time music, rock and bluegrass,” he said.
The Summerland String Band with Stefan Bienz on bass, Andy Gabrys on guitar and Tumbach on fiddle will perform at 6:30 p.m.
Summerland dance instructor, Lee Parkinson, will demonstrate country and two-step line dancing and encourage audience members to join her.
Known for bringing down the house at private parties, festivals and pubs, Jack and Jill will close the Friday evening festivities.
The group plays a variety of favourites ranging from Janis Joplin and No Doubt to Miranda Lambert and Queen.
On Saturday, there will be exhibits of Summerland’s best produce, education such as tips on beekeeping and more food and music at the AGRI-cultural Pride of Summerland event to be held in the curling rink from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Agriculture and music are both art forms and very much a part of our culture,” Bovenzi said.
For this special day, he has organized not-to-be-missed entertainment to compliment the displays of fresh produce, home canned produce and baked goods.
The Timbre Wolves perform at 10 a.m. followed by vocalist Wendy Rodocker at 12 noon and The Packinghouse Social Club at 1 p.m. The amazing Boundless Belly Dancers are on stage at 3 p.m.
For a full schedule of events visit www.summerlandfallfair.ca.
Susan McIver is a Penticton writer with a keen interest in agriculture. She can be reached by faxing the Herald at (250) 492-2403.