The riders in the 2008 OC Fair Cattle Drive may not have had sand in their boots this year but they definitely had smiles on their faces for the 3.5-mile trek through Costa Mesa.

The 2008 Cattle Drive and fundraiser proved to be another success, raising
$155,000 for agricultural education programs.

“Once again, the OC Fair and the Cattle Drive achieved event goals: build
community and continue support of Centennial Farm,” Cattle Drive Coordinator Doug Lofstrom said.

For the 2008 event, 300 steers and some 100 professional and amateur horseback riders were tailed by a parade of decorated wagons sponsored by local individuals and companies. A number of the colorful wagons carried youth groups from throughout the county, including the Ranch After-School program, one of the beneficiaries of the fundraising efforts.

The Ranch is a special after-school program housed at the OC Fair & Event
Center since 2003 for local at-risk children. More than 300 youth participants have experienced a variety of agricultural themes at no cost since the program’s inception.

As the cattle, horses and wagons tromped down Placentia Ave. to Victoria
Ave. to Harbor Blvd. and finally to Fair Dr., hundreds lined the streets donning everything from cheese hats celebrating the 2008 Fair theme of “Say Cheese” to full body cow costumes.

In addition to Gold Sponsor, the Automobile Club of Southern California, 2008 Cattle Drive sponsors include: Ronald Simon Family Foundation; RA Industries; ARB, Inc.; Joyce and Tom Tucker; Teddie and Michael Ray; Solis Capitol Partners; Mike Hayde; Dale Dykema; Debbie Bridges; United Agribusiness League; John and Toni Ginger; RBF Consulting; Orange County Farm Bureau; Julie and Phil Vandermost; Rick Muth/Orco Block; Ovations; Bob Eichenberg; Jill Hankey; Gregg Kelly; Oakley; Joe Schmidt; Mark Vengroff; Gary Findley; Andrew Cupples; David Ellis; James Henwood; Buck Johns; Jack Langson; Joy Leavitt-Pickett; Rebekah Roth; Glenn Stearns; Mary Young; Gary Hayakawa; Craig Dupper; Frank Haselton; American Sterling Bank; Dan Perlmutter; Janice Posnikoff; Adam Probolsky; Richard Rodnick; and Murray Rudin.