HappyDay: ‘End of the Kate Wolf Era’

Casey O’Neill is a cannabis and food farmer in Mendocino County who has been writing newsletters about his efforts to provide sustainable produce and marijuana. We feature his column once a week.

     I’m feeling deep gratitude for community, for the sharing and gathering that weaves the tapestry of our lives.  It’s easy to just hunker down and work all the time, and I’m glad for the opportunity to get out and see folks, to go to market or festival or other get-togethers.  Sometimes it’s hard to balance it all and I feel stress between my efforts on the farm and the many social gatherings that happen in the summer, but once I’m there I’m always happy about it.

      This past weekend we attended the final Kate Wolf Festival at Black Oak Ranch.  I’ve been going to festivals there since I was a small child, and there are so many beautiful memories wrapped up in the experience that past and present blend together into a special kaleidoscope of good times.

       As I walk the grounds I see folks I know and love, some of whom I don’t get to see except at festival.  I have time to stop and catch up, to drink a cider and talk and laugh.  I’m not rushing around, don’t have anywhere I need to be (unless there is music coming on I want to see) and am free from the constant work of the farm.  It is a welcome respite.

      After 25 years of Kate Wolf, it’s a bittersweet feeling to look forward into a future without it.  I will miss this iteration, but I’m excited for the blossoming of new endeavors at the Ranch.  With the Hog Farm Hideaway already behind us and the upcoming Days Between on August 6th-7th, it is clear that the strong tradition of festivals at Black Oak will continue.

      Gathering in celebration is one of the fundamental things that makes us human, a deep consonance that rings down through the ages.  To hold space and foster a coming-together for community is a powerful undertaking, one that carries a profound responsibility to show up, for self and for others.  I’ve been to lots of events in my life, and the many people who share the effort of producing events at Black Oak Ranch create the most special, safest, memorable spaces I have ever had the pleasure to attend.

      When I was a kid it was the Rock and Roll Pignic, and our little mountain-school nonprofit used to sell pizza bread and snow cones.  Having the booth as a base of operations and food source, us little ruffians would scamper all over the festival grounds, seeing the sights, hanging with old friends and making new ones.  It was such a wild experience, the feeling of freedom and newness coupled with the safety that true community provides.

      It takes a village, and the way events are done at the Ranch is a prime example.  So many willing hands and spirits pitching in to foster a basket to contain unique and special experiences for the broader community.  That sense of safety is such a key part of the journey, a combination of freedom and support that feels like family.  The benevolent onlooking of the many folks working to maintain the flow, keeping an eye on security, tending booths, hauling in goods and people and hauling out waste is done in such orderly fashion and with such flair that the festival proceeds without a hitch so far as the participant can tell.

     Event production always has hiccups, but the sign of a well-run scene is that the average ticket-holder has no idea of any issues and proceeds with smooth enjoyment through the weekend.  This is always the case in my many visits to the Ranch, and from my limited and hectic experiences at even small-scale event production, is something I admire.

      Though I’m sad to see the end of the Kate Wolf era, I also remember the end of the Pignic era, and I see the blossoming of a new era of Hog Farm festivals.  So many beautiful memories over the years, with a future of so many more to go.  To all the folks who help make it happen, a hearty THANK YOU for being such a meaningful and joyful part of my life and the lives of so many!  As always, much love and great success to you on your journey!

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Misguidedyouth
Guest
Misguidedyouth
1 year ago

The hog farm has great parties because of the people the come to them.. the people that run the hog farm, esp the new shooting star presents, are too self important thinking they Are the reason for the parties .. everyone’s always shouting and no one really has any answers .. it’s intense, and they also pretend to be some kind of neo hippies that kicked people off of the cinnune cuz they wouldn’t get vaccinated… Pretty open minded!

Industrial Disease
Guest
1 year ago
Reply to  Misguidedyouth

No one should have to risk your disease to attend a festival. I appreciated that part.

Got logic ?
Guest
Got logic ?
1 year ago

Because no one vaxxed has gotten the vid….🤫

Mega me
Guest
Mega me
1 year ago

As if there aren’t diseases at hippy festivals lol. They’re only responsible for most of the hepatitis cases up here.

Misguidedyouth
Guest
Misguidedyouth
1 year ago
Reply to  Mega me

Kate Wolf is a far cry from a hippy festival. Hahaha…

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
1 year ago

I was there on the Fire Safety Krew, as I have been for a few years.

I am going to miss the festival. It is by far the best festival that I have ever attended. It is clean, orderly, and has the best and most diverse music.

The crowd is mostly elderly, or at least older. They are more affluent than the average concert goer. It is both sad but humorous to see people rocking out in their walkers.

When the festival is over and people leave, there is not even so much as a gum-wrapper left behind.

There is a season for everything under the Sun. It is bitter sweet to see the Kate Wolf festival fading off into the Sunset.

Trashman
Guest
Trashman
1 year ago

The dirt dance was the opposite of Kate. It was fun to watch the hairy women shop at the old Geigers market.

ataloss
Guest
ataloss
1 year ago

Hey you can always contact Larry Goldberg in Trinidad. He does a mini festival there annually – just got close friends of course.

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
1 year ago

I was there too. A beautiful gathering! What a lineup! So much heart on stage. And such a beautiful setting! Plus, not many ‘hiccups’! Through the entire weekend (Wed to Monday) they never needed to call cops, or an ambulance. No major issues. A community that plays well together. Was very well organized and run! Kudos to Backroads Productions and their Staff!
Had never been there before. Kate Wolf Fest was on my bucket list. = Check!

Last edited 1 year ago
Robert J Barnett
Guest
Robert J Barnett
1 year ago
Reply to  Ben Round

Ok. I bite. I had some awesome times ranching hippies at the ole farm. The water slide, Wazy speech about trusting God but tie up your Camel, ( front street) and having half the crowd wanting to kick my arce because someone overdosed some kid. He was running around crazy, causing mayhem, and of course no Rock Med just mockers wearings sockers. Any way, crowd started throwing Rocks at Cops, I ( tru da power of the most high) yelled ” that’s my brother.” The Cop fleed ( ok flare) flipping me off, and ( ok, not flare) the crowd turned with bumba cloat filled eyes. Luckily, my Mendo brother spirit came to me as I yelled ” group hug!”

The eyes of fire dimmed and reason, regained control, and for 3 stinking days, those scary freaks ( and 2 years after) wanted to knock me out. Luckily all were understanding , but also scary as beep, so yeah, hippies are like free range cattle, nice to look at farr away grazing, but if one of them goes rabid, then they all watch and heckle, dang crowd psychology always bothered me.

Also starting Glee Club ( thanks lady’s for laughing with me), racing water truck on bike, watching some hippy try jumping in the dust tornado and fly away with everyone’s tents, and arguing with the craziest biker about God till 1am, then his lil homme, brought me over to a camp fire, were I preached to about 40 of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen.

So yeah, again Hippy Ranching is brutal, also never take one home. Then it’s called claiming dependents, and as we all know, Good Luck wit Dat.

RIP Faughn for getting me on the Parking Crew, getting me kicked off the parking crew , yah like those Bullies wouldn’t let me pick up garbage. How can hippies fire a dead head, when dead heads don’t even need to work. Yay, I want my parking lot, safety blinker check, and seat belt buckle up reminder job back, you bullies.

Anyway, thanks family, oh, beep, some might be lurking Dead Co

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
1 year ago

Hey. Yeah. Ok. I see. But I kinda don’t.
I appreciate the response. Not really tracking your story, but I hear some levity in your disgruntled recollections. Sounds like it wasn’t boring!
BTW. As a former ‘hippie’ (and still one in my heart) I find most hippies are cool. And the “hippies” of today are not the same.

And do note: Most the people at this years Kate Wolf fest were elders, like 65yo+. (See Ernie’s comment above).

Last edited 1 year ago
burning bush
Member
burning bush
1 year ago

I don’t know what the fuck you said but I liked reading it. Right on.

Horrified
Guest
Horrified
1 year ago

Yes I saw that corrupt asshole screaming at people in a crowd..really weird I think he is losing it..settle down tom before you have a heart attack.

Nun
Guest
Nun
1 year ago

Safe? Last time I visited here I got dosed, got all my stuff stolen, and everywhere I looked were wide eyed tweekers and a few self righteous old creeps and wanna be growers in every direction. Hog farm is a joke

Good riddance
Guest
Good riddance
1 year ago

They don’t call it Hog farm for nothing…Nun…lol..

Sonnyb
Guest
Sonnyb
1 year ago

Maybe now the Kiwanis will bring back the redwoods run. Always an good time, good music, good people an don’t forget about the open air drug market. Where else can you get all 3 while enjoying the company of like minded riders. Bring back are hazy days an nights. Come on Kiwanis do not let us down. I for one will by the first ticket package.
@freehill
NLM2

Maureen
Guest
Maureen
1 year ago

Why do good things go away?

Live a life of hope change will come
Guest
Live a life of hope change will come
1 year ago
Reply to  Maureen

I’m old as dirt. Back in the late 60’s and 70’s there were like gatherings. Some people irritated me, but there was never any hate. After I left to find my place in the world I found several places like Humboldt that people from different worlds of thinking gathered for hours sometime a few days and share a patch of Earth and enjoyed the created atmosphere. There were always a few who had differing thoughts about how life should be, but no one left with a large lump of hatred growing on their hearts. We still felt the aura of live and let live. As I wandered further and later in years I discovered attitudes were changing. Especially in the South. I experienced dirt laiden pockets of of hate and indifference. With a money tote full of sheckles I decided to head back to Humboldt. Sadly, I found much had changed. My good places were being infected with people that showed selfishness and bitterness. I stayed which was a failed hope that the good times and fair minded people would return. Nothing ever returns to the way it used to be. There at strains of hate like a Covid sickness in Humboldt and it has taken over the entire Country. I turn 80 years old in November and my future years are fading like a fast setting sunset. I have no where go and nothing better to move to except to surely turn into a clump of old dirt.

Kym Kemp
Admin
1 year ago

I might be wrong but I find that the people I meet seem to reflect my perspective. In addition, over time, my memories of the past soften—are infused with a happier hue generally.
Maybe folks are a great deal different than they were but, in general, I find most folks around here generally trying, in spite of an overall climate of division, to treat people with different ideas with a hands off approach.

Last edited 1 year ago
Give a hug today
Guest
Give a hug today
1 year ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

“Live a life” sounds like my grandfather. I doubt he even reads Redheaded Blackbelt. Grandpa was a Vietnam Vet who never talked about his time in-country. But he did revert into a longhaired hippie type. My mother will never talk about what her father did to make his money. He must have some because he bought all three of us new vehicles. And he paid off our house mortgage. Today his hair is all gray and has a face of wrinkles like the road on H Street. He lives alone and the only time I see him is on holidays or family birthdays for my me, mom and sister or if I call him and say I am stopping by. I don’t know when he started hugging us. My father was not a very physically emotional parent. If fact I never saw him hug my mom. But grandpa will give me a serious hug when he sees me. Same with my sister and mom. My dad is somewhere, but not here. Grandpa’s hugs are like 20 to 30 seconds long. No words of wisdom just an octopus hug. Many times with tears in his eyes. I suspect he has some shit rolling around his head and mom says I should never ask. When I visit him his place is littered with empty wine bottles and ash trays of weed pipes. He has never offered me wine or hits. And I have never asked him for any of his vices. Grandpa never has much to say. He says it all thru his hugs. They are pure love. And that’s my point. Hugs are way better than hate. I challenge everyone who reads this to give someone a serious octopus hug. If we all did that hate could be flushed down a toilet.