Drivers traveling on Highway 166, or people looking to purchase some locally made products, can check out what vendors in the Cuyama Valley have to offer at a swap meet on March 15.
This is a follow-up to the valley’s first swap meet last fall, which came about after the Blue Sky Center hosted a series of economic development meetings in the Cuyama Valley in both English and Spanish with the goal of bringing community members together to solicit ideas on how valley residents can tell their stories. The center is a nonprofit that works to strengthen rural communities in the valley by supporting entrepreneurs.
The center’s executive director, Em Johnson, said that during these meetings, residents identified the valley’s natural and individual resources as its top two strengths. To capitalize on the latter, two local women came up with the idea of holding a swap meet to showcase the work of local artisans and other producers.
“We’re striving to empower local champions to step into that role of organizing and implementing projects they’re passionate about,” Johnson said.
The first event was held last September at the center, which is located about a block off Highway 166. Johnson said about 130 visitors attended the event and perused the work of 15 vendors who sold produce, jams, pastries, Western jewelry, homemade soaps, handmade woodworking projects, and other types of crafted items.
The center is helping vendors hold a second event on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in an empty lot right off Highway 166 across from The Junk Jar, which is an antique store. Johnson said as of March 5, 17 people were signed up to sell their products.
While this is a community driven event, the center provides technical assistance, such as with marketing or helping people acquire the permits necessary to sell their goods at the event.
“That’s the biggest barrier to overcome for Cuyama entrepreneurs, just knowing what permits are required and how to access them since the Cuyama Valley is unincorporated,” Johnson said.
The center and the women behind the initial event hope these swap meets become reoccurring events, although they’re not sure how often they’ll take place. Johnson said aside from generating local revenue, these events are a way to celebrate the Cuyama Valley and increase community pride.
“We have small but mighty towns that are wonderful places to live in and visit, and we hope more events like this encourage people living in the region to visit,” Johnson said.
Highlights
• Lemos Feed and Pet Supply kicked off an effort on March 2 to raise money to help the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office purchase and train a new K-9 after one passed away in January. Donations the company collects will go toward the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse, which is a nonprofit that supports the department. The company is accepting donations at all of its locations.
• The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians are hosting a Traffic Circulation and Safety community meeting on March 26 at 6 p.m. at Hotel Corque in Solvang. The meeting is part of a study that’s intended to identify potential traffic safety improvements in the Santa Ynez Valley. To RSVP or learn more about the meeting contact kpadilla@katherinepadilla.com. m
Staff Writer Zac Ezzone wrote this week’s Spotlight. Send tips to spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 12-19, 2020.