Be Like a Sheep: Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 13 Launch Party

Come celebrate the enduring connections between land, culture and community in the Ojai Valley at the latest Mad Agriculture Journal launch party, featuring films, live music, line dancing, BBQ and drinks at the historic Simoore Grange Hall. Rooted in community-building, land, dance, and storytelling, this event brings together ranchers, farmers, graziers, artists, activists, and curious souls to explore what it means to live in cooperation and collaboration – like a herd. 

We’ll gather under the warm summer sky (and the Grange roof) for an evening of engaging festivities and rich conversations about cultivating resilience in the face of climate change and cultural divides. This is an opportunity to connect with neighbors across difference, building common ground through shared values of stewardship, sustainability and care. Join us for this unforgettable evening alongside partners Cole Bush, Farmhand Foundation, and Tractor Beverage’s Mad Farmer Tour.

Drinks & Food

Signature cocktails and non-alcoholic options by Tractor Beverage and Show Pony Bar . 

Free samples plus a DIY airstream drink station. Santa Maria-style BBQ with local lamb and goat provided by Boekhouse Hearth & Husbandry.

Films & Panel

(directed and produced by Liam Pickhardt) highlights the ancient connection between shepherding and modern country dance by following the work of Diane Anastasio. 

Cole Bush’s new montage short film is about modern-day pastoral pursuits in southern California (produced by Mad Media’s Kirk Horton). 

Panel discussion on  creating a culture of resilience led by Cole Bush, with voices from Tractor Beverage, regional fire departments, and local food and agriculture leaders.

Line Dancing & Live Music

Kick up some dust with line dancing lessons with local line dance instructor, Diane Anastasio. Beginners are welcome - no experience necessary! Just bring your boots and a desire to learn and let loose on the dance floor! Plus open dancing into the night. 

The Mad Farmer Airstream will be at the heart of it all.

Why This Matters

This is more than a party. This is a gathering of people who believe in the power of agriculture, community resilience, and the shared work of tending land and culture. Together, we will honor the stories that shape the past, present, and future of agriculture in Ventura County.

All registered guests will receive a copy of Mad Agriculture Journal Issue 13. The cost of your ticket supports the Simoore Grange Hall and Grazing School of the West.

MAD! AGRICULTURE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working from heart to head, poetry to science, financing to markets, and soil to shelf. We meet farmers wherever they are on their journey toward regenerative agriculture.

Cole Bush

Cole Bush, known for bringing the practice and ancient vocation of shepherding to Southern California, is an entrepreneur, advocate, and educator in the fields of climate-beneficial agriculture, land stewardship, and prescribed grazing. With over a decade of experience, Cole has developed and managed prescribed grazing projects on thousands of acres of private and public lands throughout California for ecological enhancement and fire hazard reduction. Guided by her drive for meaningful work Cole is passionate in supporting others to find vocational pathways for non-traditional agrarians.

She is the founder of Shepherdess Land and Livestock - a prescribed grazing company based in Ojai, California, Shepherdess Holistic Hides - a purveyor of mindfully sourced sheep hides, and Grazing School of The West - a non-profit 501(c)3 multidisciplinary vocational training program for the next-generation of graziers.

Diane Anastasio

Diane Anastasio is an Ojai-based shepherd, writer and line dancer whose work explores the intersections of folk culture, agrarianism, gender and movement. Through these overlaps, they aim to connect us to our bodies in ways that restore our ancient connections to herd animals and the land. As a line dance instructor, Diane provides opportunities to gather together and move as a herd in a joyous, lighthearted and low-pressure environment. For Diane, line dancing is an accessible and fun form of movement that forges community bonds across differences while celebrating self-expression. Diane is also the Program Manager of Grazing School of the West, curating learning opportunities for new and experienced graziers across the western US.

Grazing School of the West

Grazing School of the West (GSW) is a multidisciplinary nonprofit providing education, vocational training, and advocacy in ecological livestock grazing for land stewardship, wildfire prevention, climate resilience and adaptable food & fiber systems in the American West.

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