Agriculture briefs

<p class="bold allcaps">Horse enthusiasts honored at Equus Awards banquet on March 25</p> <p>The annual Equus Awards Banquet on March 23 will honor five North Bay horse enthusiasts and a mare who served more than 20 years for riding lessons, summer camps and trail rides.</p><p>The Sonoma County Horse Council will honor Sebastopol's Steve Burchfield, president of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Mounted Assistance Unit; Tiburon's Martha “Marty” Griffin for creation of the Varykino equestrian program; Windsor's Donald “Red” Rightsell, for his achievements and mentorship in team roping; and Glen Ellen's Neil Shepard, for leadership in the teamster/driving community.</p><p>Santa Rosa's Valerie Gay Kasnick was selected as volunteer of the year.</p><p>Clover Easter, a registered quarter horse who recently died, is the 2013 Hall of Fame Horse. The mare, owned by Lisa Lombardi, was used in such venues as the Santa Rosa Junior College equine program and also as an official therapy horse for the Children's Village of Sonoma County.</p><p>The banquet will begin at 5:45 p.m. at the Double Tree hotel in Rohnert Park, 1 Doubletree Drive. Tickets are $85 each and can be obtained by calling 545-6089.</p><h3>Sheep dog trials next weekend in Sonoma County</h3> <p>Sheep dogs and their handlers will show off their skills herding flocks on Friday through Sunday at the Sonoma Wine Country Sheepdog Trial.</p><p>The dogs will compete from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Oak Springs Ranch, 2455 Calistoga Road near Santa Rosa.</p><p>Handlers from the U.S. and Canada will bring dogs to be judged on how well they handle themselves and the sheep they move around a set course. The event takes place rain or shine.</p><p>Visitors are encouraged to bring portable chairs. The cost is $5 for adults and $1 for children, with proceeds benefitting the Healdsburg High FFA.</p><h3>Sex harassment training for farm supervisors on April 16</h3> <p>Farm managers and other industry supervisors on April 16 in Santa Rosa can receive state-mandated training on sexual harassment avoidance.</p><p>The Sonoma County Farm Bureau is offering training at its office, 970 Piner Road. The classes fulfill a state law that requires supervisors to have two hours of training in sexual harassment every two years.</p><p>Classes will deal with verbal, visual and physical forms of sexual harassment. Supervisors will be instructed on how to deal with complaints and to correct problems.</p><p>Classes will be offered from 8 to 10 a.m. in Spanish and 1 to 3 p.m. in English. The cost is $65 for farm bureau members and $95 for non-members. For registration and further information, contact Anita Hawkins, 544-5575, or info@sonomafb.org.</p><p>— Compiled by Robert Digitale. Submit items to robert.digitale@pressdemocrat.com</p>