Locals enjoy annual Eagles and Ag event

After driving past Carson Valley’s barns for the better part of the 21st Century, Gardnerville resident Marjorie McGee finally joined the Eagles and Agriculture tours to get an upclose look.

“I always drive by these areas and have wanted to stop and explore them,” said McGee. “They’re just so beautiful.”

McGee and friends from Virginia City took the Barn Tour Friday, a new addition to the event and visited Jacob’s Berry Farm, Henningsen Ranch and Scossa Ranch.

“I’ve lived here for 24 years, and I have never done it,” said McGee. “I’m happy I took the opportunity.”

According to Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alicia Main, 263 visitors got to explore the barns and take photos, hopeful to spot an owl or other wildlife.

On the guided tours visitors had the opportunity to meet the owners, learn about the history of each and see the inside and outside of timber framing and weathered wood, along with the opportunity to explore and hopefully spot an owl.

Presented by The Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, Eagles and Agriculture has offered the opportunity to experience the Valley’s agricultural past and maybe even spot an eagle or an owl; attracting photo enthusiasts far and wide since 2001.

In fact, photographers are what inspired the two decade event.

Rancher Arnold Settelmeyer noticed people would line and sometimes climb the fences around his ranch to take photos of the eagles feeding on the calf afterbirth.

That’s when Settelmeyer and other ranchers decided to create a teaching moment about the wildlife, livestock, history and beauty of the Carson Valley.

“It’s a combination of celebrating the agriculture in the Valley and the history and bringing it together so everyone can view it from their point of view,” said Clint Celio of the Douglas County Historical Society.

The four-day event featured photography exhibits and photo workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, hikes and exploration, a Falconers dinner, and up close looks at raptors.

The event gets bigger each year and new tours are added often.

“It’s about 50/50 local and people from surroundings areas,” said Celio “I think each year attracts a variety of both. People are happy with the added tours for a selection of different things to do and the photography opportunity is one of the biggest thing.”