Several dozen walkers and runners trekked through walnut orchards on Saturday at the inaugural Empire Walnut Festival in Colusa.
The first-of-its-kind event was held at the Empire Nut Company’s state-of-the-art hulling and packing facility on Moon Bend Road in Colusa, strategically built in the center of their walnut farming operations.
“We want this to become an annual event,” said Joseph Weiler, organizer.
There was no cost to participate in the festival, which took runners on a course of packed dirt roads, mostly shaded by the lush canopy of walnut trees that are nearing harvest.
All participants started at the same sound off, with Fun Run 1-mile walkers hitting a course through the north orchards, while 5-k and 10k participants ran east on Moon Bend Road and then through the orchards to the south.
The Colusa High School Cross Country Team staffed the event and were stationed as course guides throughout the orchards.
“It was a beautiful course,” said Sherry Harper, who won the top finish for females in the 1-mile race. “I really enjoyed it.”
In addition to Harper, Kevin Collins, 8, was the top male finisher for the 1-mile race. Ryelin Jansen and David Bumpus were the top finishers for the 5k (3.17 miles), Melissa Kitts and Ron Rector were the top finishers of the 10k (6.21 miles).
Each participant was given an event T-shirt and a gallon of Empire’s high quality shelled walnuts. Winners received extra prizes, including an Empire Nut Company hat.
“I’ve never won anything before,” Kitt said. “It was really a lot of fun.”
In addition to prizes, Empire Nut Company provided a free healthy barbecue of farm fresh sweet potatoes and squash, served with bananas and Empire walnuts.
Organizers said they plan to expand the festival in the years to come to raise awareness of the Empire Nut facility, the quality of walnuts grown and processed in Colusa, products available, career opportunities, and the health value of incorporating walnuts into your daily diet.
For more information about Empire Nut Company, visit online at empirenut.com■