KXO RADIO - Freedom Fest expected to be bigger and better than ever

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Written by George Gale
Tuesday, 01 July 2008
(Freedom Fest 2008 is this Friday)…This year’s event at Imperial Valley College is going on in a large part because of the School, itself, and its neighbors. As late as February it looked like Freedom Fest organizers may need to find another venue for the massive Fourth of July celebration. I V C had brought back its Ag program, and for the first time in 30 years, they had planted a wheat crop where the fireworks are normally shot from. Not only that, but the surrounding fields were also planted with wheat. The crop is very volatile and would have exposed a major fire hazard for any fireworks show. School officials came together with Freedom Fest organizers. All agreed the traditional Independence Day Celebration should go on as planned, and as tradition, it should be at Imperial Valley College. Doctor Pat Pauley, head of the I V C Ag Department said with the help of the agricultural community, they were able to harvest the fields and bring down the community garden in time for the July 4 celebration. Doctor Pauley said a special thanks had to go out to El Toro, and Max Hester in particular, for providing a tractor to the school for their harvest. Joe Tagg, a farmer with several fields on the west side of the school, was very humble, saying the harvest was no big deal. Freedom fest organizers say it was. Tagg and other growers worked diligently to bring their crops in ahead of the celebration, allowing the show to go on as planned. Tagg conceded the efforts were so successful, he will be ready for a second planting of wheat by December.