Agriculture

The 2022 San Benito County Rodeo took place June 24-26 at Bolado Park Event Center in Tres Pinos. Festivities included bull riding, calf roping and equestrian competitions, along with art and tack vendors, wine and beer tasting, barbecue, live music and more. Free Lance photographer...

Arguing that county officials and an out-of-town developer have ignored the voice of the voters over the last two years, a group of local residents has been circulating a petition to place a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that would limit or prohibit...

The San Benito County Saddle Horse Show Parade returned to downtown Hollister Saturday for the first time in more than three years. The parade—typically held as an annual preview to the San Benito County Rodeo—featured marching bands from area schools and communities, floats decorated and...

Brittany Moore, of San Juan Bautista, took home the title of Miss San Benito Rodeo 2022 last weekend at Bolado Park.  Moore, 20, is the daughter of Andy Moore and Cheryl Yetter. She is currently attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majoring in Animal Science...

San Benito County officials certified the citizens’ petition for an initiative that would require voter approval for certain land rezoning decisions, but are waiting for an impact report on the proposal before deciding whether to place the measure on the November ballot. The board of...

Josh Jensen—famed founder of Hollister’s Calera Wine, visionary leader in the American wine community and an iconic pioneer of luxury California Pinot Noir—died peacefully at his San Francisco home June 11. He was 78 years old.  In the world of fine wine, and to generations...

The proponents of a local initiative that would require voter approval before rural and agricultural property owners in San Benito County can rezone their land have gained enough signatures to place the measure on the November ballot, according to sources. The results are not official,...

Local officials and consultants are getting ready to begin an environmental study of the Strada Verde Innovation Park, a 2,767-acre mixed-use commercial and technological project proposed in northwest San Benito County. The upcoming effort to complete an Environmental Impact Report will take several months, and...

New plans submitted to San Benito County show more details for the commercial development proposed near Highway 101 and Betabel Road—including an expanded variety of uses for the farm stand building that is currently under construction. The McDowell Charity Trust—the owner and developer of the...

Due to critically dry hydrologic conditions, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is updating water supply allocations for Central Valley Project (CVP) municipal and industrial water service contractors.  Effective April 1, water supply for all Central Valley Project Municipal & Industrial (M&I) water service contractors...