The island’s largest agricultural showcase, Taste of the Hawaiian Range returns for a 23rd installment on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Waimea.

Activities are planned from 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and include a free outdoor agriculture festival with family fun and educational presentations at the YMCA Minuke Ole Park behind Parker Ranch Center. The ticketed evening gala is slated for 5:30-7:30 p.m. and will sprawl inside and out at the adjacent Old Kahilu Town Hall.

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The 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Taste Agriculture Festival offers livestock displays, an interactive Keiki Farm Hands Tent sponsored by the Hawaii Farm Bureau, educational exhibits and scheduled presentations, local product sampling and sales, food trucks and beverages.

“Keiki can enjoy hands-on agricultural-themed activities and games, plus pony rides will be available for a nominal fee by the Hawaii High School Rodeo Association,” says event chairperson Jeri Moniz.

Learn how agriculture is the science, art and practice of producing food during agricultural and culinary-themed presentations starting at 10:30 a.m.

Topics include mushroom cultivation, tree grafting, home food preservation and hydroponics.

The 2019 installment of Cooking Pasture-Raised Beef 101 is from 2:30-4 p.m. in the classrooms behind the Old Kahilu Town Hall. This year’s class is presented by chef Jacqueline Lau, culinary specialist for HFM FoodService, a Sysco Company. Lau, who grew up on a ranch in Northern California, will demonstrate how to prepare beef tongue, which she calls “lengua.”

The evening gala offers 20 culinary stations preparing pasture-raised meats and local produce. Culinary participants include Annie’s Island Fresh Burgers, Daylight Mind Coffee Co., Fairmont Orchid’s Brown’s Beach House, Four Season Resort’s Hualalai Grille, Ippy’s Hawaiian BBQ, Kuleana Rum Shack, Laulima Food Patch, Mai Grille, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Merriman’s, Red Water Cafe, Royal Kona Resort, Roy’s Waikoloa Bar &Grill, Sam Choy’s Kai Lanai, Village Burger/Noodle Club, The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, plus Hawaii Community College.

Gala tickets are $50 online, at Parker Ranch Store and during the ag fest; $60 at the door, if available.

Attendance is limited to 500.

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For ticket information and the full list of activities and presentations, visit www.tasteofthehawaiianrange.com.

Taste of the Hawaiian Range and Agriculture Festival provides a venue for sustainable agricultural education, plus encouragement and support of locally produced ag products.