The Triumph Foundation recently held a hand-cycling event at River View Park in Buellton for those suffering from disabilities. It offered participants the opportunity to try out hand-cycles. Thirty cycles were available for use, races were conducted, and there were plenty of volunteers to assist. Fun, food, and friendship filled the day.

Andrew Skinner, who has a spinal cord injury, is the founder of the Triumph Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help children, adults, and veterans with disabilities triumph over obstacles and inspire them to keep moving forward with their lives by pushing themselves to get better every day. Founded in 2008, the foundation assists people from Santa Barbara County to San Diego County, with about 20,000 members, 6,000 of whom are disabled.

“We visit hospitals all over Southern California with people who have suffered catastrophic injuries or neurological disorders,” explained Skinner. “That’s the heart of what we do. We host adaptive recreation events almost every week in different areas. We bring all the equipment, coaches, and volunteers, and anyone is welcome to attend. It doesn’t matter if you have a disability or not.”

“This event featured hand cycles, and we brought 30 of them with us. Twenty-five people took the opportunity to try riding the cycles and racing around the park,” said Skinner. “Too many people with disabilities don’t get out and live life. They isolate themselves and don’t realize what they are capable of and what they’re missing. This event is more than just cycling, it is about fellowship, making friends, and living life to our fullest ability. We extend an invitation to all people interested, especially our friends with disabilities.”

David Magallanes was the organizer of this event and is the leader in Triumph’s Santa Barbara County division, although there are support groups all over the state that hold monthly gatherings in various locations.

“I love to connect with people and let them know they are not alone,” said Magallanes. “We help meet each other’s needs, share experiences, and have fun at the same time.”

Magallanes brought up one person in particular the group has reached.

“I met one of our young members some time ago as she was going into the YMCA with her mother and siblings,” he said. “I knew, being in a wheelchair, she was just going to sit there and watch her siblings having a good time. I mentioned to them about the Triumph Foundation, and she was here today, having fun, riding a hand-cycle. That’s what Triumph is all about.

“We are the furthest northern branch of Triumph. We used to meet in Santa Barbara, but that was a little inconvenient for everyone up here, so we started a new branch in North County. We meet the second Tuesday of each month in Orcutt at Giovanni’s Pizza, but in the summer we meet at the Naughty Oak Brewery to be outside.”

Another visitor at the event was William Hendrickson, also known as “Wheelchair Willie.” Hendrickson has been competing in wheelchair sports for the past 20 years, winning approximately 50 medals. He just returned from Minneapolis, where he competed in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and recently competed at the Angel City Games in Los Angeles.

“A lot of people showed up today to try out the cycles and had races around the park,” said Hendrickson. “There was a lot of camaraderie. We chatted with each other about what we are up to. A lot of people are on their own, and linking up at these events helps us work together to solve problems.”

“To me, it’s not about the competition anymore; it’s about the kids and the newly injured — inspiring and teaching them how to be successful in sports and in life,” said Hendrickson. “I’m getting to be one of the oldest competitors — I’m 60. There are not too many of us left.”

Dominick Trevethan, who also attended the event, is a podcaster, a radio programmer, and blogger, who can be found at thedisabilitymyth.com. As he puts it, his podcast is about “amplifying the voice of the disability community; bridging the gap between disabled and non-disabled experiences; and being
handsome, humble, and hammy.”

“This is the first hand-cycling event I’ve been to, and last week we held the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp. It was awesome to meet new friends here today and reunite with the people from camp,” said Trevethan.

Another local advocate of the Triumph Foundation is Will Ambler, president and founder of SCI Research Advancement, who attended the event.

“The Triumph Foundation serves a unique niche to benefit people with disabilities on the Central Coast,” Ambler said. “After being invited to several events as a guest speaker and casual participant, I have seen firsthand the great value the Triumph Foundation provides to people with disabilities. The hand-cycling gathering was a perfect example of the service they provide. Volunteers bring food, drink, and specialized equipment to a park. They invite anyone who might be interested to try out the equipment or support the group. All the while, people are having fun, making new friends and contacts. This is a great support group, and I know this is a worthwhile foundation. If you get the chance to participate in any of the events, you will be extremely happy to choose to get involved with the Triumph Foundation.”

For more information about the Triumph Foundation, visit www.triumph-foundation.org/events.

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Addie Madrid has been chosen as Solvang’s Danish Maid and will preside over this year’s 88th Solvang Danish Days celebration, whose theme this year is “Be Happy–Vaer Glaede!” Madrid will fulfill her “royal” duties during this year’s event weekend — Friday through Sunday, September 19 through 21 — and throughout her year’s reign. She is the fourth woman in her family to hold the title of Solvang Danish Maid. That title was also held by her grandmother, Glen- da Jaeger Madrid (1971); her mother, Ashlee Madrid (1999); and her sister, Aleena Madrid (2022). 

Madrid, who is 17 and will be a senior this year at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, applied last spring to the Solvang Danish Days Foundation for a chance at becoming this year’s Danish Maid. Due in part to her familial background and involvement in previous Danish Days events “every year since I was born,” she was chosen to be this year’s Danish Maid. 

Both sides of Madrid’s family ancestry run deep in the history of Solvang and are rooted in Denmark. According to information provided by the foundation, Madrid’s great-great-grandfather, Viggo Tarnow, came to the United States from Copenhagen in 1914. He settled in Minnesota, where he met and married Cora, later moving his family, including their daughter, Marie, to California. Tarnow taught at Solvang’s Atterdag Folk School and helped to shape what is now the Atterdag Village of Solvang senior care center. His love for the Santa Ynez Valley ran deep, and through his dedication, Addie’s family became woven into the very fabric of Solvang. 

The foundation also stated that Madrid’s great-grandfather, Johannes Jaeger, came from Tindbaek, Denmark, in 1948, with hope in his heart and carpentry tools in his hands. In Solvang, he met and married Marie Tarnow, and together they built not just homes but a life of service and commitment to the community. Johannes became a partner in the Madsen & Jaeger Contracting Firm, and many of the Solvang structures that he helped build still stand today — such as the large windmill on Alisal Road and the Solvang Brewing Company windmill on Mission Drive. Alongside Marie, he gave back to the community through volunteer work at Atterdag College, Bethania Lutheran Church, the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art, and more. 

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Robbie Kaye is creativity in motion. As an artist, composer, classical musician, photographer, and former gymnast, she has never stopped exploring the myriads of ways of bringing beauty into this world. Kaye has performed and composed music for many years in New York and Portland, Oregon, before she transitioned into photography and painting. Kaye’s work has been exhibited internationally in museums and galleries and has been featured in numerous publications such as LensCulture, Lenscratch, Gourmet, and Marie Claire magazines.

Three years ago, Kaye returned to her music roots after receiving a box of her old cassettes and started writing and recording again. She will be performing at Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang on Thursday, Aug. 7, in a Songwriters in the Round event with Arwen Lewis, Toni Land, and Emily Zuzik. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performance will start at 8 p.m. Lost Chord Guitars is at 1576 Copenhagen Drive, Ste 101, Solvang.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she says her first experience of life consisted of the big city until her parents sent her to summer camp at the age of 5. It was then that she said she took her first breath of fresh air, experienced nature in all its glory, and realized that she was destined to replicate the wonder and beauty she had experienced in those summer months. They were the foundation for her love of art and all the elements of nature.

As a child, she studied gymnastics and was trained in classical piano. After graduating from high school, she attended a college in Georgia because it had a good gymnastics program, and as a gymnast, she wanted to compete collegiately. However, Kaye really didn’t fit into the more-rural area, she said, and quit the gymnastics team. She eventually returned, but an injury derailed her athletic career.

“During spring training, I landed incorrectly and hurt my back,” she said. “Since I couldn’t do gymnastics any longer, I turned to my other love, which was music. I had been classically trained in piano in New York, so I took music courses instead. When I returned to New York for Christmas vacation, I was immediately put into the hospital for back surgery. I had a herniated disc and never returned to school.”

She then applied to Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying jazz and majoring in composition and piano. After a year and a half at Berklee, Kaye returned to Long Island and joined a rock ‘n’ roll band in 1979.

“We made a 45 record, performed in New York City, got on the radio, and, like most bands, we broke up,” she said. “At the ripe age of 22, I moved to Manhattan and pursued a music career by collaborating with other musicians. In the interim, I tried working 9-to-5 jobs, but I just couldn’t handle it for very long.”

In the early 1990s Kaye had her own band, five girls and one guy, called Reverend Tribble & the Angels. Kaye’s journey as a songwriter is rooted in a deep love of music and a dedication to her craft.

“I started writing my own songs when I was 16, when my parents told me they were getting a divorce. It was a means of expressing my sadness at the time, and I continued writing lyrics for my own music,” she continued. “I also had the good fortune of being signed to Warner Chappell Music as a staff songwriter. The following year, one of the songs I co-wrote was for Disney Records, and the following year, the same song was placed in a Disney film.”

A change in her personal life meant a change in location. She got married and moved to Portland, continuing to put out music and playing in her own band. Entering the new millennium Kaye decided to change course and return to school.

“I quit the music scene for the first time in 2000 and went back to school to study creative writing and literature. I continued writing and recording but got out of the business side of it,” she continued. “I moved to the Oregon coast for six months, where I traded music for my room and board. While I was there, I took writing classes through Portland State University in Cannon Beach, Oregon, then moved to Santa Cruz to continue studying and got a job at UC Santa Cruz while attending school there.”

Kaye then moved to Santa Monica and worked for the Dean of Admissions at USC while continuing her studies, taking photography and poetry classes, and then working with one of her professors, California Poet Laureate Carol Muske-Dukes, on a project for the 125th anniversary of USC in 2005.

“We created a poetry/photography book for the occasion focusing on the school’s architecture and landscapes. I pursued a photographic career, and in 2009, I traveled the country interviewing women who were in their 70s and older at their weekly beauty parlor appointments and created a photographic book called ‘Beauty & Wisdom.’”

In 2013, Kaye moved to the Valley, launched her book, and started painting motorcycle tire treads on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and on canvas, selling them in a business she started.

“I continued with my photography and transitioned into abstract expressionism, painting trees for a collection called ‘Naked Trees’ and another called ‘All Dressed Up & Everywhere to Go,’ which can be viewed and purchased at Helen’s Hair Studio in Santa Ynez,” said Kaye.

Kaye’s new single, “Clear Blue Sky,” was released Aug. 5 on Spotify and all listening platforms, and she is presently writing and recording songs for film, TV, and ads. Robbie’s song, “Big Red Truck,” has been played on NPR Radio and national daytime television. She has an art studio in Santa Ynez, and is continuing to be a creative force of nature.

For more information, visit www.robbiekaye.com or email robbie@robbiekaye.com.

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A new Waldorf-based school called Hundred Hills School will be opening this fall in Buellton. Historically, Waldorf education is based on the education philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. They are independent schools that follow the Waldorf philosophy, which is known for its emphasis on the arts, including music, theater, and visual arts, as well as its focus on the development of the whole child, including their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Its educational style is holistic, intended to develop pupils’ intellectual, artistic, and practical skills, with a focus on imagination and creativity.

Hundred Hills School is a private, nonprofit, co-educational day school for students in preschool through grade four. It was founded by passionate Waldorf parents Whitney Stevenson-Chanana and Sundeep Chanana, with the unwavering support from equally passionate Waldorf educators Chinyelu Kunz, Terri Webster, and Marjorie Rehbach.

According to its website, the school’s educational philosophy is influenced by a reverence for children’s EQ and IQ journeys, which are segmented into three stages, or the three I’s: Imitation, Imagination, and Intellect. The philosophy is manifested in a curriculum that elegantly prioritizes both academic rigor and experiential/kinesthetic learning.

“I was born and raised in the Valley,” said Stevenson-Chanana. “My father was a veterinarian who worked for Jim Buell in the racehorse industry in the ‘ 70s, and my mother was a substitute teacher. Just last week my mother gave me a book that she found in her things that was written by Steiner in the 1960s about education. When I was a child, my mother actively managed my education by getting intra-district transfers so I could access the best teachers and curriculum available. I attended Family School, Jonata School, Vista, and Los Olivos schools, and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. My parents supplemented my education by incorporating 4-H, horses, Suzuki Method violin lessons, art, and ag. My mom had a vision of what she wanted to cultivate in her children.”

After graduating from UC Davis, Whitney worked on Wall Street as a research analyst covering semiconductors, retail, and hospitality. She said that when she became pregnant with their first child, she wanted to do a home birth and raise their child outside of New York City, so she and Sundeep returned to the Valley in October 2020, just two months before their first son was born. All of her family still live in the Valley or nearby.

The journey to launch a Waldorf school began in 2021 when, thinking ahead, Whitney and Sundeep were concerned about the education they wanted for their children. She recalled that she was first introduced to Rudolf Steiner when she was living in New York.

“There was an intriguing little bookstore with a lot of books written by Rudolf Steiner, which was always intriguing,” Whitney recalled. “I had a friend who had interesting grown children, capable and smart people. He once commented that if he had more children, he would send them to the Waldorf School, which was located on the Upper East Side.”

“Actually, my husband gets all the credit for the idea of opening a Waldorf School here in the Valley,” she added. “We were trying to figure out how we could remain living here and have our children enjoy the kind of education we wanted them to have. It was his idea to open a Waldorf School here in the Valley. He initiated the process.”

The Chananas are on a site for the school on Dairyland Road in Buellton that was approved in a lengthy Buellton City Council meeting on July 24 (see story on page 6), which will grant them a five-year land lease to incubate the Hundred Hills School. After the initial five-year term, their plans are to build a permanent campus in Buellton.

Now the parents of three small children, ages 4, 2, and a newborn, the Chananas are looking forward to seeing all their hard work come to fruition with the opening of Hundred Hills School this fall.

Chinyelu Kunz is the founder of We Nurture Collective, a podcast she started in 2020. Stevenson-Chanana said she would listen to podcasts by Kunz, and that’s what led her to contact Kunz about opening a Waldorf School in Buellton, and they became friends.  

Born and mostly raised in Enugu, Nigeria, Kunz came to the U.S. after high school to attend college and majored in interior architecture at the New York Institute of Technology, and then studied architecture at Cal Poly Pomona.

“When my son was almost 2, I was introduced to Waldorf education,” Kunz said. “That was in 1992, and I have been completely involved in early childhood education ever since.”

“In 2020, I left the classroom and started podcasting, coaching, and supporting parents in parenting their young children,” she explained. “When Whitney brought up the idea of opening a Waldorf School in Buellton, I was wholeheartedly in favor. Then, by some miracle, my husband was offered a job in Santa Maria in aerospace, and within weeks we were moving from Pennsylvania to the Central Coast. I joined Whitney and became the joint head of Hundred Hills School.”

“Our goal is to create a Waldorf community that is not insular but builds a lasting and enriching relationship with the entire Valley,” said Kunz. “I am passionate about Waldorf education, and I see the benefits it has had on my three children, who are all grown up now.”

Kunz has published one parenting book titled “The Little Book of Parenting” and one children’s book titled “Away to Dreamland,” consisting of poems and stories for bedtime that will be released on Sept. 15. Kunz can be found @wenurture on Instagram, or visit her website at www.wenurturecollective.com.

The school is accepting enrollment for preschool and kindergarten for the fall 2025 classes. They also have a series of free events for families over the summer held on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at SYV Botanic Garden and Saturdays at 10 a.m. under the magnolia on the Buellton Library lawn.

“We have been really inspired by the way the pieces and the people involved have come together for our project to take flight,” said Stevenson-Chanana.

For more information, visit www.hundredhillsschool.org (a 501c3 nonprofit) or on Instagram @hundredhillsschool.

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By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Robbie Kaye is creativity in motion. As an artist, composer, classical musician, photographer, and former gymnast, she has never stopped exploring the myriads of ways of bringing beauty into this world. Kaye has performed and composed music for many years in New York and Portland, Oregon, before she transitioned into photography and painting. Kaye’s work has been exhibited internationally in museums and galleries and has been featured in numerous publications such as LensCulture, Lenscratch, Gourmet, and Marie Claire magazines. She has a permanent exhibit at the University of California, some pieces of which have been stolen. Her work is also in the hands of private collectors throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Three years ago, Kaye returned to her music roots after receiving a box of her old cassettes and started writing and recording again. She will be performing at Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang on Thursday, Aug. 7, in a Songwriters in the Round event with Arwen Lewis, Toni Land, and Emily Zuzik. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the performance will start at 8 p.m. Lost Chord Guitars is at 1576 Copenhagen Drive, Ste 101, Solvang.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, she says her first experience of life consisted of tall buildings and cement parks until her parents sent her to summer camp at the age of 5. It was then that she said she took her first breath of fresh air, experienced nature in all its glory, and realized that she was destined to replicate the wonder and beauty she had experienced in those summer months. They were the foundation for her love of art and all the elements of nature.

As a child, she studied gymnastics and was trained in classical piano. After graduating from high school, she attended a college in Georgia because it had a good gymnastics program, and as a gymnast, she wanted to compete collegiately.

“It was a life-changing experience,” she said. “I went from being a popular student in New York to being a social outcast. I quit the gymnastics team because I didn’t feel like I fit in in general. I had a hard time living in a rural setting and in such a different culture. And being a sensitive person didn’t help. I was extraordinarily shy, even to this day, although people I know will laugh at that statement.”

She eventually found her tribe and returned to gymnastics, but competing was no longer in her future.

“During spring training, I landed incorrectly and hurt my back,” she said. “Since I couldn’t do gymnastics any longer, I turned to my other love, which was music. I had been classically trained in piano in New York, so I took music courses instead. When I returned to New York for Christmas vacation, I was immediately put into the hospital for back surgery. I had a herniated disc and never returned to school. Georgia was really character-building, to put it mildly, but I eventually found my niche.”

Instead, she applied to Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying jazz and majoring in composition and piano.

“The first band I was in was a country band where I played piano. It was at a venue called Swampland,” she said.

After a year and a half at Berklee, Kaye returned to Long Island and joined a rock ‘n’ roll band in 1979.

“We made a 45 record, performed in New York City, got on the radio, and, like most bands, we broke up,” she said. “At the ripe age of 22, I moved to Manhattan and pursued a music career by collaborating with other musicians. In the interim, I tried working 9-to-5 jobs, but I just couldn’t handle it for very long. I’d hang in there for four months, and then I had to move on to the next job. I even wrote a song about Manhattan.

“My grandmother wanted me to be a paralegal and go to secretarial school. She would take me shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue and buy me power suits. So, by day I wore a power suit to work, and by night I wore black leather pants, performing in shows in Greenwich Village.”

In the early 1990s Kaye had her own band, five girls and one guy, called Reverend Tribble & the Angels. Kaye’s journey as a songwriter is rooted in a deep love of music and a dedication to her craft.

“I started writing my own songs when I was 16, when my parents told me they were getting a divorce. It was a means of expressing my sadness at the time, and I continued writing lyrics for my own music,” she continued. “I also had the good fortune of being signed to Warner Chappell Music as a staff songwriter. The following year, one of the songs I co-wrote was for Disney Records, and the following year, the same song was placed in a Disney film.”

A change in her personal life meant a change in location.

“I married and moved to Portland, where I recorded a CD called Two Separate Worlds and formed my own group, and as a duo we performed both on the east and west coasts for a few years,” she continued. The marriage didn’t last, but we have remained friends.”

During the millennium Kaye decided to change course and return to school.

“I quit the music scene for the first time in 2000 and went back to school to study creative writing and literature. I continued writing and recording but got out of the business side of it,” she continued. “I moved to the Oregon coast for six months, where I traded music for my room and board. While I was there, I took writing classes through Portland State University in Cannon Beach, Oregon, then moved to Santa Cruz to continue studying and got a job at UC Santa Cruz while attending school there. I then moved to Santa Monica and worked for the Dean of Admissions at USC while continuing my studies. I registered for a new semester at USC and took my first photography and poetry class with the California Poet Laureate, Carol Muske-Dukes who I later collaborated with for the 125th anniversary of USC in 2005. We created a poetry/photography book for the occasion focusing on the school’s architecture and landscapes. I pursued a photographic career, and in 2009 I traveled the country interviewing women who were in their 70s and older at their weekly beauty parlor appointments and created a photographic book called ‘Beauty & Wisdom.’”

In 2013, Kaye moved to the Valley, launched her book, and started painting motorcycle tire treads on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and on canvas, selling them in a business she started. She said it was then that she became interested in resin.

“I continued with my photography and transitioned into abstract expressionism, painting trees for a collection called ‘Naked Trees’ and another called ‘All Dressed Up & Everywhere to Go,’ which can be viewed and purchased at Helen’s Hair Studio in Santa Ynez,” said Kaye.

Kaye’s new single, “Clear Blue Sky,” was released Aug. 5 on Spotify and all listening platforms, and she is presently writing and recording songs for film, TV, and ads.

Over the years, Kaye said she has had the honor of co-writing with remarkable songwriters, including the legendary Doc Pomus, respected hitmaker Clay Mills, multi-award-winning producer Elliott Lanam, Mark Cruz, and Julian Cassia. She has also demonstrated her versatility by scoring the music for two musicals: “Afterlife” by Bob Fenster and “The Continuing Adventures of Anne and Jack” by Josh Goldman. Robbie’s song, “Big Red Truck,” has been played on NPR Radio and national daytime television.

She has since remarried in 2006, has an art studio in Santa Ynez, and is continuing to be a creative force of nature.

For more information, visit www.robbiekaye.com or email robbie@robbiekaye.com.

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When you hear the name C.J. Jackson, you automatically associate it with the Alisal Ranch and you would be correct. Jackson’s family has owned and operated the ranch since it was purchased in 1943. Dating back to 1810, the 10,700-acre Alisal Ranch has a history of cattle, thoroughbred horses, and farming. 

“My father took over the business of the Alisal from my grandfather, who purchased it in 1943 as a place to winter his cattle,” said Jackson. “My grandfather was a cattleman from Marfa, Texas, born in Albany, New York.”

Jackson remembers short trips to the Santa Ynez Valley with his family — ones he took reluctantly.

“My parents and extended family live in Montecito and have for generations,” he said. “When I had to accompany my parents up to the Valley, it was the last place I wanted to be, because I had friends and a life in Montecito and the Valley was the last place I wanted to visit — the place was as dull as dishwater when I was 13.”

At 18, Jackson went to Connecticut to study at Yale, “getting as far away from here as I could get.” After graduating from Yale, he continued on to graduate school, attending Claremont Graduate School, near Pomona, where he met his wife, Mary.

Living in Los Angeles County was not ideal for the Jacksons.

“In 1995 my wife and I moved to the Valley, mostly to get out of Los Angeles County. My wife was a farmer’sdaughter, so she had to have enough space for animals and a very large garden,” said Jackson. “I came here basically to find myself. I was a banker at the time, and that profession didn’t hold any promise for me on future horizons. I was a round peg in a square hole. But my banking experience helped my father with real estate lease-hold issues, and in 2006, I formally took over running Rancho Alisal and then the Alisal Cattle Ranch.”

Jackson, 67 years young, was born in Santa Barbara County and has lived in Solvang for the past 30 years. He has been a member of many boards and organizations, such as the Dunn School Board of Trustees and the Santa Ynez Valley Foundation, and was the director of the Santa Ynez Valley Economic Forecast Group, to name but a few. He is presently on the board of the Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, having served on it for 27 years. His focus has always been on the well-being of the Alisal and the community in which he lives. But unfortunately, his ownwell-being was ignored.

“I was pretty out of shape, having had a hip replacement in February 2019, just before COVID hit and we were not permitted to gather for business purposes in my office. My doctor said I was borderline diabetic, and overweight, and I didn’t feel in control of my own destiny,” Jackson admitted. “My friend Richard Crutchfield, who was 80 at the time, guilted me out of my recliner to begin walking. The first day we got up to about a quarter mile, then progressed with regular walks, eventually accomplishing 15 miles a week — five-mile outings three times a week. That took about nine months to accomplish. I combined my walks and my work responsibilities, meeting residents and maintenance andcattle ranch employees while practicing social distancing outdoors during my walks. My orthopedist approved.”

“I was feeling better walking and joked around saying it was an even better workout for my jaw muscles, because on these walks we never stopped talking.”

Then, Jackson took it even further.

“Since I was feeling better, I coordinated a group of people — a local nutritionist, Nancy Dale; my primary care physician, Dr. William Heringer; a personal trainer, Nick Simon, with Academia Sports Performance Lab in Solvang, formerly called LIFT; and Richard, of course — to help me with my goal of getting healthy, and slimmer to look better in my clothes by losing 50 pounds,” Jackson said. “Initially my nutritionist put me on a program which helped me lose some weight, but it was slow going. My doctor saw improvement and challenged me to go further, and my personaltrainer put me on a program that included aspects of physical therapy to enhance my athletic capability, improving my balance, flexibility, and range of movement. I even started skiing with my grandchildren, hiking, and even backpacking.”

For inspiration, Jackson would hang up a one-size-too-small pair of jeans on the wall of his home office. As he lost weight, he would hang another smaller pair, then another, his goal being to fit into a pair with a size 32 waist, which he is still working towards accomplishing.

“I was getting healthy, but I still needed to lose some weight,” said Jackson. “So, my nutritionist put me on a specific plan that she thought matched my personality, and I subsequently lost 30 pounds in 30 days. I lost seven pounds in the first week, so I was very motivated to continue. My doctor said, ‘Whatever you are doing, don’t stop.’ All of my team dovetailed into an overall health program that was working for me.”

Then, an extraordinary opportunity arose for father and son to spend some time together backpacking in Hawaii. Jackson’s son, J.P., who is a backpacking enthusiast and guide, received notification from Napali Coast State Park in Kauai, Hawaii, granting him and two others permission to spend four days and three nights camping and backpacking in the park, a long sought-after goal.

“He had been applying for the permit by lottery for 10 years,” Jackson said. “He has been working for the past 12 years as an outfitter and backpacking and rafting guide, leading groups of people interested in outdoor adventures in national parks all over the country, such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Sequoia, and Death Valley. 

Jackson also said, proudly, of his son, “He is a wilderness first-responder. Presently he works at the Alisal as a naturalist, working as a hiking guide and star gazer, and is in the process of researching a local outdoor venture.”

Once J.P. had the permit in hand, Jackson and son started getting ready. 

“The permit was for three people, so I immediately volunteered to go on a father/son adventure,” Jackson said. “We had roughly 90 days to prepare for the 23-mile hike on a four-day/three-night campout. My son made all the arrangements and preparations and acquired the needed gear. I started wearing my 40-pound backpack on my walks with Richard.”

The day arrived for father and son to fly to Hawaii and begin their adventure. But their adventure took an unexpected turn for the worse.

“We landed in Kauai and spent two days in advance of the hike sightseeing on the island, which was beautiful,” said Jackson. “On the day of the hike we were told that it had rained the night before and early that morning, and they warned us about the slippery red clay. But we were prepared. I was wearing the best equipment and shoes and carriedpoles, so I felt secure to begin the hike. We got about a mile and a half up the trail before I slipped and fell on my back. The backpack broke my fall but unfortunately my left foot got lodged between two rocks, and I tore my quadriceps. If I had not lodged my foot between the rocks, I would have just gotten up and continued. I wanted to continue anyway, but my son, being a wilderness first-responder, said absolutely ‘no,’ and he was in charge. It was heartbreaking that we couldn’t continue the hike. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. Who knows, I could have slipped and fallen on my face further up the trail and been in a worse position.”

The hike back took twice as long, and Jackson said he remembers every painful step of the way.

“My son had to carry both our 40-pound backpacks, and I was able to walk back on my own, but I can remember every single step of the hike back,” said Jackson. “We went to a nice little critical access hospital that diagnosed my situation, and we sadly flew back home. My son can reapply for a new permit to hike the trail in six months.”

Despite the disappointment, Jackson chose to put a positive spin on the Hawaii trip.

“Initially I had wanted to use my story at the Alisal for the guests, but I realized the ending didn’t quite fit the story I had planned on telling,” he said. “It was then that I realized there was another story to be told about my journey to better health that everyone needed to hear. It’s never too late to start to get in shape, all you need is the desire, determination, willpower, and friends who support you on your journey. I was fortunate that I was surrounded by people and resources that enabled and supported me on my journey to better health — and of whom are specific to our Valley.” 

Jackson’s training buddy agrees.

“Occasionally C.J. and I will meet in the parking lot of the River Golf Course, readying for our walk, and one of us will say, ‘If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here this morning,’” said Crutchfield. “It’s really important to have the support of a friend.”

For those who are inspired by Jackson’s story to get fit and healthy again, no matter your age, his advice for the first step is to find a friend and start walking, and then, don’t stop and be consistent. There are also many exercise and nutrition podcasts available on the web that can help you achieve your goals. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the full version of the story. An abridged version of the story can be found in the July 15-Aug. 4 print edition of the Santa Ynez Valley Star.

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It was the perfect day, weatherwise, to celebrate the 4th of July. Throngs of people from near and far lined the sidewalks of Solvang to celebrate America’s 249th anniversary of its Independence Day with a patriotic parade whose theme this year was “Anything is Possible in America.”

The Grand Marshals of this year’s parade were Kay and Walt Alves. They moved to the Valley in 1959, and for the past 66 years, they have been steeped in volunteering. The couple has donated countless hours to Old Mission Santa Ines, the San Lorenzo Seminary and the Seminary Foundation, and the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. But above all, the Alveses have been committed to the Rotary and Rotary International, both actively fundraising for Rotary’sscholarship program, with the two of them always cooking for Old Santa Ynez Days and Danish Days.

There were 74 entries in this year’s colorful parade, all bedecked with red, white, and blue and the American flag. Following the singing of the national anthem by sixth-grader Evie Gerritsen, daughter of Griffin and Gigi Gerritsen, the parade started promptly at 10 a.m. with the Color Guard American Legion Post #160 leading the way, soon followed by the Alveses as Grand Marshals.  

After that, the parade included several dignitaries, including the Solvang and Buellton mayors and City Councilmembers; newly named 2025 Danish Queen Addie Madrid, riding in a 1936 Ford Roadster; 2025 Youth Rec Queen Kacy Caplan with SYV Youth Recreation; and Miss Santa Ynez Old Days Rodeo Queen Hailee Taylor.

Many local organizations were present at the parade, including the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, Solvang Senior Center, Atterdag Village, and Solvang Theaterfest. Santa Ynez High School sports programs were represented, among them the varsity and JV football teams — some of whom jumped off the back of the trailer and did push-ups — as well as players from the water polo and girls volleyball squads.

Many entries came to entertain and perform, such as local parade and event staple Garcia Dance Studio of Lompoc, Pacific Flips Gymnastics, and the dancing horses of Cuadras del Valle de Lompoc. 

And there were the different vehicles that traveled down Mission Drive. They included military vehicles from the Flat Fender Friends, vintage cars from the Santa Maria Model A’s Ford Club, a coffinmobile right out of “The Munsters,” and of course, the Viking Ship steered by the Vikings from Solvang.  

The Rotary Club of Solvang, who sponsors the annual event, listed this year’s entry winners in numerous categories as follows: Sweepstakes: Hi Way One Hooligans, Rod Simmons; Best Use of Parade Theme:   Miss Santa Ynez Old Days Rodeo with Queen Hailee Taylor and Beefer the mini cow; Most Patriotic: Daughters of the American Revolution; Most Original: Central Coast Mini Riders Munster Coffinmobile; Most Amusing: Solvang Theaterfest Comedian Orny Adams Show Sept 13, 2025; Most Unique: First Street Leather, Solvang; Best Band: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.; Best Singing Group: Agin Brothers, Cars & Cowboys; Best Singing, Single: Sanger Family of Wines; Best Family Group: Bob Jones, Four Generations of Joneses; Best Church Group: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Best Senior Group: Solvang Senior Center; Best Animal Group: Cuadras Unidas del Valle; Best Wagon Group: Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538 Officer Wagon and Color Guard; Best Automobile Group: Vapor Trail Vettes; Best Automobile, Single: George Family 1928 Model A Roadster; Best Automobile, Restored: Bob and Margo Gould’s 1956 Chevy Nomad and 1958 Shasta Trailer; Best Automobile, Antique: Santa Maria Model A Ford Club; Best Automobile Antique Group: Rotary Club of Buellton; Best Fire Engine: Summerset Farm’s 1928 Stanford Fire Truck; Best Tractor: Chloe Hinnrich’s 1945 Farmall M Tractor; Best Equestrian Group: Charros Unidos of Costa Central; Best Equestrian, Single: Santa Maria Elks Outrider; Best Viking Ship: Vikings of Solvang; Best Color Guard: VFW Post 7139, American Legion Post 160; Best Street Sweeper: SP Maintenance Services; Road Apple Crew: Espuelas y Rebozos; Best Uncle Sam: Kevan Harder, Nielsen Building Materials; Best Sport Group: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School JV Football Team; Best Military Group: Flat Fender Friends; Best Dancing Group: Garcia Dance Group; Most Energetic: Pacific Flips Gymnastics; Best Group for a Cause: SYV Youth Recreation; Best School Group: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Water Polo Teams and Aquatics Foundation; Best Youth Group: Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Girls Volleyball; and Best Audience Participation: Veggie Rescue.

“I love that I belong to this community,” said Becky Sutherland of Buellton. “The parade celebrates belonging here.”

After the parade, a 4th of July celebration was held all day, topped off with an evening of fireworks at the Santa Ines Mission.

Before the fireworks, though there was plenty to keep the crowd busy on the lawn in front of the mission. The area was full of food trucks with all varieties of cuisine, along with several vendors selling their products, as well as rides and activities for the kids. On the main stage, musical artists like King Bee, Jayden Secor, The Molly Ringwald Project, and DJ Peete had the crowds dancing.

Many people, though, chose to relax on the berm and wait for darkness to fall for the fireworks show.

Two of them were Celeste and Cathy Drach, who had seat right at the front, and they had to come early and get them.

“They allow us to come out and reserve a spot and we got to claim on Wednesday (July 2),” Celeste Drach said. “And there were people who got theirs earlier; I think the earliest I heard was June 30.”

Once it got dark and the berm filled up and it was time.

Incoming Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Board President Jennifer Hertler addressed the crowd, thanking the crowd and crediting the Solvang Rotary Club for their great job on the parade. And after a rousing version of the national anthem from recent SYHS graduate Ruby Andreu, the crowd enjoyed a magnificent fireworks show, again put on by local pyrotechician Kief Adler, which elicited many “oohs” and “aahs.”

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Comedian Orny Adams will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Solvang Festival Theater. Also, on stage that night opening for Adams will be stand-up comedian Frazer Smith. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Rotary Club of Solvang and Solvang Theaterfest.

“Orny Adams showed up on YouTube when I was watching comedians such as Brian Regan and Kevin Nealon, who have performed at the Solvang Festival Theater in the past,” said Allen Jones, volunteer chair of the Rotary Club of Solvang. “I thought to myself, ‘Orny is really funny. I wonder if he would be willing to come to Solvang?’ I asked my brother-in-law, Brad Mann, who knows all the great comedians, and he knew Orny and thought he would be great – if you could even get him. So Orny’s assistant emailed me back. We spoke. It seems Orny has ties to the Santa Ynez Valley, loves the area, thought we were a good group, and decided to come.”

“He is a very personable and engaging young man, extremely funny, bright, well-versed on life, and our area. Lucky to have him perform,” said Jones. 

“I’m excited to be doing a show in Solvang. In these times, we all need to get out of the house, come together, and laugh! I’ve vacationed there a few times, and I can’t imagine this isn’t going to be anything less than an incredible experience. I hope to see you all there,” said Adams.

According to his bio, Adams has appeared on every late-night television show. His “More Than Loud” comedy special on YouTube has 7 million views. Orny has had one-hour stand-up specials on Netflix, Comedy Central, and Showtime. He has toured all over the world and gives a full-throttle, high-energy show. You may also recognize him from the hit TV show “Teen Wolf” and the movie “Teen Wolf.” Additionally, he has well over a million followers on social media. Adams delivers a powerful, incisive stand-up routine that vacillates between the relevant and the absurd. He attacks what’s wrong with the world and sometimes even what’s wrong with himself. He’s brutally honest, satirical, and his performance is ceaselessly energetic.

One of Adam’s many reviews stated, this one by bestselling author Gavin de Becker, “There’s a growing group of people who have known that Orny is a great comic thinker and performer. We search out his stuff on the internet, we go to his shows, and we send emails around with things he’s said. It’s like we discovered Bob Dylan early and everyone else is just about to.” 

Opening for Adams that night will be Frazer Smith, also known as Frazier Smith. According to Wikipedia, he is an American radio personality, disc jockey, actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. Smith worked in Los Angeles at KROQ-FM from 1976 through 1979, KLOS from 1979 through 1984, KMET 1984 through 1986, KLSX 1986 through 1997, KLOS in 1997, and KRTH in 2002 and back to KLOS a third time until 2020. He has played small roles in films and television shows and was one of the announcers on the TBS music video show Night Tracks from 1986 to 1988 and 1989 to 1991. 

The debut of his manic show on KROQ-FM coincided with that station’s rise playing what was then-new new wave music. Smith is noted for his KROQ-FM simulcasts of the 1978 World Series. He coined the phrase “Too hip, gotta go!” while at KLOS. Smith also hosted the late-night television show called “Rock ‘N’ America,” in 1984. 

Presently, Smith is busy doing podcasts and stand-up comedy, which he’s said is his first love. He’s appeared at the Improv, the Laugh Factory, the Ice House, and the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, among others.

Tickets are $59 for reserved seating. Gates and concessions open at 6 p.m. Bring a jacket or blanket for the chilly evenings, as this is an outdoor theater. Refreshments and light snacks are available for purchase.

Tickets are on sale now at https://solvangtheaterfest.com. 

For more information on Orny Adams, visit www.ornyadams.com/, and for Smith, visit en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frazer_Smith.

Solvang Festival Theater is at 420 2nd St., Solvang.

For more information, call (805) 686-1789 or visit www.solvangfestivaltheater.org

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It was a glorious summer day for the 61st annual Old Santa Ynez Days Parade, which was held on Saturday, June 21. The theme of this year’s parade was the same as last year’s: “Where the West Went Wild!” Throngs of people gathered in the little town to enjoy this annual event, which celebrates the Old West the old-fashioned way. 

With the first notes of the national anthem, sung by Mia Goldman, the crowd became quiet, and everyone stood still with hand over heart until the anthem ended to uproarious applause.

The Grand Marshal of this year’s parade was Jillian Knight. According to her bio, Knight is a lifelong Santa Ynez Valley resident who was raised on a ranch in Gaviota before settling in Santa Ynez. She and her husband, Anthony, have been together for over 21 years and are raising their two children, Isabelle and Dominic, as fourth-generation locals. 

For over 25 years, Knight has dedicated herself to nonprofit work, both locally and nationwide. She has volunteered in disaster relief efforts, advocated for human rights, and supported vulnerable populations, including veterans, the disabled, single mothers, and low-income families. Despite living with a connective tissue disorder and physical challenges, she brings empathy and insight to her role as a board member and operations consultant of the Santa Ynez Valley Therapeutic Riding Program. 

“Volunteering has always been the most rewarding experience,” she said, reflecting on the joy she sees in students who benefit from the program. Her commitment to service continues to uplift and strengthen her community. Knight co-owns Grateful Heart Consulting, specializing in fundraising, event planning, and nonprofit compliance. She also administrates the SYV Local News & Emergency group on Facebook and provides the fire updates for the community. 

This year’s parade featured approximately 28 entries, which included multiple groups on horseback, dance groups, vintage cars and tractors, dogs galore, and, of special mention, Luna, the amazing high-jumping dog, who, according to her owner, Ann Clausen, would have jumped all day had she permitted, and a Scottish Highland bull whose enormous horns were painted like the American flag. The event also featured a variety of street vendors selling their wares, food trucks, a pie contest, a kid’s area with face painting, pony rides, bounce houses, and a variety of other activities for children to enjoy, provided by Waldorf School and SYV Children’s Museum. Music filled the air all afternoon, provided by Beau Red and The Tailor Made from Ojai; The Ripley’s, a local band, and featured singer Hayli Carlton.

Leading this year’s parade was the Sheriff’s Mounted Unit, followed by three members of the VFW carrying flags. TheGrand Marshal waved to the crowd as she passed by with hoots and hollers from the bystanders, followed by members of the SYV Therapeutic Riding Program, Santa Ynez Valley Rec Queen, Kaci Caplan, riding in a Corvette, then came the amazing jumping dog, Luna, followed by a large group of dog owners from Dogs of Santa Ynez walking their canine friends. 

Next up was SY Feed & Milling, Santa Ynez Valley Hounds, a foxhunting club, Santa Barbara County Cattlewomen, Domingos Family Tractors representing ag history, the Garcia Dance Studio from Lompoc, a miniature braying donkey and a Scottish Highland bull with patriotically painted horns. 

Then came the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, Los Rancheros Visitadores, Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue, a 1958 yellow Corvette, the Santa Ynez 4-H Club with a tribe of goats,  a vintage Jeep, the Santa Barbara County Trail Riders, the Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge, members of the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Folklorico Dance Club, more vintage tractors, a 1978 Flat Bottom Speed Boat called Bad Medicine, SYV Rodeo Western Heritage float, Old Santa Ynez Days Rodeo Queen Hailee Taylor, Santa Ynez Valley Penning Association, and last but not least, the Santa Ynez Jail holding a handful of local jailbirds.

But the day wasn’t all about the parade.

The Old Santa Ynez Days Pie Contest judges, Leonardo Curti and Joy Reinhardt, had a tough time picking winners from all the fabulous entries. The winner and Grand Champion was Mariah Montejano with her strawberry rhubarb pie. The Reserve Grand Champion was Cynthia Bacon with her triple berry crumble, for which she also won Best Filling; Best Crust was won by John Scott with his famous blackberry crumble. The Best Visual award went to Lisa Byrne, last year’s Grand Champion, for her fresh peach pie with butter crust crumble topping. 

“It was a seriously tough competition — every entry was delicious and represented a labor of love on the part of the creator,” said Nancy Hunsicker, coordinator of the Pie Contest and parade announcer. 

Following the conclusion of judging, the enthusiastic crowd enjoyed sampling all the pies, with a tip jar going to benefit the SYV Historical Museum.

Sponsors for the event were the following: Platinum: SY Band of Chumash Indians; Golden: Pony Cocktails + Kitchen; Silver: Mechanics Bank, St. George Construction, Charlotte’s of Santa Ynez, Uva Design Studio; Kid’s Corral: Santa Ynez Valley Rotary Club, Santa Ynez Valley Youth Rec; Beer: O’Connor Pest Control, Figueroa Mountain Brewing; Pie Contest: Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum; Frozen Wine Barrel: Inklings Printing Co.; Carriage Rides: Inklings Printing Co., Santa Ynez Feed & Milling; VIP Area: Pony Cocktails + Kitchen; and Entertainment: Hometown Insurance, Patriot Trailer Sales, Central Coast Landmark Properties, DMH Properties, and Robert Raucchaus.

“Business has been good, and the parade was really cute with the agility dog and the long-horned bull with the stars and stripes painted on his horns,” said Darlene Boyer, who along with Gail Page, manned a booth selling jewelry made by Diane Brown of Stone River Original. “It is so USA Americana with families, kids, dogs, and horses. It was beautiful; the whole day was refreshing.”

Charlotte Becerra, president of the Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce, said the Old Santa Ynez Days in an excellent example of people working together.

“This event is produced completely by volunteers, over 40 of them,” she said. “They all have one thing in common: their love of the township of Santa Ynez and the people of this community. The main volunteers were: Event Chair/Vendors: Charlotte Becerra; Kid’s Corral: Barbie Duarte; Parade: Lisa Lyons; Logistics: Nicole Peña & Alvie Whitaker; Pie Contest: Nancy Hunsicker; Music: Chuy Vidales of Santa Barbara Wine Events; Badges: Brian Carillo; and Muscle: SYVUHS Pirate Football.”

“The Old Santa Ynez Days event was fantastic this year! The Chamber and dozens of dedicated volunteers work tirelessly for over six months to provide a fun, free, family event for the community,” Becerra saidWe are honored to carry this 61-year tradition on for the township and that, even after all of these years, it is still a fun, fantastic celebration and the whole town joins in the festivities,” said Becerra. “The Chamber works closely with the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and the Western Heritage Foundation to provide three days of fun in the town. But we cannot do it without our amazing crew of volunteers and our generous sponsors, for whom we are most grateful.”

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Williams, one of the members along with five others on the Butchers of America’s Team USA, returned from the World Butchers’ Challenge (the “Olympics of Meat”), which was held in Paris at the end of March, with two first-place medals. 

Butchers of America is a team of butchers that was assembled primarily to compete in the World Butcher Challenge (WBC), which started approximately 20 years ago between Australia and New Zealand. Over the years, the competition grew to incorporate teams from many other countries. Eighteen countries participated in this year’s challenge.

“The hosting country, France, won all of the team categories,” Williams said. “We won best gourmet sausage and best beef sausage and tied for best chicken product and best lamb product. These categories are blind tastings, so the judges didn’t know which country made them. Winning in two sausage categories against countries that have been making sausages for 3,000 years was thrilling.”

Williams flew to Paris a few days before the event, which was fortuitous, as there were several incidents the team had to deal with before the competition started.

“My wife and some friends (the ‘rice guys’) flew out of LAX to Paris a few days before the event,” he said. “The three days before the competition were hectic. We had to shop for equipment, produce, and odds and ends we needed, so there was no time for sightseeing until after the competition.”

An unforeseen problem complicated things for the U.S. team.

“The day before the event, we found out that the supplies that the French were supposed to provide us weren’t on the truck, so we sent two team members scrambling around Paris to find what we needed while the rest of the team prepared everything else before the challenge began,” Williams said. “While the two team members were scrambling to get the supplies, the French informed us that they had found our provisions. Since we had already purchased all that was needed, we told them we didn’t need their supplies, and they were more than a little annoyed.”

The first day of the competition was focused on the “Young Butchers” challenge.

“We had two Americans in the ‘Young Butchers’ section of the competition, which was held on the first day, March 30,” Williams said. “I’m very proud of Sierra Jepsen and Cora Gains for the excellent job they did representing the United States.”

The following day was the “World Butchers’ Challenge.”
“Over 7,000 spectators attended the event, with more than 50 Americans in the stands cheering us on,” Williams said. “Each country was introduced, and the crowds went crazy. It was like being center stage at a major athletic or entertainment event. It was wild and noisy and exciting.”

Williams explained the format of the competition. “Every country had their own table, and we had three and a half hours to break down half a cow, half a pig, a whole lamb, and five chickens, and make sausages, and ground products, then display them in a visually artistic manner,” he said. “Every item had to be processed and displayed with a detailed recipe on how to cook it. 
“Every five minutes a new judge walked around checking for safety, sanitation, teamwork, proper use of the equipment, and our final display. It’s stressful being under the watchful eye of every judge, but when they change every five minutes, it’s a high-pressure environment.”

Because Williams is hard of hearing, he wore a state-of-the-art communication system that allowed him to hear his captain and focus on what he needed to do. 

“One point of interest was that the captain of our team furnished me with a special microphone that linked directly to my hearing aids, which was great,” he said. “I could just concentrate on what I was doing and not be distracted by the crowd.”

Soon enough, it was time for the teams to put their cuts on display.

“After processing all the meat, we set up our display table, and each of the judges made their final judgement on each table. At the end of the competition, each country picked their best product in each category, which was then given to a French chef with a detailed recipe to prepare and then judged for taste,” he explained. “We knew we had the possibility of winning the best chicken product, which was boneless stuffed chicken wings. We tied for our chicken and our lamb and received two trophies for the sausages and bragging rights.”

Williams said that most of the team members headed back to the U.S. right after the event, but he spent 10 days sightseeing in Paris with his wife and kids and his mother, Shirley. His mother and kids returned to the U.S. while he and his wife continued vacationing for five days in Spain and five days in Ireland.

“Being a part of the World Butchers’ Challenge was definitely one of the highlights of my life, and I can hang my hat on that,” said Williams. 

“I’m very proud of the Butchers of America’s Team USA, Etana Diaz, Nathan Bingham, Mitch Willis, Mark Madden, Ganny Johnson, Paul Carras, and Troy Morgan, for representing the United States and the craft of butchery,” said Williams. “I wouldn’t mind being a part of the World Butchers’ Challenge one more time. It was great!”

The award-winning sausages are available for purchase at Los Alamos Market in the meat department.

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