OWAC Agenda

10:00am - Conference Registration, Marketplace
12:00pm - Buffet Lunch & OWAC General Meeting
2:00-3:00pm - Craft Improvement: Del Albright, Podcasting
3:00-4:00pm - Craft Improvement: Gary Knunkel, Photography
4:00-5:30pm - Social Hour (attendees check-in to Wyndham)
5:30-9:30pm - Dinner & EIC Awards Presentation
6:30pm - City of Visalia - Brett Taylor, Mayor
9:30pm - Adjourn

Trek to the Trees

Sequoia National Park is home to the largest living organism in the world; the General Sherman Tree. Sequoia is the second park to be named in the National Park Service system and  boasts the most spectacular view of the great western divide. 

Sequoia Shuttles will transport OWAC to Sequoia National Park. In route, a docent will share information about our valley agriculture and history. 

While in the park, Sequoia Parks Conservancy and NPS Rangers will provide guided adventures through the park including common tourist highlights:  Crystal Cave (closed since 2022), Moro Rock, General Sherman, Crescent Meadow, Giant Forrest Museum, Hospital Rock & Tokopah Falls. 

The All-American Experience

Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie!

There are only 7 minor league stadiums with a neighboring national park. OWAC Conference Attendees and their travelling companions will enjoy an evening with Visalia Rawhide. 
https://www.milb.com/visalia

Fly Fishing in Mineral King
8am - 4pm

In 1960 Walt Disney proposed a 27-ski lift resort development in Mineral King. After years of legal battles, the Mineral King Valley was annexed into Sequoia National Park in 1978. Mineral King is located in the Southern section of Sequoia.  It's one of the few areas in the Sierra wilderness with a "drive to" Golden trout habitat. Those choosing this excursion will truly appreciate the preservation of Mineral King into the national park system. Beautiful photography opportunities few have experienced. 

This unique all-day experience is facilitated by Kaweah Fly Fishers Guides with Wayne Luallen: https://globalflyfisher.com/staff/wayne-luallen 

Must have California Fishing License. Catch and Release Only. Gear including waders, not provided. Lunch provided.

Boyden Cavern & the Scenic Byway

Kings Canyon is home to the deepest canyon in the United States and home to General Grant, the second largest living organism in the world. Participants will enter Kings Canyon from Hwy 180 and explore the wonders with a professionally guided tour.

This is a professionally guided tour and includes a delicious picnic lunch. Transportation Provided.

Preservation Trail

Sequoia Riverlands Trust protects more than 44,000 acres of land around the Kaweah, Tule Kern and Kings Rivers, as well as in the Carrizo Plain. 

These are guided tours with experiential elements. 

1. Visit Kaweah Oaks Preserve When you walk along the trails at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, you can imagine how this area looked before it was settled over 100 years ago. The preserve provides habitat for over 300 plant and animal species, including bobcats, great horned owls, California grapes, willows, and the preserve's namesake - the majestic Valley Oak. 

2. Dry Creek Preserve Dry Creek Preserve is a 152-acre former gravel quarry located just northwest of Lemon Cove. This nature preserve is the first example of an ecologically based aggregate mine reclamation in Tulare County.  The native plant nursery will be a unique experience. 

3.  Bravo Lake Botanical Gardens  The first agricultural botanical garden in California is 13 acres of plantings that extoll Tulare County’s botanical diversity. 

4. Rock Art Exploration  Discover and learn about pictures and symbols left on rock surface by members of traditional cultures. 

Transportation Provided from Wyndham.

Root Down to Rise
Meet at Giant Forrest Museum
9am – 2pm

Unleash and let your creativity soar in the biggest forest in the world.  Inspired by the Giant Forest, ground yourself among the presence of a vast room system.

This is for you if you: 

• want to intimately explore nature
• want to remove mental blocks
• are curious about meditation
  
  Experience provided by Devine by Nature.
  https://www.divinebynatureexperiences.com/home

Rails to Riding
Rail Walking: 9am-11am
Riding: 12pm-2pm

Visalia was established in 1852 and has an interesting history including stories of the “wild west.” Spend the morning walking historic sites along the downtown Visalia Rail.  This guided tour is facilitated by Visalia Heritage.

The afternoon will be spent at Riata Ranch International, home of the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls.  You will be greeted with a traditional cowboy mid-day meal. Attendess will be mentored on preparing the horse for the trail, the foothills just outside of Visalia. After the 60 minute ride, attendees will have a trick horse riding demonstration followed by personal trick riding techniques.

Architectural Tour in the morning including: https://www.stcharlesvisalia.org/project-overview

Trail Ride with Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls:
https://www.riataranch.org/

Ag, Art, & Architecture


Become immersed in Visalia’s Ag Culture.  The day begins at St Charles Borromeo where our rich heritage is reflected in the design and art features.  This all-day guided tour will explore commercial agriculture production including dairy, nuts and citrus along with waterways and plant rotation. A celebration of Visalia’s visual and performing arts will be infused within the tour. The tour will end with a harvest tasting.

Add product planting and harvesting details.

Relationship Reflection
5:30pm - 7:30pm

OWAC Conference Attendees will gather with Visit Visalia tourism partners and government representatives for a barbeque and reflection on the in-market experiences, including the traditional photo contest. 

Plaza Park Raceway, a short walk from the headquarter hotel, will host the event including micro-midget demonstrations and interviews with the athletes. 

https://plazaparkraceway.com/