A PEEK AT VALLEY'S PAST ANGELENOS COME OUT FOR DAY ON FARM.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS - Families flocked to Pierce College on Sunday for the school's annual Farmwalk, where city slickers could experience the San Fernando Valley the way it was in a more agrarian past.

A hay-wagon ride, cow-chip bingo, a birthday party for a pony, a horse show and an exotic fruit stand were among the attractions at the open house for Pierce's agriculture department.

``Most people don't know where their food and fiber comes from, and we're trying to educate them,'' said Leland Shapiro, a professor of animal sciences at Pierce.

Linda Larks of West Hills brought her two young daughters to the event.

``In L.A. there's all kinds of other things to do, amusement parks and things like that, but I thought pretty animals on a nice spring day would be a good thing for the kids,'' Larks said.

In cow-chip bingo, participants bought chips that were placed out under cows. The owner of the chip that landed the first cow pie won $1,000.

Among the guests of honor at Sunday's event was Glannant Secret, a pony that will turn 30 on Wednesday.

Owner Stephanie Abronson, 65, of Malibu Canyon served carrot cake out next to the pen holding her pony. ``She could live another 10 years or more,'' said Abronson, a retired breeder.

City Councilman Dennis Zine said he grew up in the city and he was enjoying his first trip to Farmwalk.

``It's a wonderful educational experience. This brings this valley into an environment that was yesteryear,'' Zine said, adding that Pierce College's farmland needs to be protected from development.

Five-year-old Patrick Miller has a horse and other animals at his home in Shadow Hills, but there was still plenty for him to learn at Farmwalk.

``I keep coming here because I like it,'' said Patrick, who was making his third trip to the annual event with his mom, Patty Grana.

A popular exhibit at the event was the California Rare Fruit Growers' table, where growers displayed such curious eats as a carambola, a tropical star-shape fruit, and a kiwano, a member of the cucumber family from Africa that is shaped like a lemon covered in pointy bumps. George Pelaez, 61, a retired UPS driver, said he has tried growing a variety of fruits.

``I've won some and I've lost some. You'll never make it unless you try,'' he said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Five-year-old Ivan Moroz stands eye to eye with a calf at the annual Farmwalk, held at Pierce College in Woodland Hills on Sunday.

(2) Miguel Lacon, 7, and Parker Langford, 8, run through a field at Pierce College during the event.

Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News