2006 Kite day at the McFarland Living History Ranch

By Ashley Luedemann and Duane Ausherman


After one cancellation due to rain, the 30th of April turned out to have perfect weather and wind.  It was organized by Ida Denier of the Galt Area Historical Society and promoted by Earl Fry.  General Mills provided snacks for the kids.  Pete is the expert and this year brought out kite making materials for all of the kids to make up a kite.


Several kids and parents are in the nice lush field flying kites at the McFarland Living History Ranch in Galt, California.

The freshly cut field and gentle winds made for a very nice day to fly a kite.

This kite appears to be a Canadian goose.

This is one of the many kites seen at the McFarland Ranch.  It's distinctive shape of a Canadian goose looks almost real.

Mayse and his mom are getting ready to fly this beautiful kite at the McFarland Ranch.

A young boy named Mayse enjoys kite flying with his mom.

This kite is mostly tail. It is 32 years old and super long at 35 feet.

This kite was a sight to see. It's length is about 35 feet, and it is over 32 years old.

Mayse is getting ready to launch his kite.

Mayse gets ready for take off.

Maile is thirteen and brother Mayse is ten. They are from Acampo and are enjoying the lovely day at the McFarland Ranch in Galt, California.

Maile (13) and her brother Mayse (10) enjoy the lovely day outside.

These are just a few of the many kites owned and built by Pete Sheragy of Lodi. He is the resident kite expert and we appreciate it.

The owner of all these delightful kites is a Lodi man named Pete Sheragy.  Owning more than two barns full of kites, Pete collects delicates such as these from around the world. He also makes his own kites.  This has been his hobby for around 17 years.  It seems to be his passion to help show kids how to make and fly kites.

More of Pete's vast collection of kites were displayed at the McFarland Ranch.

Here are more of Pete's collections. His favorites are birds and butterflies.

This kite was built in the form of a pirates sailing ship with skull and crossbones.

The pirate kite.

This beautiful butterfly is Pete's masterpiece.

This is a masterpiece of Pete's. He shows us the beautiful colors that the butterfly portrays when it is flown.

Pete made this eagle kit and it flies like a bird.

Here is another of Pete's handmade kite. Resembling the actual figure of an eagle, this kite will circle in the air and fly just like a bird sometimes on its own.
 

This is a huge kite and the twirling colors are wonderful.

A kite, almost as big as Pete, catches everyone's eye as it twirls in the air with delicacy.
 

Another "bird" kite at the McFarland Ranch that can easily appear to be a real bird.

This kite could be mistaken as a real bird.  It was a birthday present to Ms. Dorothy M, who is glad to say she turned 70 years old and is still looking great!
 

Dorothy has several kites that she flys at Bodega Bay.

Dorothy has fun with her new kite.  She has 4 different unique kites that she takes out to Bodega Bay now and then.
 

What is this old guy doing on stilts? He is going to hurt himself.

Kite flying was not the only activity kids and their parents did. Some of them enjoyed learning how to walk on stilts, which happens to be not as easy as it looks.  This is Duane Ausherman teaching kids how to walk on stilts.

This is Pete's favorite "train" of kites. They are steered by two kite strings and can be guided all over the sky. They make a lot of noise at they scream acorss the horizon.

Pete shows off his favorite train of kites, whirling them around and catching the eyes of the audience as it flies.
 

This tiny kite is only about 5 inches on a side and it really does fly.

If there were to be a prize for the smallest kite, this (the small pink part) would have been the winner. (It actually flew too!)

Cute little Kayla is flying a kite for the first time and really seems to enjoy it.

Kayla Campbell (4) is really having some fun with her first time flying a kite.

This is Iree and she is 11 years old.

Iree (11) made this kite and is now "trying it out."

The weather at the McFarland Ranch was just about perfect until Stormy showed up. Stormy is fourteen and not only flew her own kite, but helped her siblings.

"Stormy" Sergent (14) had little trouble getting her homemade kite up.  The partially restored ranch house can be seen in the background.

This shows Mr. Cheerful also known as Michael Sergent.

This smiley guy is 12 year old Michael Sergent.

The little guy in the center is Will Roberts and he is only 2 years old and doing well with his first kite.

That is Will Roberts and he is flying his first kite at only 2 years young.

This really looks like the "Flying Man"

Is that Kiteman?

This photo shows how nice it can be to visit the McFarland Living History Ranch in Galt.

These two families are enjoying a picnic and peaceful day at the McFarland Ranch.  The mom on the left is Kimberly Kim, the kid with the hat is 3 year old Gabe, his brother with the friendly face in the foreground is Miles (7) and on the right is Tanya Roberts holding Will.

Alyssa is only eight years old and quickly learned how to work with the wind to keep her kite flying very high.

Alyssa (8) kept her kite up very high.  She really got good at flying the kite by learning how to work with the wind.

Kelly is finding that it is not so easy to walk on stilts.

Kelly's (9) first time on stilts.

Just look at the concentration on Erika's face as she walks around on stilts.

Erika (8) is a natural on stilts.  She just got on them and took off.  It was her first time too.

Winners of the kite competition

Children

Mandy Lindsey
Alyssa Lindsey, 8
Mike Frey
Jonathan Brower

Adults

Peggy Berreth
Dorothy Merkins
Rose Chambers

To see the report in the Galt Herald, click on Kite flying at the McFarland Ranch.

 
Back to home page

This page was last edited: 04/22/2007 - copyright Galt Area Historical Society
Web hosting provided by hostmeister.com