Riley's Farm

06/06/2026

I don't think I've ever posted something to social media with the **primary** motive of getting clicks, and that might be why I have a small, combined audience of about 90,000 people (email, FB, IG, X (x is the smallest)).

What worries me a little?

Pure race and religious "rage bait."

I have no doubt many of theses posts are actual footage, but if you can make a tidy living with a million subscribers and very engaged users, what stops people from actually **staging** or **deep-faking** horrible identity-based violence, not so much for the **purpose** of making people hate each other, but achieving that result nonetheless?

Very difficult gauntlet to walk. You don't want dinosaur media standards trying to squash the Iryna Zarutska stories, but you don't want to reward a bunch of violent nihilists either.

06/06/2026

Two of our finest living historians will be answering field trip and dinner theater questions in Oceanside (At the Cross Church 2112 El Camino Real), Saturday June 6. Stop in and say hello!

06/05/2026

Ever have one of those horrible technology mornings?

Password sites keep stalling. Microsoft Edge keeps offering you "default" status, (popping up out of nowhere.) Authentication codes never appear on your mobile? On top of that, the dryer goes out, the sink plugs, and then three bills arrive in your email box for more than $3,000 each?

One of those mornings..

And then a dear lady from Corona sends you $500 and another from Rancho Cucamonga sends you $250, and you think maybe you should have your testosterone checked, because you are fighting back tears of gratitude?

One of those mornings..

And then you remember a car ride with your youngest son the day before, laughing at the same stories. You register the big-eyed angel face of your youngest granddaughter, a face so perfect you can't stop looking at her. You ponder the words of Benjamin Franklin in the new film "A Great Awakening," (now on Prime), telling his grandson, "George Whitefield WAS the American Revolution," and you think there ARE victories in this life, bright embers of joy against the gloom through which we plow.

One of those mornings.

Not exactly a happy warrior this morning, but one who is comforted.

06/04/2026

A friend says he sees a big column of smoke looking NE from Perris, CA just now. Anyone know anything?
Firephotogirl

06/04/2026

The Ragtime Medley

Save the date(s): August 8, 15, 21, 22
Tickets: RileysFarm.com/Ragtime

So, you have summer visitors? Take them back to the 1890s without any expensive time machine. Experience the founding era of old Oak Glen..

06/04/2026

Interesting study in marketing, (and another pitch!): This last month, I experimented with several different social media platforms, increased email marketing, and committed to near daily dinner theater posts, and..

The last 30 days produced $56,000 more in bookings than the same 30 days last year. (One Facebook campaign, in particular, seemed to create 3-5 field trip bookings a day.) All platforms combined, we have about 90,000 subscribers of various sorts, and Grok walked me through improving our results on the smallest of our platforms -- X, Twitter. Grok nearly designed the ad, and it's bringing about 40 visits an hour to our field trip page. Thank you, Elon. (Can you call me, by the way?)

BUT, we are in desperate shape for the summer, as these bookings will not be collected for several months. We have one of the best bakery and living history crews we have ever assembled, and I want them to celebrate 250 all summer, BUT, we NEED YOU to book..

Colonial Faire: https://rileysfarm.com/index.php/colonial-faire/
Father's Day: RileysFarm.com/DAD
Ragtime Medley: RileysFarm.com/ragtime
Rockabilly: RileysFarm.com/rocks
Big Band: RileysFarm.com/BIG
Sleepy Hollow: RileysFarm.com/Sleepy

And if you have moved off to greener red pastures, consider helping those of us on the front lines.. (As I try to remember, this is NOT for people who are struggling to pay groceries and gas. This is for people who are blessed financially and want to help us.)

RileysFarm.com/Strong

06/03/2026

Sleepy Hollow!

We've been getting quite a few SLEEPY HOLLOW orders lately. Hayrides, pumpkins, Ichabod, Katrina, Brom, live music, dancing and the story of the Headless Horseman.

Don't wait. Remember, this year you get to pick your seats.

Details: RileysFarm.com/Sleepy

Purchase Tickets! 2026 Dates September 18,19,25,26 October 2,3,9,10,15,16,18,22,23,24,30 Washington Irving’s timeless tale of harvest, romance, and good-natured fun lives on at Riley’s Farm with apple-bobbing, pie-eating contests, dancing, country music, and great food! Enjoy meeting the colorfu...

06/03/2026

If you are in the Oceanside area, I will be a featured speaker at the Freedom Education Summit on Saturday June 6. Hope to see some of you there..

THE REST OF YOU, have a fine meal at the Hawk's Head Tavern!

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0T9wdEp7mWQ5fsWvfHVyYmaZf4HDdCFgt4AyAZZ7mQxyTxF6a5bqst7wJoXNCqkUGl&id=100071427683923

🚨 ONE WEEK AWAY! 🚨
The Freedom Education Summit 2026 is almost here — and this event just keeps getting BIGGER. 🔥

We’ve officially added MORE speakers, MORE vendors, MORE organizations, and MORE powerful conversations centered around faith, freedom, education, leadership, entrepreneurship, media, and the future of the next generation.

This is not just another conference.
This is a MOVEMENT. 🇺🇸✝️

Join pastors, educators, homeschool families, business owners, investors, students, community leaders, creatives, and truth-driven organizations from across California for TWO POWERFUL DAYS in North County San Diego.

🎤 Dynamic Speakers
🧠 Educational Panels
🤝 High-Level Networking
🛍 Vendor Marketplace
📚 Educational Resources
🔥 Inspiring Conversations That Matter

And the best part?
✅ IT’S FREE TO ATTEND!

Whether you’re passionate about:
• Christian education
• Homeschooling
• Leadership development
• Cultural impact
• Entrepreneurship
• Faith & freedom
• Raising up the next generation

…this summit is for YOU.

⚠️ VENDORS: Only a FEW vendor spots remain!
If you want to showcase your:
✔️ Business
✔️ Ministry
✔️ School
✔️ Products
✔️ Services
✔️ Organization
✔️ Brand

…now is the time to reserve your space before we sell out.

Come connect with like-minded leaders and families who are actively building something meaningful for the future.

📍 North County San Diego
📅 June 5–6, 2026
Friday June 5th: 3:00PM- 8:00PM
Saturday June 6th: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

DM us now for:
🎟 Free registration
🛍 Vendor opportunities
🤝 Partnership information

Let’s build a legacy of freedom through education. 🔥

06/02/2026

Colonial Faire!

The TWELFTH ANNUAL Colonial Faire is coming up July 2,3,4.

Get your discounted online tickets here: https://rileysfarm.com/index.php/colonial-faire/

As we approach the 250th birthday of America, I'm reminded that while milestones are important, when you go to your dad's 60th birthday party, you're not really celebrating the number 60. You're celebrating your dad, and that you've had 60 years with him.

Around here, we feel the same way about America. You might say we're celebrating her birthday every day.

This year, you will likely have a LOT of places to celebrate our independence, so we're going to be open July 2, 3, and 4th, reading the Declaration every day and putting at least 17 muskets and rifles on the field. Join us!

2026 July 2,3,4 12261 S. Oak Glen Road, Oak Glen, CA 92399 — Directions Riley’s Farm is proud to present the 10th annual Colonial Faire, an interactive cultural event aimed at entertaining and educating the public about life in the American colonies in the late 18th century! Today is a muster da...

06/02/2026

I believe there are two general strategies for getting national candidates elected -- "sensible" or "firebrand."

I'm not talking about local elections where people know their neighbors and their local issues. I'm talking about the sort of office perceived to have weight charting the entire nation's course, basically US Senators and the Presidency and some state governorships.

The "sensible" strategy surveys public opinion and attempts to take a squat on it somewhere in the center, just a few degrees to the right or left of their opponent. Bush I, Bush II, Clinton, Romney, McCain, John Cornyn.

The "firebrand" speaks with a great deal of passion about issues they care about INTENSELY. Reagan, Trump, Ken Paxton, George McGovern, Jerry Brown. They may not be "firebrand" in their oratory but they are in their positions. The firebrand actually believes in his solutions and wants to pull people in his direction. He's not pretending to be everything for everyone.

No one really gets very excited about a slate of "sensible" candidates. The voters smell the hypocrisy in the air, the prevarication, the utter lack of conviction. The electorate is left hoping for the guy who will do the least damage.

Sometimes your "sensible" guy wins. Sometimes our "sensible" guy wins. No one really cares, because nothing will ever change with people like this. They will always be taking polls, consulting surveys, and refusing to do what the firebrand will do: LEAD.