Press
Articles & Media
“Draining Groundwater and Pocketbooks in the Cuyama Valley”
Santa Barbara Independent, July 1, 2024
“Blue Sky Center Celebrates Ten Years of Blue Skies Over the Cuyama Valley”
Press Release, June 27, 2024
“New funding helps food access, gardening project grow in Cuyama”
Santa Maria Sun, January 18, 2024
“Blue Sky Center Receives 30k Grant to Grow Food Access in Cuyama Valley”
Santa Barbara Independent, December 18, 2023
“Corporate growers’ carrots are soaking up water. Locals are fighting back with a boycott”
LA Times, Ian James, November 13, 2023
“40+ Cozy Cabins and Tiny Homes that Are the Perfect Escape for Your Next Friendcation”
Venue Report, November 10, 2023
“Couple Take Lead on Reopening New Cuyama Airport”
Flying Magazine, Grant Boyd, October 30, 2023
“Cuyama Valley ag producers call for carrot boycott over groundwater fight”
The Bakersfield Californian, John Cox, August 12, 2023
“Santa Barbara County Planners Deflect a Cuyama Valley ‘Water Grab’ by Harvard University”
Santa Barbara Independent, Melinda Burns, April 5, 2023
California Getaway: Wildflowers, condors and gorgeous Cuyama Valley
The Mercury News, Amber Turpin, March 27, 2023
11 Things to Do in This Hidden Roadside Town Bursting With History (and Wildflowers)
The LA Times, Raef Harrison, March 22, 2023
Cuyama Valley airstrip, in Santa Barbara County, is back open after years of disrepair
KCLU, Caroline Feraday, January 5, 2023
A Company Town Comes Back to Life
Alta Magazine, Ed Leibowitz, December 21, 2022
Santa Barbara County helping cities, towns adapt to extreme weather
KSBY News, Austin Herbaugh, November 2, 2022
New Life for New Cuyama (L88)
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), Amelia Walsh, July 28, 2022
New Cuyama, Who Dis? Part 3 - Em Johnson (Cuyama Beverage Company) is Up & Adam in the Morning!
KKAL 92.5FM, Up & Adam in the Morning, June 2022
Cabin Fever? Check into These Cozy Stays, Just off the Beaten Path
Sunset Magazine, Christine Lennon, May 24, 2022
Climate Costs: a public radio special exploring the high price of climate change for California communities
KVPR, NPR for Central California, April 5, 2022
Crossroads: The High Desert Heats Up with the Reimagining of New Cuyama
Santa Barbara Magazine, Katherine Stewart and photos by Dewey Nicks, September 2021
A Look at Cuyama Buckhorn, Central California’s Hidden Retreat and Desert Oasis (feat. Blue Sky Center and the Cuyama Valley Food Action Network)
Forbes, Chelsea Davis, July 21, 2021
Visionary Valley: Blue Sky Center’s innovative approach to community issues in the Cuyama Valley gives art a voice in the big conversation
California Arts Council’s DREAM Magazine, Issue 1, Summer 2021
‘Reimagining Resilience’ Initiative Aims to Strengthen Cuyama Economy
Santa Maria Sun, Vol. 22 No. 7, April 15, 2021
Em Johnson Named to Pacific Coast Business Times’ ‘40 Under 40’
Pacific Coast Business Times, Vol. 21 No. 24, September 3, 2020
Blue Sky Center Receives $17,500 in Funding from California Arts Council
Santa Maria Sun, Vol. 21 Issue 11, May 13, 2020
Santa Barbara County Food Action Network Gives $150,000 in Grants to Nonprofits/
Santa Barbara News-Press, December 21, 2020
Kim Sutherland’s ‘Rural, Issue 2: New Cuyama’: Artist and Author Produces Intimate Look at Northeastern Santa Barbara County
M. Kettmann of the Santa Barbara Independent, December 16, 2020
A Time Capsule of this Year's Food and Drink Ventures Throughout Northern Santa Barbara County
Santa Maria Sun, 2020
Blue Sky Center Interviewed for Springboard for the Art’s New Series: ‘From the Field’
Springboard for the Arts’ YouTube Channel, November 25, 2020
The Victory Gardens Project Profiled by the Santa Barbara County Food Action Network
Santa Barbara County Food Action Network’s Website and YouTube Channel, Posted October 17, 2020
SLO Food On The Road
Edible San Luis Obispo, Fall 2019 - Issue 25
Cuyama
Contra Viento, Fall 2019 - Issue 2
Lompoc Barber School’s Santa Maria Booth Benefits New Cuyama Nonprofit
Lompoc Record, September 26, 2019
Cuyama Valley Exhibit Shows History of American West; On Display at Bakersfield Museum of Art
Kern Sol News, September 24, 2019
Local Vendors Showcase Homemade Crafts at Cuyama Swap!
KSBY, September 8, 2019
Workshop Targets Strategic Plan For Cuyama Economy
Noozhawk, September 3, 2019
Support Local Entrepreneurs at Cuyama Swap!
Noozhawk, August 31, 2019
Meet Em Johnson of Blue Sky Center in Cuyama Valley
Voyage LA, June 4, 2019
The Blue Sky Center Is Building a Creative Economy in Rural California
Creative Exchange, May 17, 2019
Blue Sky Center Promotes Community Equity in New Cuyama
Santa Barbara Foundation, February 21, 2019
Blue Sky Center Promotes Community Equity in New Cuyama
Santa Barbara Foundation, February 21, 2019
40 of the World's Top Cabin Getaways
The Venue Report, Winter 2018
Placemaking in Cuyama Valley
Edible Santa Barbara, Winter 2018 (pg. 64-70)
Cactus & Drylands Workshop feat. desert ArtLAB
Jeff Uzzel, Spring 2018
555 Rural Artist Residency
Tate Larrick, April 2018
Thinking Big
805 Living, January - February 2018
Sky's the Limit
Santa Maria Sun, August 31, 2017
So Small Town
This is Range, September 24, 2017
Rural Summit
Kiss the Ground, May 2017
Faces of the Rural Summit
Bread & Butter (805), May 2017
5 Benefits of Making Art Outside
Hipcamp, April 3, 2017
Let's Make our Desert Town Blossom
Small Medium Large Productions, March 2017