The goat with the map of Whidbey on her back is this year’s Whidbey Island Farm tour mascot.

The painting, titled “Lavender Lunch on Whidbey,” was created by Northwest artist Stacey Neumiller.

Neumiller, who for more than 40 years has found artistic inspiration in her passion for farm animals and agriculture, has established a tradition of creating a “mascot piece” each year for the Whidbey Island Farm Tour. Proceeds from the auction sale of the original painting and matted prints are donated to support the tour. Last year’s mascot was a colorful pig named “Earl of Whidbey.”

One of the goals of the farm tour is to support the sustainability of local farms as well as sources for locally produced goods and services. As a local artist, Neumiller’s work fits nicely into this philosophy. She says she cares deeply about the farms on the island and wants to do her part to keep them here.

As for why she chose goats for her subject, Neumiller says, “I wanted something that reflected the challenges of raising livestock, and yet also highlighted the humorous side of day to day farm life.” The nice thing about the original painting and the prints is that unlike the goats she used as her models, these beauties won’t damage your row crops!

“Lavender Lunch on Whidbey” will be auctioned on eBay beginning on the first day of the tour, Saturday, Oct. 4, at 8 p.m. Enjoy the challenge and fun of the auction and see if you can be the winner and place this painting in a place of honor in your home.

In addition to the original to be auctioned, matted prints will also be sold to support the tour. They are available for $65 at several locations on Whidbey Island, including Lavender Wind Farm, Whidbey Island Conservation District and the Washington State University Extension Office, as well as online at www.whidbey

farmtour.com.

For details, call 240-5558. For more art by Stacey Neumiller, visit www.staceyneumiller.com.