The Highest & Best BBQ 2026 // NorCal Appraisal Institute Chapter // Rush Ranch
Join the North Bay and East Bay Branch Chapters of the Appraisal Institute for a FREE day of fresh air, great food, and relaxed networking at the beautiful Rush Ranch! This is a flexible, family-friendly event for all ages: Drop in whenever works best for you—attend the walk, just the BBQ, or both! ALL AGES WELCOME!
Located in Solano County, Rush Ranch offers over 2,000 acres of open space and sweeping views of the Suisun Marsh. It’s a fantastic midway point for our chapters to get together, swap the spreadsheets for the marsh, and bring the whole family along.
We’ll be kicking off the morning with a guided nature walk led by the Solano Land Trust, followed by a collaborative potluck BBQ.
Schedule of Events:
10:00 AM - 11:30AM-ish SLT Guided Nature Walk (To the marsh and back! This is an easy, flat, 2-mile round trip on a packed dirt trail. Sturdy jogging strollers or wagons are highly recommended over umbrella strollers if you have kids.)
11:30PM-1:00PM (and after): Potluck Family BBQ & Free Time (Enjoy the open space, network, or head out at your leisure!)
The Potluck Details: We’ll be firing up the grill! Garland & Salmon is providing the mains: burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, buns, and all the condiments.
To make it a true community potluck, we ask that attendees bring their favorite side dish, salad, or dessert to share. (When you RSVP, there will be a quick spot to let us know what you plan to bring!)
Please Note on Rules: NO Alcoholic beverages, NO dogs on the Marsh Trail, and NO drones are permitted at Rush Ranch.
Water & Weather: There is no potable drinking water on site. We will have limited bottled water at the BBQ, but please bring your own full water bottles for the morning nature walk! The trails do not have tree cover and the marsh can get windy, so please pack sun protection and layers.
Everyone is Welcome! Whether you're a Designated Member, a Candidate for Designation, an Associate or Affiliate Member, or just looking to connect with fellow Bay Area real estate professionals, we'd love to see you there.
Questions? Reach out to East Bay Chair Soren Nieminen at soren@yovino.com or North Bay Chair Steve Salmon, MAI at steve@garlandsalmon.com.
Learn more about the venue here: https://solanolandtrust.org/protected-lands/rush-ranch/rush-ranch.html