Forage-fed meats will again be the stars at the 11th annual A Taste of the Hawaiian Range Oct. 6 at Hilton Waikoloa Village, a food and agriculture festival that started modestly a decade ago and now fills several ballrooms. This year, they're introducing the Great Kohala Mountain Oyster Cowboy Cook-Off with paniolo competing to create the tastiest dish from, uh ... testicles (the bovine kind). Chefs Alan Wong, George Mavrothalassitis and Peter Merriman will participate.

Tickets are $35 now; $50 at the door. Call (808) 322-4892. For farmers, ranchers, vendors and others, Forage Field Day, focusing on sustainable management of livestock and forage, follows on Oct. 7 with ranch visits hosted by the University of Hawai'i's Mealani Research Station; call Mark Thorne (808) 887-6183, or write to thornem@hawaii.edu.

FIESTA TEQUILA

TASTY MEXICAN TIPPLES AND THE TEQUILA GIRLS, TOO

Compadres Bar & Grill at Ward Centre is in the midst of its annual Tequila Festival with special menu items, rock-bottom drink prices, tastings of premium tequilas and visits from Better Brands' Tequila Girls. Events continue through Sept 16. Executive chef Raul Puga is making oyster-tequila shooters daily and has created tequila-spiked menu specials for each day of the week, including Camarones Locos (crazy shrimp) with Don Julio Tequila today.

A progressive margarita party goes on today through Friday and next Monday through Friday with drinks at $1 from 3 to 4 p.m., $2, 4 to 5 p.m. and $3, 5 to 6 p.m. Blanco tequila shots are $5. The Tequila Girls are there from 5 to 7; today, they're offering tastings of Don Eduardo tequila.