Ag in the Classroom Conference is a hit in Tulare
The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom, along with just over 125 educators from throughout the state, visited Tulare County for the 2017 Ag in the Classroom conference hosted at the Visalia Wyndham, July 14-15. Sixty-five of the attendees were from Tulare County, making up more than 50 percent of educators present.
Tulare County Farm Bureau also had a strong presence at the event, with members serving on the Farmer Panel, addressing the audience as a keynote speaker, hosting tables, serving as tour guides, and welcoming educators to tour their farm or business.
On Friday, July 14, educators participated in various workshops and heard from keynote speakers in the morning, followed by industry tours that afternoon. The Tulare County tours named Taste of Tulare and Udderly Delicious visited Land O’lakes, Curtimade Dairy, Rosa Brothers Milk Company, Mckellar Family Farms, Bob Wiley Detention Facility, and Venida Packing. Two tours also traveled to Fresno County to see Hudson Farms, Chandler Farms, Errotabere Ranches, and Harris Farms.
All tours made their final stop at Foodlink of Tulare County in Exeter for A Taste of California BBQ Dinner, sponsored by Fresno County Farm Bureau, Tulare County Farm Bureau, and Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. During the dinner, educators were invited to sit with a variety of table hosts, each representing Ag in the Classroom Conference is a hit in Tulare an agricultural organization and/ or one of California’s commodities.
Table hosts included: Agventures! Learning Center; California Women for Agriculture; California Citrus Mutual; California Community Colleges; Dairy Council of California; Golden State Farm Credit; Fresno County Farm Bureau; Horizon Marketing; The Wonderful Company; Central Valley Farm Trust; PLANT Foundation; California Strawberry Commission; The Naked Nut; and two tables from Tulare County Farm Bureau.
The next morning during breakfast, Sahib Sangha, the 2016 fifth grade Imagine this…story Writing Contest winner from Tulare County, read his story Carrot Civil War to the audience and received a standing ovation.
After the audience was led through a series of stretches, they welcomed a Farmer Panel that included Zack Stuller, TCFB Board Member, Michael Miya, third generation walnut farmer in Kings County, and Debbie Jacobsen, third generation grape and raisin farmer in Fresno County.
Once the panel told the audience about their operations, they were able to give firsthand accounts in response to concerns the audience voiced about issues such as genetically modified organisms, large scale farming operations, and the immigrant workforce.
TCFB President Roger Everett also addressed the audience during Saturday’s lunch. He explained the impact agriculture has on Tulare County and also talked about bees, which CFAITC recently updated a fact and activity sheet for classrooms. The inquisitive audience had a variety of questions for Everett as well.
The conference wrapped up with Make n’ Takes where teachers had the chance to learn from seasoned ag in the classroom educators about creative ways to incorporate agriculture in lesson plans and a keynote address from Beau Williamson, who served as a State and National FFA officer. Williamson is currently the acting president of Greater Potential Leadership and serves the agriculture industry with Elanco Animal Health.
The California Ag in the Classroom Conference would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of businesses and individuals throughout Tulare and Fresno County.
The 2018 format of the event is set to be announced early next year, teachers are encouraged to plan to attend this outstanding event and gather lots of free resources about agriculture to use in their classroom.