LAKE COUNTY — Community leaders from a wide range of positions have been selected to participate in the third year of the AgVenture program.
Members of the 2012 class include Rob Brown, Lake County Supervisor; Bernie Butcher, owner, Tallman Hotel; Judy Cortesi, retired small business owner; Linda Hedstrom, housing and economic development manager; Lori Holmes, renal dietitian and school board member; and Tibor Major, attorney.
The class also includes Stacey Mattina, owner of Konocti Realty and mayor of Lakeport; Gary Olson, broker/owner of Big Valley Properties; Matt Perry, interim county administrative officer, Lake County; Father Ron Serban, pastor of St. Mary Immaculate Parish; Rebecca Southwick, development and public relations officer of Sutter Lakeside Hospital; and Claudia Street, executive director of the Lake County Farm Bureau.
AgVenture is a concept in agricultural education designed for non-farming community leaders and others who wish to understand more fully the workings of the local agricultural industry. Modeled after programs in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, AgVenture is in its third year and consists of day-long seminars that meet once a month. Each session focuses on a different major commercial crop grown in Lake County, and features speakers and site tours.
This year, a fourth day has been added to the program that will include presentations on olives and livestock production. The sessions will again cover such topics as economics, labor, history, marketing, water and land use, agro-tourism, and sustainability. Class members will gain a broad knowledge about agriculture and farming in general and, more specifically, about the heritage, culture, economy and business of Lake County agriculture.
Community leaders were invited to participate and the members of the class were selected based on their interest in the program, professional position in the community and ability to help maintain a viable agricultural industry in Lake County.
The first session, which takes place Friday, will focus on the pear industry in Lake County with orchard and packing house tours. Speakers will include Debra Sommerfield, deputy county administrative officer for economic development and a graduate of AgVenture 2010. She will discuss the importance of agriculture in Lake County”s economy. Broc Zoller, the Pear Doctor, will focus on private, government and university research and Lake County”s abandoned tree ordinance.
Myron Holdenried, owner of Wildhurst Vineyards, will discuss the history and evolution of agriculture in Lake County. Jack King, retired manager of the National Affairs Division of the California Farm Bureau Federation, will address immigration and labor issues affecting agriculture.
Diane Henderson of Henderson Orchards in Kelseyville will provide a tour and discuss cultural practices, integrated pest management and sustainability, regulatory compliance and the challenges faced by pear growers.
Toni Scully of Scully Packing Company in Finley, will talk about issues faced within the pear industry and provide an escorted tour of a packing house in full operation. Pat Scully, general manager of Scully Packing, will describe marketing methods, how the grower and packer derive their income and working with foreign markets.
The second session on Sept. 21 will focus on the wine grape industry and include presentations by Kris Eutenier, deputy Lake County agricultural commissioner; Scott DeLeon, director of Lake County Department of Public Works and a graduate of AgVenture 2010; Glenn McGourty, UC Cooperative Extension farm advisor for Lake and Mendocino counties; Eric Seely, deputy county administrative officer for special projects; Randy Krag, viticulturist with Beckstoffer Vineyards; and Shannon Gunier, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission.
The day will include a luncheon at Vigilance Vineyards and a tour of the Gregory Graham Winery to demonstrate a small winery operation and compliance with regulations.
The third session, on Oct. 19, will focus on the walnut industry in Lake County. Marc Hooper, pest control advisor with AgUnlimited will address cultivation of both conventional and organic crops in Lake County. Paula Bryant, vice president and commercial relationship manager for Umpqua Bank, will cover crop financing and lending practices.
Rick Coel, Lake County community development director, will review land use issues, the ag element of Lake County”s general plan, urban/ag interface, the Right to Farm ordinance and value-added agricultural uses.
A tour of the Suchan Farm and Nursery, Upper Lake and an overview of the walnut industry, including nursery, orchards and dehydrator operations by Alex Suchan will conclude the day”s session.
The final AgVenture session for 2012 will be held on Nov. 9. Sen.Noreen Evans will address the class and talk about the legislative perspective on agriculture in California and the impact of invasive pests.
Other presenters for this session will include Emilo Dela Cruz, mill master for Chacewater Winery and Olive Mill in Kelseyville; and Jennifer Keithly of Keithly Ranches in Kelseyville. The fourth day will conclude with a graduation presentation with each class member sharing the experiences that they will remember from the program.
Sponsors for the 2012 series of seminars include the Lake County Winegrape Commission, Adobe Creek Packing, Scully Packing Company, Umpqua Bank, the Lake County Farm Bureau, the Lake County Winery Association and the Lake County Marketing and Economic Development Program.
Additional support has been provided by Saw Shop Gallery and Bistro, Tallman Hotel, Gregory Graham Winery, Chacewater Wine and Olive Mill, Vigilance Vineyards, Lake Parts, Lakeport Tire & Auto, Broc and Sharon Zoller, Mark Dellinger, Margaret Silveira and Terry Dereniuk.
Transportation for the field trips and site visits is being provided by the Military Funeral Honors Team van with support from the Kelseyville Olive Festival.
The AgVenture program coordinator is Terry Dereniuk, a graduate of the 2010 AgVenture program. Members of her steering committee are Annette Hopkins, president of the Lake County chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA); Paula Bryant, Shannon Gunier, Toni Scully, Diane Henderson and Michelle Scully.
More information about CWA is available by writing to P.O. Box 279, Finley, CA 95435 or visiting the group on Facebook at Lake County California Women for Agriculture.
