LAKE COUNTY — Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA), which launched AgVenture in August 2010, released its upcoming program schedule.
AgVenture is a concept in agricultural education that promotes understanding between the community and production agriculture, according to Claudia Street, Lake County Farm Bureau (LCFB) executive director. Modeled from programs in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, in its first year AgVenture and CWA received the 2011 Lake County Stars award for “Best Idea of the Year.”
“The program, open to 12 participants per year, is designed to build a bridge of understanding between those in agriculture and leaders in the community who influence public opinion and policies which directly affect Lake County farmers” ability to farm,” Street stated.
The session will consist of once a month, daylong seminars held during a period of four months. The meeting dates are Aug. 8, Sept. 12, Oct. 17, and Nov. 7. Each day”s seminar will focus on a commercial crop and will include speakers and farm visits.
“Class members will gain a broad knowledge of the heritage, culture and business of local agriculture,” Street stated.
The sessions will cover such topics as economics, labor, history, marketing, water- and land-use, challenges and opportunities of farming, agri-tourism and sustainability, Street stated. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with and learn from farmers and other people in the agriculture industry.
Graduates of the prior years” programs include elected local, state and federal officials, media, staff and directors of Lake County agencies and departments, farmers and educators. Applications to participate in the program are due by June 10.
The AgVenture program coordinator is Street, a graduate of the 2012 AgVenture program. The members of her steering committee are Sharron Zoller, president of the Lake County Chapter of CWA, Toni Scully, Paula Bryant, Diane Henderson, Terry Dereniuk and Annette Hopkins.
Applications for the program are available by email at lcfarmbureau@sbcglobal.net, on the CWA website at www.lakecountycwa.org or by mail to CWA AgVenture, P.O. Box 279, Finley, CA. 95435.
