A Marmon, Thelma Hansen’s personal vehicle, was endowed to the University in 1993 as part of the Hansen estate, a major funding source for UC HAREC (http://ucanr.edu/sites/hansenagcenter/). The car with an interesting history including being remodeled into a pickup truck, fire, theft, and abandonment in a storage shed for 50 years, was needless to say, in disrepair and barely recognizable. A talented Moorpark rancher and auto enthusiast by the name of Charles Bedford Schwabauer came to the Marmon’s rescue. Charles volunteered countless hours to meticulously restore the antique car to its original grandeur worthy of the reputation as a reliable, speedy, and upscale means of transportation of the era. The gleaming 1917 Marmon Model 34 Cloverleaf Roadster is currently housed and on display at the Murphy’s Auto Museum located in Oxnard http://www.murphyautomuseum.org.

The staff of the UC Hansen Agricultural Research and Extension Center is deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Schwabauer and would like to acknowledge his generous contribution to the University.

Dr. Surls collaborates with Mr. Allen on a multi-city study of urban farms. Allen is Co-Principal Investigator for the Community and Regional Food System (CRFS) Project, a 5-year nationwide study funded by the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (www.community-food.org).  He is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Growing Power, Inc., a 20-year-old sustainable agriculture organization based in Milwaukee, with project offices in Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin (www.growingpower.org).  A farmer of more than 30 years, teacher, and community activist, his work is highly regarded and widely emulated and the Growing Power training sessions are nationally recognized. Allen has been the recipient of numerous local, state, and national awards and recognitions, including a 2008 MacArthur Foundation Genius Award. In 2012, he was invited to the White House to join First Lady Michelle Obama in launching “Let’s Move!” her signature leadership program to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity in America. His autobiography, The Good Food Revolution, was published by Gotham Books in 2012.

Mr. Allen and guests also toured the HAREC facility with Director, Jose De Soto, and learned about other agriculture related research and education activities available at the Center. 

Last spring, Research and Extension Centers (RECs) were encouraged to submit proposals for the statewide Growing Tomorrows Professionals with Today’s Experiences Intern Program. The purpose is threefold: give students real life experience working in a REC facility; engage in hands-on research or outreach projects; ignite a spark leading to future studies or careers in agriculture and/or natural resources.

We are pleased to announce that UC HAREC was selected to participate and proud to introduce Lauren Martinez, one of two summer 2013 statewide interns. Lauren graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Spanish. She completed her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and is currently working towards a Masters in Education at California Lutheran University. Lauren is passionate about education and working with youth. She works as a swim instructor and coach at the Family YMCA in Ventura and Santa Paula and was the assistant coach for Ventura High School Girls Cross Country. Her education experiences include substitute teaching for Moorpark Unified and a position as a physical education specialist at Ventura Charter School. She believes strongly in an active healthy lifestyle and individual, hands-on education for all youth.

We are thrilled to have Lauren on board this summer. She will work closely with Center Director, Jose De Soto and Education Outreach Coordinator, Susana Bruzzone-Miller developing a, water themed, youth field trip program targeting 4-6^th graders. The project will take about 8 weeks to complete and slated to be implemented spring 2014 as part of the 4-H Field Trip Program on the farm. Interns will deliver virtual presentations of their projects to other RECs at the end of summer. We are confident Lauren will develop lessons and activities that make science and agriculture exciting for Ventura County youth.