- Author: Laura J. Van der Staay
In March, Kings County has a Farm Day where students and teachers explore healthy food choices, learn how food is grown, interact with farm animals, and build an increased awareness of how agriculture helps our local community and economy. This is achieved by the Kings County Farm Bureau, The Kings County Office of Education and the Kings Fairgrounds partnering to bring the students and presenters together at the Fairgrounds. On March 16, 2017, over 2400 third-graders and 100 teachers and chaperones from 32 schools, as well as presenters for 60 stations attended Farm Day. With the generous donations from The Plant Food People, Greenheart Farms, and awesome volunteers, KARE provided all attendees with short presentations on what it takes to be a healthy plant and what it takes to be a healthy person, followed immediately by workshops where attendees planted leaf lettuce transplants to take home and enjoy.
Fresno County had Farm and Nutrition Day on March 17, 2017, allowing over 4000 third-grade students, teachers, and chaperones from 38 schools experience over 55 interactive presentations at the Big Fresno Fair grounds. Experiential workshops, presentations and displays helped increase participant awareness of agriculture as well as the benefits of making healthy choices. Fresno County Farm Bureau organized the event with the help of several sponsors, volunteers and presenter groups. Again with the generous donations from The Plant Food People, Greenheart Farms, and awesome volunteers, KARE provided all attendees with short presentations on what it takes to be a healthy plant and what it takes to be a healthy person, followed immediately by workshops where attendees planted leaf lettuce transplants to take home and enjoy.
At both events, other UC ANR programs, like 4-H, master gardeners, food and nutrition, small farms advisors, etc., from Kings and Fresno counties also had animals and presentations for the attendees.
Click here to see a Fresno Bee article.
- Author: Laura J. Van der Staay
UC ANR Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center provided a lettuce planting workshop for about 3500 third grade students from 36 schools and 16 districts at the 11th annual Fresno Farm and Nutrition Day. Students learned what it takes to be a healthy plant and a healthy person, they then planted 2 leaf lettuce plants to take home and enjoy. An ABC 30 news video shows some of the lettuce planting, which was made possible with the help of many volunteers. Greenheart Farms and The Food Plant People provided donations for the workshop. The lettuce planting was featured in videos and on the front page of the March 19, 2016 edition of The Fresno Bee. UC ANR was also represented by a Cal Fresh workshop and 4-H youth who brought farm animals. For more photos, please go to the UCANR facebook page.
- Author: Laura J. Van der Staay
In June, Woodlake's Bravo Lake Botanical Garden hosted a berry day, which attracted over 500 people. Many UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources groups helped make the event an enjoyable day of learning about a healthy lifestyle, including growing and eating fresh produce. The UC ANR groups contributing to the program's success included some of UC Cooperative Extension, Tulare County's Master Gardener volunteers, Healthy Families staff, and advisors; Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center; and Lindcove Research and Extension Center. Attendees were provided prepared samples of fresh produce, including cherries, peaches, oranges, figs and berries. Attendees were also able to pick and eat produce directly from the plants as they strolled along the agricultural botanical garden's pathways.