- Author: Laura J. Van der Staay
March 20, 2013, Ag Day: The California Advantage was held on the west lawn of the State Capitol, and gave UC Agriculture and Natural Resources the opportunity to share how we make a positive difference to healthy food systems, healthy environments, healthy communities and healthy Californians through our teaching, research, extension, youth development, and nutrition programs.
Capitol Ag Day celebrates California’s bounty and dozens of booths allow attendees to learn about many of the 400 commodities grown and raised in the state. Ag Leaders get a chance to talk about the $40 billion that agriculture brings to California’s economy every year, as well as some of the factors that enable California to produce nearly half of the US-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables.
UC exhibitors included Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H, Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center, the Research and Extension Center System, and UC Davis College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.
Elected officials, staff and their families toured the booths from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, and the general public attended from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Stage presentations started at noon, and included California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary, Karen Ross, Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Assembly member Susan Talamantes Eggman, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Senator Anthony Cannella, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Assembly member Frank Bigelow, author of HR 12 honoring the 100th anniversary of 4-H, Kenny Watkins, First Vice President of the California Farm Bureau Federation, Karri Hammerstrom, President of California Women for Agriculture, Judy Culbertson, Executive Director of California Foundation for Ag in the Classroom, Emcee Laura McIntosh, Host of PBS’ “Bringing it Home”, and other groups. The highlight of the lunchtime presentations was the world’s largest school lunch tray, which fed about 700 elementary students.