- Author: Megan G Osbourn
The field day kicked off with a keynote address by Congressman, John Garamendi (CA-3), who spoke with students about the roles they will be able to pursue within agriculture and food productution as they chart out their future careers. Garamendi encouraged his audience to think outside of the box when it comes to creating solutions to the many challenges agriculture will face in years to come.
Following this address the students rotated through five hands-on learning demonstrations developed by UC researchers that explored major topics in beef cattle and rangeland management. Dr. Nancy Martin, DVM, discussed health issues in beef cattle with Dr. John Angelos from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine following up by highlighting his research in the development of a vaccine for pink eye in cattle. UCCE Farm Advisor, Jeff Stackhouse discussed the use of technology in managing livestock and wildlife, while Dr. Roberto Sainz of the UC Davis Department of Animal Science explored the ruminant digestive system. Roger Ingram, UCCE Advisor in Placer/Nevada/Yuba & Sutter counties demonstrated principles related to dryland and irrigated pasture management. Students had the opportunity to evaluate soil properties, classify rangeland plants and observe beef cattle grazing behavior.
This event was made possible by the following Sponsors: PG&E, Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau, California Beef Council and Farm Credit West. We are grateful for this generous support. The time donated by FFA leaders and UC staff was instrumental in making the third year of this annual event a major success and a great opportunity for students to interact with ongoing research led by the University of California.
Sponsored By:
- Author: Alexandra Stefancich
Presentations focused on a wide variety of agricultural subjects including livestock, bees, bats, irrigation, nutrition, seed saving, wool spinning, cider pressing, soil health and much more. Participating organizations included the local FFA chapters, Nevada Irrigation District, Sierra Foothills Audubon, the 4-H Youth Development Program, UC Cooperative Extension and private agriculturalists.
The Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center (SFREC) was involved with actively showing students how soil and sand can help filter impurities out of water through an experiment where Kool Aid (representing impure water) is poured through a variety of substrates. SFREC also taught students about watersheds, including how water flows through a watershed, and the areas in which water tends to accumulate.
Farm Day allows students the chance to see and truly connect with multiple aspects of our agricultural systems, an opportunity that many people take for granted. These hands-on activities offer students a path to discovering where their food, drink, and clothing really come from and how it is all connected to the world's ecosystems. Witnessing the interest and curiosity of the students as they traveled through the stations, was a sure sign of the event's success.
SFREC will also present to third grade students at the Yuba-Sutter Farm Day this Friday. Be on the lookout for an update next week!
- Author: Jeremy James
As a way to highlight the value of this partnership and the regional support behind our future producers, the University of California Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center hosts an annual field day that links high school students across 5 counties with researchers and legislators to explore leading management and policy issues surrounding range and pasture management, as well as beef cattle production. A video highlighting these efforts can be found below. These programs are an exciting opportunity to look towards California's agricultural future. Despite the challenges California faces, the excitement and passion for agriculture that the students have and the solid commitment that educators, researchers and legislators have to supporting their future success provides great optimism that this next generations of producers will have the tools needed to meet the food needs of our growing population.
For more information about the 2016 Beef & Range Field Day, please email Megan Osbourn at mgosbourn@ucanr.edu.
The above video was produced by McKenna Kane, SFREC student intern and student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
- Author: Maddison Easley
UC SFREC is now at an exciting point in its history where it is able to build off of this early success and hire a full time science educator to expand educational programming at the center.
“In my previous positions, I've worked a lot as a support role helping to instruct different groups or in helping to build the programs. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to be a leader and…put all of my experiences to good use,” shared Stefancich.
Specific programs Stefancich hopes to enhance and facilitate at SFREC include youth centered education, community engagement and investment, as well as collaborations with neighboring agencies and organizations.
Afterschool opportunities, grade and subject-specific field trips for students, and boosted 4-H club interactions are primary avenues being explored to increase youth involvement at SFREC. An open-house style workshop showcasing current research and natural resource topics is in the works.
“One of the main things is to increase our visibility so that the community knows this is a resource and what it is being used for, the research that is being done here, and how that impacts our understanding of natural resources,” shared Stefancich.
Stefancich is highly motivated to build and strengthen relationships with local groups and organizations, as well as strengthen partnerships with U.C. Cooperative Extension, particularly 4-H Youth Development Programs. Excellent headway has been made regionally to connect underrepresented youth to science-rich experiential learning through programs like Youth Experiences in Science (YES) and Water Wizards.
A few of the UCCE programs Ali Stefancich and SFREC will be working with include:
- Sacramento County 4-H Youth Development Program
- Yuba-Sutter 4-H Youth Development Program
- Nevada-Placer 4-H Youth Development Program
- Project Learning Tree
“Another goal is to establish easy avenues to relate the research that's being done here to people who can use it, too. I'd love to get more volunteer involvement and get people really connected with what's going on here,” said Stefancich.
- Nevada County Farm Day – 2nd / 3rd graders - September 22nd, 2016
- Beef & Range Field Day – highschoolers - October 5th, 2016
- Low Stress Livestock Handling School – October 21st -22nd, 2016
Organized by Roger Ingram, Placer-Nevada County UCCE Director and Farm Advisor
- Community Open House – To Be Announced
Ali Stefancich encourages educators, youth program organizers, local agencies and fellow UCANR representatives to contact her to discuss learning opportunities for the near future.
You can reach her through email, astefancich@ucanr.edu, or by phone, 530-639-8807.
- Contributor: Megan G Osbourn
- Author: Jeremy James
Assembly member James Gallagher, who has strong ties to local agriculture in the Sacramento Valley, kicked off the day with a forward looking key-note address that highlighted the important role the current generation of students will play in addressing California's agricultural and natural resource needs over the coming decades.
Sponsors including Robinson Ranch, Farm Credit West and Yuba-Sutter Farm Bureau and the time donated by FFA leaders and UC staff were instrumental in making the second year of this annual event a major success and a great opportunity for students to interact with ongoing research led by UC.