Ag Day at the Capitol returns

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the California Department of Food and Agriculture hosted Ag Day at the Capitol in Sacramento on March 23.

“It was incredibly energizing to reconnect with so many legislators, partners, supporters and friends to share in the joy and promise of our work,” said Vice President Glenda Humiston. “Things almost felt ‘normal' again!” 

Anne Megaro, government and community relations director, organized ANR's displays and representation, which included Humiston, UCCE farm advisors Sarah Light and Rachael Long, Sheldon 4-H youth and UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County. 

One booth displayed myriad citrus varieties grown at Lindcove Research and Extension Center and avocado varieties grown at South Coast Research and Extension Center. 

Among the many legislators who visited the ANR booths was Senator John Laird, who championed the historic increase to ANR's budget.

“No other event that occurs here, of the hundreds every year, draws crowds like Ag Day, and a lot of the legislators who have no concept or association with agriculture come by, plus their staff,” said Senator Jim Nielsen. “It's really a special day because it affirms the importance of agriculture to California and the world.”

The day before Ag Day at the Capitol, ANR's Global Food Initiative Fellow Conor McCabe, Pam Kan-Rice of Strategic Communications, and Megaro visited legislators' offices to hand out Tango mandarins grown at Lindcove REC and personally invite legislators and their staff to Ag Day. Tango mandarins are a small, seedless, easy-to-peel fruit bred by UC Riverside genetics professor Mikeal Roose and often sold under the brand names Cutie or Halo. 

The following are some photos of the Ag Day event. To see more photos, check out #AgDay2022 on Twitter.

Assemblymember Megan Dahle, center, with Anne Megaro and Conor McCabe on the day before Ag Day.

The three are standing in front of a U.S. flag in Dahle's office.

Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua and Anne Megaro.

Anne, left, and the assemblyman are holding small bags of mandarins. The bags are decorated with orange and blue buttons and postcards.

Doralicia Garay and Anne Megaro set up the UC ANR booth.

Dora, left, wearing a facemask, arranges avocados in a bowl on a table. Anne writes the name of the variety on an avocado. Behind them, banners read "Learning about Agriculture" and Eating Healthy."

From left, Glenda Humiston, Senator Brian Dahle, Anne Megaro and Senator Steven Bradford.

Standing in front of the UC ANR booth, Dahle holds an avocado the size of a small football, Bradford holds a cloth ANR bag that reads "Grow California Together."

Glenda Humiston with Assemblymember James Gallagher.

Humiston and Gallagher face each other in conversation, surrounded by Ag Day visitors.

Assemblymember Rudy Salas and a 4-H Sheldon club member.

The 4-Her holds a small goat as a goat in a pen in the foreground looks at them.

Glenda Humiston and Assemblymember Akilah Weber.

The Master Gardener display of flower photos is visible over Humiston's shoulder. Weber stands beside citrus varieties.

Anne Megaro and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer.

They are standing in front of the ANR citrus display. Anne is holding a large avocado and the assemblyman is holding a dark oblong avocado and two oranges.

Pam Kan-Rice and Assemblymember Janet Nguyen.

Nguyen holds a cloth ANR bag that reads Grow Agriculture Together.

Mike Hsu, left, and Conor McCabe greet an Ag Day visitor.

Mike gestures toward avocado varieties that a woman is looking at.

Senator Susan Rubio tweeted her thanks to California 4-H.

Rubio holds a black bird. Tweet reads, "Loved visiting. Thank you for all you do our young people. California 4-H.

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