LAKEPORT, Calif. – Community leaders attended the final session of the AgVenture 2017 program on Nov. 3.

This session marked the close of the eighth year of the AgVenture program.

Created by the Lake County Chapter of the California Women for Agriculture, AgVenture is an agricultural educational program devised for nonfarming community leaders who aspire to understand the vital role that agriculture plays in Lake County.

Session four showcased Lake County olives production and farm labor issues.

Class members learned about olive oil production from Emilio dela Cruz and toured the Chacewater Olive Mill and olive orchards.

Cecilia Chi-Ham, PhD of HM Clause gave a presentation of the role of science and technology in agricultural production and class members heard about labor issues framed in policy and practical perspectives from Bryan Little from the Farm Employers Labor Service and David Weiss of Bella Vista Farming Co.

The session culminated in a farm labor panel consisting of local farm workers facilitated by local pear farmer Diane Henderson.

The panelists were Octavio Jimenez of Scully Packing Co., Jesus Martinez from Bella Vista Farming Co. and DACA student Ariana Montero Pille.

The 2017 class included: Father Mario Valencia; Courtny Conkle, Lake County Fair; Lake County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson; Supervisor Tina Scott; Supervisor Moke Simon; Sutter Lakeside CAO Dan Peterson; Kati Galvani, Lake County Deputy Public Services Director; Phil Moy, Director, Lake County Water Resources; Jamey Gill, VP, Mendo Lake Credit Union; Daniel Chance, Associate Planner, city of Lakeport; and Deborah Swartz, Community Development Services.

Class members are selected yearly through an application process. Selection into the program is based on the applicant’s interest in the program, their professional position in the community and their ability to help maintain a viable agricultural industry in Lake County.
Program acceptance is competitive.

Generous sponsors for the 2017 series of seminars include the following people and businesses: American AgCredit, Bob Bartley Pump Inc., Beckstoffer Vineyards, Bengard Marketing, Bernie Butcher, Boatique Winery, Calpine Corporation, Community First Credit Union, Campodonico Olive Ranch, Cat’s Paw Vineyard, Chacewater Wine and Olive Mill Co., Barbara Her, Community Development Services, Gregory Graham Winery, Groody River Productions, Henderson Orchards, International Paper, Jonas Energy Solutions, Kelseyville Lumber, Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Winery Association, Harry and Roberta Lyons, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Peggy Campbell, Lynette Porter, Rainbow Ag, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Sausha and PJ Racine, Scully Packing, Shannon Ranches, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, Suchan Farm and Nursery, Jim Steele, Tallman Hotel, The Pear Doctor, Tomkins Tax Consultants, Umpqua Bank and Wilda Shock.

The AgVenture program Steering Committee, all CWA members, are Annette Hopkins, Paula Bryant, Toni Scully, Diane Henderson, Terry Dereniuk, Debra Sommerfield and Brenna Sullivan.