LAKEPORT, Calif. – Community leaders attended the final session of the AgVenture 2018 program on Nov. 2.

This session marked the close of the ninth 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 the Lake County Agriculture Department from Katherine VanDerWall and olive oil production from Paul Manuel and Emilio dela Cruz before touring 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 facilitated by local pear farmer Diane Henderson. The panelists were Octavio Jimenez of Scully Packing Company, and Jacklyn Rodriguez and Juan Sanchez from Bella Vista Farming Co.

The 2018 class graduates were Vector Control District Manager Jamie Scott; Lake County Water Resources Director David Cowan; Viticulturist Brodie McCarthy; Lake County Planning Commission Vice Chair John Hess; winegrape grower Monica Rosenthal; Calpine purchasing supervisor Stacy McGrath; cannabis farmer Bob Skalla; Pest Control Advisor Lindee Jones; Ag
Biologist and Weights and Measures Inspector Venkata Vaddella; owner of InkFarm Creative, Karen Pavone; and ag biologist Janice Luke.

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 2018 series of seminars include the following people and businesses: Cindy Bain, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Boatique Winery, Bob Bartley Pump Inc., Chacewater Winery & Olive Mill, Cat’s Paw Vineyard, Garton Tractor, Henderson Orchards, Hillside Honda & RV, International Paper, Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Winery Association, Lakeport Tire and Auto, Laujor Winery, Monica Rosenthal, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Scully Packing, Tallman Hotel, UCC Rental & RV, Umpqua Bank, Dock Factory Lake Limos and Wilda Shock. Premier
Transportation Sponsors included American Ag Credit, Calpine Corporation, and Sutter Lakeside Hospital.

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