Working in cooperation with the San Joaquin County AgVenture, officials with California Farmland Trust, CFT, had an opportunity during January to educate 3,426 students about the importance of farmland. The virtual field trip that streamed live to more than 130 classrooms featured seven different experiences, where students and their teachers learned about horses, cattle, weights and measures, and CFT provided a demonstration of its ‘Orange You Glad We Have Farmland’ activity.

As a result of its ongoing partnership with Raley’s, CFT will be participating in additional virtual AgVenture field trips throughout the spring, with the hope of returning to in-person experiences soon.

To learn more about these educational efforts, visit the CFT website at www.cafarmtrust.org/education-outreach.

In other agricultural news, The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) awarded funds through a competitive grant process for organizations that enhance agricultural education and leadership opportunities under the 2020 California Special Interest License Plate (CalAgPlate) program.

“Over the last seven years the CalAgPlate program has supported more than $1.4 million in funding for agricultural education,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “It continues to be a great program that connects and educates school children through activities like ag-focused field trips and school gardens, while also supporting leadership training and career development opportunities.”

The CalAgPlate program is funded with proceeds generated through the sale of special interest, agriculture-themed license plates through the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

For CFT, CalAgPlate grant funds will provide 40 elementary classrooms resources kits and training, related to its ‘Orange You Glad We Have Farmland’ curriculum. Designed for third to fifth grade students, the curriculum and activities will teach students the importance of farmland and its use for the future.