Focus Agriculture

Focus Agriculture is Agri-Culture's "first-in-the-nation" educational program. It is an opportunity for community leaders to participate in a nine-session intensive program acquiring knowledge about a broad spectrum of agriculture. The once-a-month day-long seminars, including farm tours and hands-on experience, cover such topics as:

• Production and labor
• Ethnic groups in agriculture
• Government relations and politics
• Regional diversity of commodities produced
• Environment and technology
• Marketing and foreign competition
• Farm tours and hands-on experience

  Focus Agriculture Class XXII, 2011   

Agri-Culture will grant each class member $1,500 toward the tuition expense. The class member will pay the remaining $500. One hundred dollars will be refunded if the participant has achieved 100% attendance for all sessions.

Twenty-one participants were chosen for Class XXII.

Natalie Beebe - Senior Finance Analyst, Driscoll's
Tim Brattan - Executive Director, California Grey Bears
Fred Chamberlain - Owner, Slef employed Photography Teacher
Jackie Chuang - Food Resource and Distribution Manager, Second Harvest Food Bank
Stephanie Cruz - Employer Services Representative, State Compensation Insurance Fund
David Dobson - Economic Development Manager, County of Santa Cruz
Martin Garcia - Analyst, Supervisor Caput 4th District, County of Santa Cruz
Reed Geisreiter - Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank
Rachel Goodman - District Director, Assemblymember Bill Monning
Jim Howes - Assistant Director, Regional Occupation Program, Santa Cruz Office of Education
Wioleta Kaminska - Public Relations Executive, Santa Cruz County Fair
Karen Marcum - Branch Manager, Santa Cruz County Bank
Cynthia Milich-Alcala - Quality Control Supervisor, Germains Seed Technology
Lynn Overtree - Stewardship Manager, Land Trust of Santa Cruz County
Kathy Previsich - Planning Director, County of Santa Cruz
Cindy Slade - Regional Service Representative California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)
Tom Stelling - Director/Broker Assoicate, KW Commercial
Julie Thiebaut - Financial Services Executive, Retired
Lorili Toth - Director Development & Communication, Elkhorn Slough Foundation
Rebecca Trautwein - Teacher, Economics, North Monterey County High School
Arnett Young - R&D Trail Assistant, Chiquita/Fresh Express

2012 Schedule - Session Dates

Friday, March 23, 2012

Friday, April 20, 2012

Friday, May 11, 2012

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Wednesday, August 8, 2012*
(Day on the Farm)
*Or a date mutually available for both parties

Friday, September 7, 2012

Friday, October 5, 2012

Friday, November 2, 2012

Participants are required to attend all sessions.

Click here to Download PDF of 2012 Application - Due January 20, 2012