National Agriculture Day Luncheon

The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau in conjunction with the organization, Agri-
Culture, will again host the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon.  The luncheon will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at the Agricultural History Project’s Codiga Center and Museum located at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  Reservations for the luncheon are available on our website at $35.00 per person. http://www.sccfb.com/catalog/special-events/ag-day-luncheon or call (831) 724-1356.

One of the highlights of the National Agriculture Day Luncheon will be the presentation of the Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award. Al Smith was the founder of Orchard Supply Hardware and donated 3,000 acres (Swanton Pacific Ranch) in the north coast to Cal Poly.  The ranch has row crops, timber and even a one-third-scale railroad, which was Al’s hobby.  The award is presented annually to an individual, business or organization not involved in production agriculture but one who has done much for the industry.  This year’s award will be presented by last year’s honoree, University of California Cooperative Extension, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County, represented by Farm Advisor, Laura Tourte.

Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture co-sponsored a poster contest (grades K-6) and poetry contest (grades 7-12) in Santa Cruz County and Pajaro Valley schools.  The winning entries will be displayed during the luncheon and a placemat featuring the 2011 poster contest winner, Grace Bowman, 6th grader at Bradley Elementary School in Corralitos will be used on the tables.  Also on the placemat will be the 2011 poetry contest winning entry by Ashley Malone, 10th grade, Monte Vista Christian High School.  Approximately 16,000 placemats will be distributed to restaurants throughout Santa Cruz County.  This year’s contest winners will be introduced at the luncheon.

Another feature of the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon is the presentation of the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship.  The selection of the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship is based upon the student’s scholastic record, agricultural potential, special activities, personal histories, letters of recommendation, and financial need.  This year, for the first time, American AgCredit has teamed up with the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship to double the award. It is now a $4,000 scholarship for a student entering or currently enrolled in college and majoring in agriculture.