Centennial Farm receives big boost to promote agriculture

Lolita Harper

The Centennial Farm has received a $100,000 portion of a statewide

grant designed to educate urban Californians about the importance of

agriculture in the state, officials announced Wednesday at the

on-site barn.

The Centennial Farm, a four-acre working farm that attracts

hundreds of children each week, was given grant funds to promote the

“Agademics” program. The program is designed to give area fifth- and

sixth-graders a better working understanding of the farming industry.

“We are the largest agricultural state in the country and

agriculture is the largest industry in the state,” said Steve Lyle of

the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “The dichotomy is

that this is largely an urban population that doesn’t understand

where its food comes from.”

California produces $73 million in food, fiber and flowers each

day and produces 350 crop and livestock commodities overall. The

state’s agriculture provides 1.1 million jobs and ships more than

$6.5 billion in products around the world annually.

The $100,000 designated for Centennial Farm, on Fair Drive in

Costa Mesa, was a portion of $7 million in federal funds given to the

state as a whole to promote agricultural education.

Funds earmarked for the Centennial Farm will go to create the

“Agademics” program, which includes a free one-day lesson in the

farming industry. The program, which has been in place around the

state since 1999, incorporates lessons in plant and soil science,

animal husbandry, the food pyramid, nutrients from foods and

vegetables and California’s role in the agricultural industry.

Becky Bailey-Findley, chief executive officer of the fairgrounds,

said the education is not aimed to promote a career in farming --

although it could inspire a few students in that way -- but to allow

urban children access to an instrumental state industry.

The “Agademics” outreach will be bolstered by existing programs

such as the recently created Ranch after school program, which offers

a more extensive, six-week curriculum targeted at Newport-Mesa

fifth-graders with lower than average test scores or disciplinary

problems.

About 25 Davis Elementary fifth-graders who have been determined

“at risk” by educators will take part in the Ranch pilot program, set

to begin in January. The Costa Mesa children will learn about horses,

other livestock and vegetable gardening.

These types of outreach programs are crucial to protecting the

country’s domestic agricultural production, said AG Kawamura, who

sits on the Centennial Farm Foundation Board and is chairman of the

Western Grower’s Organization.

“Most Californians live in urban areas, far removed [from

agriculture] and do not have an appreciation for what it takes to

bring their food to their tables,” Kawamura said.

State farmers are being regulated right out of the state by

well-intentioned laws passed by people who are not educated in

agricultural issues, Kawamura said. The agricultural industry is

“suffering from an absolute lack of understanding and involvement

with the California public,” he said.

The “Agademics” program at the Centennial Farm provides the

perfect rural experience in the middle of an urban city, he said.

Councilman Chris Steel, who was on hand for the announcement, said

he fully supports of the Centennial Farm’s efforts.

A Costa Mesa-based program is very fitting, considering the city’s

agricultural history. Ninety-three acres of former lima bean fields,

currently being paved over for the Home Ranch development in north

Costa Mesa, produced one of the area’s most powerful dynasty

families: the Segerstroms.