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This W. K.
Kellogg funded agricultural literacy program focuses on
the underserved population of farm labor families who so
often think of agriculture in negative terms such as
painstakingly hard, low paying jobs. Parents and
children of families associated with Booth Ranches in
Orange Cove, California receive an overall education on
the importance of agriculture to the local economy,
learn from current California State University, Fresno
agriculture students about the importance of education,
and hear from industry employees about other exciting
careers in ag-related fields. Ninety per cent of the
population in Orange Cove, California is Hispanic with
34.9% of the families living below the poverty line.
Oranges, grapes, and olives predominantly make up the
greater part of the economy in Orange Cove. “At Booth
Ranches ‘Employees Make
the
Difference’ and the owners realize that an organization
is only as good as the people that run it. They offer
college scholarships to the children of their employees
and definitely realize there is a link between
satisfied, well taken care of employees and quality
workmanship.” *
This project has definitely
changed attitudes and encouraged farm labor families to
build on their experience and continue working in the
important agriculture industry – going from field labor
to managing/owning the farm or working in the input
supply and output processing sectors. As a result of
this program the following have been implemented:
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Each family has been
sent an English/Spanish survey to determine their
needs
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A tutorial program
has been provided to children.
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An ‘English as A
Second Language’ course has been offered to the farm
workers on a weekly basis.
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A series of
“Agricultural Education Days” which focus on
agricultural education activities for family members
have been held on the ranch site.
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A California State
University, Fresno campus and farm tour was provided
to all Booth Ranches employees and their families -
This tour included lessons in GPS.
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Agricultural
activities/lessons were provided at the California
State University, Fresno campus for approximately
125 Booth Ranches employees and their family
members.
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Lonna Torrico
Central Valley Ag Literacy Program
College of Agricultural
Sciences and Technology
California State University, Fresno
2910 East Barstow Avenue, M/S OF 115
Fresno, CA 93740-8009
TEL: 559.278.4559
FAX: 559.278.8564
© 1999-2008
Central Valley Agricultural Literacy Program
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