ACRCD Supports Ag Day in Livermore, CA
The sun shined brightly on third grade students from across the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) who visited Livermore High School for Ag Day on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Since 2015, Ag Day’s partnership between LHS and several community partners has resulted in a lively and engaging experience to teach students about the importance of agriculture, its impact on everyday life, and its wide variety of career possibilities. “Ag Day not only offers our students a fun, hands-on learning experience, but also gives them an opportunity to interact and learn from older students who are showcasing the relevancy and importance of agriculture as a field of study,” expressed LVJUSD Superintendent Chris Van Schaack.
LHS Agriculture students led third grade student groups through 30 booths of interactive lessons that included a breadth of experiences from how to properly raise and care for livestock to how to feed yourself and your family using a Dutch oven. Students intently watched worms wriggle in their hands as they learned the importance of composting, used their creativity when designing their own cattle brands, and made fresh salsa after learning how vegetables and herbs are grown. Although each station covered a different concept, an overarching theme was recurrent: Agriculture is abundant in Livermore.
Organizing and hosting an event for over 1,000 third grade students required thoughtful collaboration. “The success of this event would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of more than 200 volunteers and Agriculture students. A special appreciation and thank you to Sheila Fagliano, Livermore Sanitation’s Community Relations Manager, for her leadership role in this event year after year,” shared Lori Porter, Livermore High agriculture teacher and FFA livestock judging coach. Fagliano and the LHS Agriculture Department, worked in partnership to secure the support and participation of the following community partners for this year’s event:
- Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert
- Alameda County Farm Bureau
- Livermore Rodeo
- Livermore Rotary
- Contra Costa Alameda County Cattlemens
- Junior Livestock Auction Boosters
- Zone 7 Water
- Crane Ridge 4-H
- Alameda County Cattlewomen
- Contra Costa County
- Mosquitos.org
- Fertile Groundworks
- Fagundes Horseshoeing
- Alameda County Resource Conservation District
- Dairy Council of California
- Valley Vista 4-H
- Junction Avenue Ag Class
- The Patterson Family
- The Bach Family
- The Maggy Family
- The Fassett Family
- The Bowles Family
- The Whatley Family
- Ryan Heal
- Dianne Russell and the Del Valle Culinary Program
- Brenda Morris
- Denise Mueller
“What I’m most proud of is that almost all of the community volunteers are LHS Ag Department alumni, many of whom are still very involved in the agricultural and farming lifestyle. They believe in teaching the next generation how to best take care of our land and water, and to truly understand where our food comes from. All of this helps the students really appreciate our resources,” remarked Fagliano.
By emphasizing the relationship between people, animals, and the land, Ag Day continues to provide a visible connection for students who may not have fully appreciated the agricultural knowledge and skills required for their sustenance, shelter, and daily comforts. Through hands-on activities, each student caught a glimpse into LHS’s unique program and its commitment to advancing agricultural education for future generations.
