Susan True, CEO of the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, was honored as the 2026 Al Smith Friend of Agriculture during the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon held March 18 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
Nina Duke receiving her 2026 Frank Prevedelli Memorial Scholarship from the founders of the scholarship Sam Lathrop and Silvia Prevedelli.
The annual event, held in Heritage Hall, is coordinated by the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture.
The award was presented by Kiersten Clontz, daughter of Mark Sambrailo, the 2025 recipient, who was unable to attend.
Named for Al Smith, founder of Orchard Supply Hardware, the award honors individuals, businesses or organizations outside of production agriculture that have made significant contributions to the industry. Smith also donated 3,000 acres of Swanton Pacific Ranch to Cal Poly, a property that includes row crops, timberland and a one-third-scale railroad.
Student achievement was also recognized during the event. Julieta Vazquez Adan, a fifth grader at Moreland Notre Dame School, won the National Ag Day poster contest, while Isaiah Medina, a senior at Renaissance High School, won the poetry contest.
2026 Matt Ryan Community Service scholarship recipient Lizbeth Gomez-Abrica stands with the award’s namesake.
Organizers also announced eight scholarship recipients as part of a streamlined program that allows students to apply for multiple awards if they meet qualifications. A new award, the Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp Memorial Scholarship, was introduced this year in honor of its namesake.
Among the recipients, Sebastian Perez of Hartnell College received the $12,000 Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship. Gabriella Garcia of Aptos High School received $4,000 from the Jeannie Witmer Memorial Scholarship, while Samuel Garcia of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo received $4,000 from the Laura Brown Memorial Scholarship.
Julieta Vazquez Adan, a Moreland Notre Dame fifth grader, stands under her winning poster.
Additional recipients included Nina Duke of University of California, Davis, who received $2,000 from the Frank Prevedelli Memorial Scholarship; Juliana Lopez-Solis of Hartnell College, who received $2,000 from the Georgeann Cowles Eiskamp Memorial Scholarship; and Francis Kent of San Lorenzo High School, who received $1,500 from the JJ Crosetti Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
Natasha Newcombe, also attending University of California, Davis, received $1,000 from the Lou and Carol Calcagno Memorial Scholarship, and Lizbeth Gomez-Abrica of Watsonville High School received $1,000 from the Matt Ryan Community Service Scholarship.
John Pisturino, president of the Farm Bureau and master of ceremonies, said the event highlights the connection between agriculture and the broader community. “This event brings agriculture and the broader community together to celebrate local farming,” Pisturino said. He added that the luncheon also provides an opportunity to recognize students through scholarships and contests centered on the theme “Grown in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley.”
2026 Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship recipient Sebastian Perez, with one of the founders of the scholarship, Julie Oliver.
The featured speaker was Erica Padilla Chavez, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, who spoke on “Fields of Generosity: Planting Hope, Growing Community.”
More than 220 people attended the luncheon, including Felipe Hernandez and Kim DeSerpa of the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, Maria Orozco and Casey Clark of the Watsonville City Council, Ted Burke of Shadowbrook Restaurant and John Kegebein.
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TOP PHOTO: Susan True (right), 2026 Al Smith Friend of Agriculture recipient, stands with 2025 recipient and daughter of Mark Sambrailo Kiersten Clontz.