Focus Agriculture Class XXV – 2015 Top Row: Sheila McDaniel, Jacob Martinez 3rd Row: Sarah Hulick, Maritza Pozzi-Loyola, Eileen Hill, Meg Janes, Robin Boyle, Jon Sisk, April Jernberg 2nd Row: Jimmy Dutra, Alec Wasson, Rachel Montoya, Rebecca Garcia, Jimmy Panetta, Josh Morgan Bottom Row: Tom Takano, Brian Spector, Javier Gomez, Jess Brown Not Pictured: Shannon Brady, Marcus Frost
November brings graduation to the locally-based national award-winning Focus Agriculture program. A ceremony and reception was held at the Pajaro Valley Historical Association’s Bockius-Orr house on Beach Street in Watsonville on Friday for Class XXVI of the Focus Agriculture program.
Focus Agriculture, a program of the organization Agri-Culture is a “first-in-the-nation” program that allows community leaders to learn firsthand about agriculture in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley. The nine session program covers topics such as ethnic groups in agriculture, labor, new technology, land use, politics, the environment and health care.
The members of the graduating class for 2015 are:
Robin Boyle – Director of Marketing and Sales, California Certified Organic Farmers
Shannon Brady – Philanthropy Director, Palo Alto Medical Foundation/Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center
Jimmy Dutra – Councilmember, City of Watsonville
Marcus Frost – Director of Development and Communications, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
Rebecca Garcia – Councilmember, City of Watsonville
Javier Gomez – Representative, State Assemblymember Luis Alejo
Eileen Hill – Associate Director, Cabrillo College Foundation
Sarah Hulick – Horticulture & Agronomy Research Scientist, Dole Fresh Vegetables
Meg Janes – Tax Manager, Plantronics, Inc.
April Jernberg – Soil Conservationist, United States Department of Agriculture
Maritza Pozzi-Loyola – Private Event Director, Seascape Golf Club
Jacob Martinez – Executive Director, Digital NEST
Sheila McDaniel – Land Use Planner, Santa Cruz County Planning Dept.
Rachel Montoya – Controller, Sambrailo Packaging
Josh Morgan – Manager, Café Cruz
James Panetta – Prosecutor, Monterey County District Attorney’s Office
Brian Spector – Principal, Spector Corbett Architects, Inc.
Jon Sisk – SVP- Director of Real Estate/Construction, Santa Cruz County Bank
Tom Takano – Educator
Alec Wasson – President, Idea Farming, Inc.
The graduation ceremony included a graduation certificate plus an Assembly Certificate prepared and presented by Assemblyman Luis Alejo’s office. President Bontadelli stated, “This was an excellent class. We are appreciative of the speakers and participants for giving their time during the year.”
If anyone is interested in applying for the next class, which will begin in March 2016, please contact the Agri-Culture office at (831) 722-6622 or you can email your request for an application to agri-culture@sbcglobal.net. Your name will be placed on a mailing list for applications that will be released in late November.
