Celebrating West Side Agriculture 2020

18 | HONORING WEST SIDE AGRICULTURE THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020
RAMOS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
riculture. This program
replaces our Teacher Appreciation
Night that we
held for approximately
five years. Rooted in Agriculture
allows teachers
to document an agriculture
lesson and submit it
to our organization for a
potential award. The program
was established to
reward teachers who have
engaged their students in
an agriculture activity.
Teachers can use materials
from Ag in the Classroom,
California Milk Advisory
Board, their school
garden, etc. All we ask is
that they document the
lesson and turn it in for
potential credit.
The program is set to
present one teacher a
$500 award that they can
use for school supplies, a
field trip, etc. Our committee
was so impressed
with the applications that
they awarded three $500
awards to teachers of R.
M. Maino Elementary (Los
Banos), Shaffer Elementary
(Atwater) and Winton
Elementary (Winton). Sergio
De Alba of R. M. Maino
provided students with a
multi-faceted lesson plan
of a family farm business
where students learned
to manage their money,
the necessities of various
crops such as citrus and
table grapes and development
of a business plan.
Cristen Cornaggia of
Shaffer Elementary focused
on math and how it
relates to a dairy operation.
She was able to tie
in calculation scenarios
involving nutrition and
vaccination needs. Kate
Murphy of Winton Elementary
School had students
research robotics in
agriculture. Students were
asked to select a robotic
component in farming, research
the advances and
then market it to their fellow
students.
We want to thank the
students and teachers for
applying as we appreciate
their time and dedication
to agriculture. If you have
questions about the above
or have an issue you’d like
to discuss with our office,
we always welcome the
opportunity to engage the
community.
Breanne Ramos is the
executive director of Merced
County Farm Bureau,
a non-profit, grassroots,
non-governmental organization
that advocates
for farmers, ranchers
and dairy families that
live and/or work in Merced
County. She can be
reached at (209)723-3001
or by email at bramos@
mercedfarmbureau.org.
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