SACRAMENTO — More than 5,300 miles, 10 days, two vans, and invaluable learning experiences made for the agricultural trip of a lifetime when 20 Texas 4-H Livestock and Equine Ambassadors journeyed across California.
A team of Texas 4-H leaders, including California native and Texas 4-H Youth Livestock and Agriculture specialist, Billy Zanolini, PhD, led the high school students.
“Without question, the agricultural experience in California clearly exposed the challenges and opportunities ahead for Texas Agriculture,” Zanolini said. “However, these young leaders will be ready to define our future and for that – we all should be encouraged.”
The Ambassadors spent their first 10 days of August touring and interacting with professionals at beef cattle, sheep and hog operations, almond farms and vineyards, and taking in unique experiences like the National Primate Research Center. The group also interacted with California agricultural politicians, representatives and leaders.
“California is a global agricultural powerhouse that offers a vast array of commodities grown within diverse landscapes,” Zanolini said. “What’s more – the farmer in California must produce food and fiber under some of the most challenging regulations in the country.”
Each day was packed with personal, educational and professional growth, topped off with a brain full of memories and a heart full of friendships to last a lifetime.
“We wanted our 4-H Livestock and Equine Ambassadors to experience that [involvement with California agriculture],” Zanolini said, “and return to Texas with critical lessons learned.”
Shelby Lepley is a Livestock Ambassador from Walker County, Texas. Many speakers shared with the students about current farming and ranching regulations in the state, as well as, how they combat issues with drought, animal activists and more.
“One of my biggest passions when it comes to agriculture is learning about Ag policy and what we can do to support other agriculturists,” Lepley said. “So the biggest takeaway for me was seeing what other people face when it comes to regulation but also the passion it takes for agriculturists to serve their consumers.”
With each day packed full of tours, note-taking and engaged learning, Lepley said she couldn’t pick just one part of the trip to be her favorite, but she enjoyed “seeing the passion and dedication it takes in California.”
“If I had to pick one part, it’s not a specific place we went or specific event, but being able to talk with the different farmers and ranchers in California,” Lepley said, “because they all have their unique perspectives and they were honest and open and wanted to share with others what they did and why they believed in agriculture.”
Leaders from the state’s Farm Bureau, Agricultural Council, Department of Food and Ag, ranchers and others shared about current industry issues with the Ambassadors. Sloan Taylor is also a Livestock Ambassador from Val Verde County, Texas, and said it was valuable to hear about the differences between California and his home state.
“My main takeaway was just how agriculture is under attack in California,” Taylor said. “That attack is everywhere, but we don’t see it as much here in Texas.”
By visiting both family run operations like Sampson Sheep, a large distributor at Blue Diamond Almonds, and new activities like the Teen Conservation Leadership Program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Ambassadors engaged in a wide array of learning. For many of the youth, including Taylor, almond trees were a new sight.
“I was fascinated with the almonds,” Taylor said. “We visited Bob Vierra’s orchard and it was so cool how he grew four different kinds of almonds in one place and they’re all sold for a different price.”
The teens are writing reflection papers about their experience and how they plan to utilize their new knowledge. Taylor said he walked away from the trip wanting to come home and do a better job of agricultural education, specifically to the public that doesn’t know as much about the industry.
“I learned that I need to do a better job of talking to people about Ag because it is very possible that the problems currently in California could come to Texas,” Taylor said. “I can definitely do a better job of sharing my story and telling people that if we didn’t have agriculture, we wouldn’t be where are today.”
This trip would not have been possible without the support from the following Signature Sponsors: Ranch House Designs, Inc., San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo®, TRU-TEST®, Capital Farm Credit, McCoy’s®, Texas Farm Bureau®, Peebles Ranch, MERCK Animal Health, Nolan Ryan Beef, Texas Beef Council, Purina®, Kroger®, and Rocky®.
For more information about Texas 4-H visit: https://texas4-h.tamu.edu. For more information about the Livestock and Equine Ambassador program or Texas Youth Livestock and Agriculture visit: https://texasyouthlivestock.com.
—Texas 4-H Youth Livestock and Agriculture
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