Onalee Koster

I have spent a life time in the agricultural industry. I was born into a farm family growing tomatoes, carrots and walnuts. 1947, I married a farmer who's family began their tradition of farming in 1880 with mules. I have experienced every aspect of farming in the San Joaquin Valley and currently, my two sons are carrying on our family tradition of farming by growing almonds, pluots, dry beans, and wheat.

I first heard of Agriculture in the Classroom when I served as a leader for the Farm Bureau Women Committee and represented San Joaquin Farm Bureau Agricultural Education Committee at the first ever San Francisco Farm Day. Later, Bob Brocchini established the San Joaquin AITC Committee.

I realized that agriculture should be an integral part of a student's education while in San Francisco, 25 years ago at the first farm day. The students were bottle-feeding a calf and milking a cow. As children were observing and trying to understand, I heard them say they would just head to the store to buy their milk! The light bulb went on since I had lived the agriculture life forever and realized its importance.

It is important to get the information about where our food really comes from in front of the children. They need to know who is raising the farm animals and growing the crops we enjoy. I think not only is CFAITC helping, but farmers markets are also helping with this message. Making the fresh commodities available and often local and with its producer really displays the industry.

Currently, I continue to promote and use CFAITC resources and activities. I help to staff the Tracy Historical Museum and when classes come in for tours, I am in charge of sharing wool samples and making butter. I volunteer every Monday for 3rd grade classes. Their five stations include quilting, script writing in a ledger, tour the museum, tin punching, and making butter.

All of the different CFAITC efforts are important and it is also important to offer a variety. We have so many diverse audiences and segments of society that we need to offer a complement of efforts. It is important for our students to be agriculturally literate and aware in today's society for their own benefit, health, and opportunity. Every person needs to take responsibility for their own well being. If we want to keep California farming, we need to have literate citizens.

Download This Story

Plain Text
High-res JPG