Lonna Torrico

I will never forget the year I was born (into agriculture). This moment occurred 25 years ago when I attended the first California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom teacher's seminar. An administrator from Fresno Unified School District asked me to attend the agricultural workshop in Sacramento. Obviously, I was disturbed at the fact that I would have to give up one of my vacation weeks to attend. I was not a farmer and I definitely didn't have any interest in becoming one. I loved being a teacher/administrator. Of course, since I was a newly assigned administrator, I consented. And, being in the state's capitol certainly couldn't be all that bad.

From the very first day of the workshop, I realized that agriculture needed to be an integral part of our student's education. I had attended many education workshops for teachers but I had never been treated as royally as I was in the agricultural one. We were "wined and dined" and the educational sessions were the best I had ever experienced. The presenters were knowledgeable, polished, and communicated their information in a meaningful and thought-provoking manner. Unfortunately, for the first few presentations, I thought the speakers were speaking another language. They did not speak educational jargon. They were speaking a foreign language—agriculture. Thank goodness, I was able to listen and learn from them and quickly adapted to their language. They had me at the first session. My brain kept thinking—why aren't we doing anything to promote agricultural awareness with the students in Fresno Unified? And on a personal note, why wasn't I teaching my own daughter about the importance of agriculture. It really hit me hard when I asked my daughter (on a phone call home the first night of the seminar) where does milk come from and she said, "the grocery store." I knew my life had changed!

My life and the lives of those around me have changed profoundly since my first CFAITC conference. Following the workshops, I returned to Fresno and immediately decided to make some changes in the way agriculture was not being taught in the schools. Thank goodness for the many friends of agriculture in Fresno, a replica of the seminar in Sacramento was recreated in Fresno. Hundreds of teachers were able to become students and learn about agriculture in the #1 agricultural area in the world.

My next agricultural revelation came when I was accepted into the California Agricultural Leadership Program - Class 27. I had already become a disciple of agriculture but this was the crown jewel of all programs and really pushed me to higher levels of thinking and performing.

As a result of the Agricultural Leadership Program, I was invited to leave my administrative position with the Fresno Unified School District to work as a director of an agricultural program at California State University, Fresno. Immediately, I thought of all the pre-service teachers, students, parents, and educators I could interact with and promote agricultural knowledge. I was thrilled to be able to write USDA Hispanic Serving Institutions grants to educate incoming freshmen and existing educators about the importance of this rich industry.

I patterned workshops for students after the CFAITC seminar I had attended years before in Sacramento. Local high school selected 30 underrepresented students to study the impact of agriculture on their lives.

I was also blessed to be a member of the Food, Land and People national team. In fact, I was able to travel throughout the United States to train educators on the environment and agricultural curriculum. In addition, I was able to share "my agricultural story" with them and, as a result, agriculture workshops were founded.

After 50+ years of age, I decided to go back to school and obtain a master's degree in business, as now I was working with business leaders more than the educators I had originally been trained to work with. I wanted to learn their jargon and speak their language.

I am currently still with Fresno State University as the director of the Central Valley Ag Literacy Program and I am actively involved in educating students about agriculture. I am using numerous hands-on agricultural activities while teaching potential teachers who work with students in afterschool programs. I was recently in charge of the 6th annual Ag Career Hats activity at the 2011 Farm and Nutrition Day where more than 1,500 third grade students were exposed to the many agricultural careers. It was extremely successful and the media captured it as "agciting" moments.

I continue to utilize and promote the CFAITC program on a daily basis. I am most appreciative that CFAITC has always been supportive and generous in supplying materials and resources when I need them.

Many of my past students are now engaged in an agricultural career because of their attendance at the California State University, Fresno's Ag Summer Bridge Program. Without this program these students might have otherwise chosen another career path. Many of the contacts that I have made while engaged in this endeavor have also opened up career paths for students in other fields.

Personally, the most important CFAITC event was the teacher seminar. If I had not participated in that week-long learning experience, I would never have been able to spread the agricultural word.

Today's society is complex. We take things for granted. The public must become aware of the safe, reasonable, delicious food that we grow nationally. Agriculture is key to our survival and we must value and respect the industry. The California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom holds the key to providing the next generation with an understanding of agriculture and its importance.

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