By Andrew Hoover
7^th grade, Tulare county
Illustrated by Sheldon High School

"Don't forget your history report on California agriculture tomorrow!" shouted a teacher over the bell. Nobody heard her except Jonathan, who was probably going to be the only one to turn it in tomorrow.

"Hey Todd, wait up!" he called to his best friend. Todd slowed down.

"Did you start your report yet, Todd?" asked Jonathan.

"Nah."

"It's due tomorrow, ya know."

"Yeah, I know, but I figured I could just download an essay. Besides, I want to go to the video arcade. Who needs agriculture anyway?" complained Todd as they left campus.

"I can show you at least two people," said Jonathan. "You're looking at one. And, you'd have to look in the mirror to see the other."

"You're kidding, right?" exclaimed Todd. "Name one way I use agriculture."

"Well, did you eat any meals today?"

"Yeah, of course."

"There is one way. For another thing, did you get dressed this morning?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Well, there's another one. You have on cotton and someone had to grow that! That's agriculture."

"Even my blue jeans?"

"Even your blue jeans! Fashion would disappear without agriculture because the only clothing available would be suits of armor."

"Well, maybe we could color them for fashion statements. Purple could be an "in" thing!"

"But you need plants to make dyes."

"Well, uummmmm, so"

"So you are running out of objections, dude."

"I have one more. I could be a meat eater!"

"Beef and pork are leading sources of California agriculture and unless you want to hunt, butcher and cook it yourself, it's part of agriculture."

"Well, it just seems like such a waste of time to research all that old fashioned crud."

"Old fashioned? Without agriculture today, we wouldn't be the world power that we are. We would lose important exports that bond us to other countries. The state of California relies heavily on agriculture for their income. Our state leads the nation in producing more than 250 crops including some products that are only grown in California."

"Well, I guess you're right, but it still doesn't affect my personal future. I'm going to be a scientist."

"What will you study?"

"Biology. Oh wait, never mind. How about oceanography?"

"Seaweed, fish and the underwater ecosystem provide food for the world."

Todd paused as he racked his brain for another subject. "Well, how about engineering?"

"Engineering what?" Jonathan teased.

"Good point." Todd said.

"Electrical or software engineers design and build computers that run farms that make food that you eat every day. Mechanical engineers perfect the technology at farms. Chemical engineers create specialized foods to help livestock stay healthy and grow bigger, faster. Nuclear engineers use radiation to kill bacteria on beef, pork and just about every food item in existence."

"Here's your stop, dude," Jonathan said as he and Todd reached the video arcade.

"Video arcade?! I don't have time for that. I have to get to the library and research my report if I am going to turn it in tomorrow!"