Farm Day: Hundreds come out to
SEEAG with tours, barbecue and awards
October 21, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Hundreds of people came out despite the heat to SEEAG, at least to see those they selected among the 20 farms that were offering tours to give visitors a better sense of what it takes to put food on the table.
The September 26 Farm Day featured a barbecue that sold out with about 400 guests at Limoneira Ranch where several people were honored for their strong contributions to agriculture.
Gene Caulfield said he had given hayride tours all day at Limoneira, and “When I was done, I turned around and there were more people!” wanting to see and hear about the historic ranch operation.
He estimated that more than 200 people had visited the ranch, a number that SEEAG founder and President Mary Maranville agreed sounded right with ranch owners reporting visitor numbers well into the 300s during the day.
“Farm Day is definitely growing year to year,” said Maranville. “I feel if it wasn’t 90 degrees it would have been even better attended!”
Maranville founded Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture [SEEAG] in 2008 to help kids to “see ag” and open up their eyes to the true origins of their food.
“We teach the next generation where their food comes from,” Maranville told the Limoneira barbecue crowd. “…we want to honor those less than 1 percent that grow food for the other 99 percent.”
Alex Teague, Limoneira senior vice president, noted his own enjoyment to visitors at the ranch: “When people come out and see the fruit their eyes get big,” and they’re amazed at the operation including the packing houses and solar farm.
He introduced Gus Gunderson, Limoneira Director of Southern California Operations, who was being honored as the 2015 SEEAG Farm Warrior of the Year.
“Gus is a great guy,” that Teague said joined the company in 1989 and since “has done a fabulous job…especially putting up with Harold (Edwards, Limoneira President/CEO) and me.”
Outside of Gunderson’s extensive duties — he manages 3,200 acres of lemon and avocado orchards, is responsible for 50 employees, eight ranches as well as irrigation scheduling, weed and pest control, 250 distinct citrus blocks, scheduling of all inputs, harvesting and food safety — “We volunteer him for everything,” and with strong support from his wife Helen it always gets done.
Teague said when he’s told Gunderson “I’ll be the bad guy,” turning down requests involving personal time, even if “you can sit there and shake your head yes” what “personifies” Gunderson is his strong support of children.
If a request involves kids, “Gus will say we’ll do it, it will be fun…he’ll do anything for the cause and the kids. He should be a professor…Gus is a great guy and this award is well deserved.”
“I’m not used to the center stage,” said Gunderson, a native of Santa Paula whose family first came to the area in the 1880s.
“I want to thank my wife Helen for her great support,” as well as Teague, Limoneira and its numerous “dedicated employees…”
Gunderson noted Limoneira was on the cutting edge of creating a multi-faceted organic system and perhaps can foster the creation of a National Farm Day.
Abundant Farm’s Production Manager Reyna Ortega was honored with the Farm School Angel Award for her efforts in ensuring responsible stewardship of the land while overseeing the growing and harvesting of produce for the organization’s needs including retail and school district sales.
Director of Programs/Community Partnerships Sarah Nolan presented Ortega with the award.
Santa Paula City Councilwoman Jenny Crosswalk translated for Ortega who said great teamwork and strong faith has kept her with the program.
Ortega said she is thankful for the school districts in allowing the program at the schools: “It gives me great pleasure to provide these vegetables to the kids…people that work in the fields are not able to afford what they grow,” and it is “an honor and a pleasure” to be able to provide such fresh fruits and vegetables to their children.
“My art may not be something you can see, but you can enjoy it with the food you eat…although we wear humble clothing recognize us, we put our heart and our soul in our food.”
Ortega said she would like to “share this award with all that work in the fields…”
