California’s agricultural community gathered today on the west steps of the State Capitol to show, see and share the bounty of our state’s farmers and ranchers. It was a perfect day for such a celebration (although to be perfectly honest, the farmers would have preferred rain). In keeping with the United Nations’ declaration of 2015 as the International Year of Soils, the theme for Ag Day this year was “Breaking New Ground.”
Special thanks to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s partners in organizing Ag Day, the California Women for Agriculture and the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. Thanks also go to our emcee, Kitty O’Neal of KFBK Newsradio, as well as event sponsors the California Egg Farmers, the California Alpaca Breeders Association, the California Farm Bureau Federation, California Grown, the California State Board of Equalization, the California Strawberry Commission, the Farmer Veteran Coalition, Got Milk?, John Deere, the Kubota Tractor Company-California, and the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Enjoy these photos from Ag Day at the Capitol, and we hope to see you all again next year!
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- Stanislaus County Supervisor and California State Association of Counties President Vito Chiesa with Secretary Ross and Assembly Speaker Tony G. Atkins.
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- Milking Buttercup the electronic cow, part of the California Women for Agriculture booth.
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- Roping lessons from Miss Rodeo California Brittany Slayton.
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- Secretary Ross with Michael O’Gorman of the Farmer Veteran Coalition and Todd Stucke with Kubota Tractor Company – California.
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- Former CDFA Director and perennial Ag Day supporter Richard Rominger with Sonya Logman of the California State Fair.
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- Board of Equalization member Fiona Ma presents an award to Tim Thornhill of Parducci Wine Cellars.
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- Secretary Ross receiving the “Best Ag Day Supporter” ribbon from State Fair General Manager Rick Pickering.
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- California Farm Bureau Federation First Vice President Kenny Watkins (right) congratulates the winners of this year’s “Imagine This” writing contest organized by the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom.
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- Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Cathleen Galgiani and Assembly Agriculture Committee Vice Chair James Gallagher help celebrate Ag Day at the State Capitol.
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- Secretary Ross leads an ovation for the popular “California Grown” campaign.
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- Thanks to emcee Kitty O’Neal with KFBK Newsradio!
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- A captivating performance by the Federación Mexicana de Charreria.
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- Secretary Ross with members of the Federación Mexicana de Charreria.
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- Secretary Ross with Senator Tom Berryhill.
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- Handing out goodies from the California Egg Farmers, Association of Nurseries and Garcen Centers, and California State Floral Association.
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- This is Floyd. He and his handler, Agriculture Specialist Canine Officer Tiffany Bennett with US Customs and Border Protection, usually spend their days keeping pests and diseases from getting into California via SFO, but today they were giving demonstrations and greeting visitors at Ag Day.
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- 4-H and FFA members showed chickens, rabbits, pigs and other project animals.
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- 4-H and FFA members showed chickens, rabbits, pigs and other project animals.
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- From left: Miss Rodeo California Salinas Jynel Gularte, Miss Rodeo California Brittany Slayton, and Miss Gold Country Pro Rodeo Sydney Elliott, with Bob Fox of PRCA.
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- Members of the Elk Grove-Pleasant Grove FFA, Woodland FFA, and Woodland Pioneer FFA delivered flowers to CDFA for Ag Day and spent a few minutes discussing the future of agriculture with Secretary Ross.
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- Members of the Elk Grove-Pleasant Grove FFA, Woodland FFA, and Woodland Pioneer FFA delivered flowers to CDFA for Ag Day and spent a few minutes discussing the future of agriculture with Secretary Ross.
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