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When some people think of agriculture they see dust, polluted air and water, pesticides, noise, and lost habitat for plants and animals. Others see a working landscape that protects our open space; self reliant family farmers, working stewards of the land; and an abundant harvest of foods for our nation and the world. Often the view we take reflects where we live – on the land, or in our towns and cities.
Most folks, of course, recognize a bit of both views. In Yolo County in particular, agriculture is our working landscape, protecting our valued open space. Here much of our agricultural heritage is under the stewardship of multi-generational farming families.
But, it is also a changing landscape. Economic pressures are intense, and the need to address environmental concerns is real. We are fortunate that many Yolo County farmers are pro-actively addressing environmental concerns, and in many respects we are already on the path to a more sustainable agricultural economy.
It is one thing to think of agriculture in the abstract, and something quite different to put a human face to the food we eat. I want to briefly share with you some of the Yolo County farmers that I consider my friends.
My list must begin with the Rominger clan. They have been leaders in the Yolo County community over the generations, dedicated to public service and to Yolo County agriculture. Rich is a former California Secretary of Agriculture, and a Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Agriculture Department under Bill Clinton, and is presently a UC Regent. Evelyn is calm, open and always welcoming, a power in her own right Their son Charlie serves on the Yolo County Farm Bureau Land Use committee, while Charlie's brother Bruce sits on the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Board. They grow many different crops in the western county and Charlie is often seen at events serving wine made from grapes that they grow.
Casey and Scott Stone operate the Yolo Land and Cattle Company and grow alfalfa. They play a leadership role in habitat restoration projects in western Yolo County, working in partnership with Audubon California and the Studentand Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship Farms Leadership project (SLEWS), demonstrating that conservative values can support land conservation. Scott also works with the Yolo County Habitat Joint Venture to develop conservation easements on farm land. Folks wanting a western wedding should consider an event at their ranch. The entire Stone family will work to ensure a memorable event.
Trini Campbell, Dru Rivers, Judith Redman, and Annie Main are four awesome Yolo County farmers who have pioneered sustainable organic farming and direct marketing through farmers markets and community-supported agriculture programs (CSAs). When you order a food box from their farms you get great food, and also a relationship with those that grow what you eat. They are also leaders in the Slow Food movement, dedicated to fostering sustainable agriculture and its culture throughout the world. Annie leads with a special aura, Judith and Dru add muscle, while Trini hones her leadership skills.
Blake Harlan farms 4,000-6,000 acres of production agriculture growing tomatoes, wheat, and other commodities. He is a son of a farming family. Blake, as with others in this tale, works the hard farming life, dealing with issues that range from the art of growing particular crops, through farm labor issues, insurance, pesticide use and regulations, weather forecasting, business accounting, bank loans, and workers compensation, to harvesting and marketing a ripened crop – all in a what is often a price-restricted market. Then he prepares fields for the next crop to be grown. I see him often, at Yolo County Farm Bureau meetings, as a man committed to his way of life. There is always a smile, a welcoming handshake, and a gleam in his eye. But he worries about the future.
The folks at Community Alliance for Family Farmers - Leland Swenson, Mark Cady, Marcia Gibbs, Temra Costa and others- are not farmers themselves, but the passion they have for Yolo County farming and farmers is visceral and deeply held. The support they provide to the farming community is vital in meeting difficult economic challenges and transitioning farming in the county to sustainable agriculture that is friendlier to the land and less energy-intensive
John Anderson, a former veterinarian, now grows grass seed. Not like your lawn, but perennial grasses that are native to the state, like purple needle grass. These are the tall bunch grasses that stay green through much of the summer. Hedgerows and roadside grass berms grown with John Anderson's seed are recognizable throughout Yolo County. John is well known for his pioneering work and is making a difference in how we view field edges and roadside drainage.
Rick Landon is Yolo County's Agricultural Commissioner. He regulates pesticide use in the county, monitors crop production, and even checks supermarket scales for accuracy. Rick is a strong advocate for farming, working to identify problems that agriculture faces and actively engaging finding workable solutions. Rick has been instrumental in helping Yolo County farmers to resolve water quality issues and is dedicated to helping small-scale farming stay viable.
Ann Evans once served as the mayor in the City of Davis and many people still think of her as wearing that hat. But, Ann has another passion with food and the culture within which it is grown and enjoyed. Her ability to articulate that passion in public presentations and through her many articles has raised awareness in our community about the importance of these issues. Ann, working with others, produced an article in the San Francisco Chronicle that featured special foods and eating opportunities that feature local Yolo County produce. Why should we sell all of the good stuff to the Bay Area?
This is but a small sampling of the Yolo County farming community and the folks that work with them. Many special friends that deserve mention have been left out. You know who you are and I thank you for what you do.
All of these folks, in their own way, bring leadership to the agricultural community in Yolo County. They work to protect our agricultural heritage, and as stewards of the land, protecting our environmental heritage. They do it through education, and with respect, a deep love for the land, and a special ability to listen. It is a lesson that many of us should take to heart.
The environmental community and the agricultural community do not agree on all issues. But, in truth, the common issues far out-weigh those on which we differ. It is vital that we maintain respect, listen to, and learn from each other if we are going to protect the lands we know and care for. We must work together as partners if we want to to keep the Yolo County working landscape that we all claim as our heritage.
Bob Schneider is the president of Tuleyome. He first came to Davis in 1966, and through the years has grown to cherish, and now to protect, both our region's wild heritage and its agricultural heritage. Tuleyome was formed to serve that mission. Additional information can be found at www.tuleyome.org.
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