MCAE Mission & History

Monterey County Agricultural Education, Inc. (MCAE) is a non-profit organization with a mission to foster respect and appreciation of Monterey County’s number one industry: Agriculture.

Dorothy Giannini Apple Presenter Award

In 2014, Jon Giannini and his friends spent hours perfecting their sausage presentation for the Salinas Farm Day. When Jon returned home after the event, his third-grade granddaughter touted his success—and his adoring wife Dorothy presented him with her very own "Apple Teacher’s Award."

This sweet story inspired the MCAE Board of Directors to give special recognition annually to a presenter or presenter group. Our award winners are knowledgeable. They are professional. But, most of all, they connect with the students. We love seeing kids wide-eyed and riveted to the to these presenters. This truly is Ag teaching Ag!

Our Mission

Monterey County Agricultural Education, Inc. (MCAE) is a non-profit organization of agriculturalists, educators, and interested parties dedicated to fostering respect and appreciation of Monterey County's number one industry - AGRICULTURE. It is our mission to bring together and educate urban, rural and agricultural communities.

Why Ag Education Matters

Our agricultural industry has become so efficient that it is an almost “invisible” industry. Many people don’t know much about it; some may even consider it unnecessary. Increasingly, those who lack knowledge of (and respect for) agriculture are making decisions that affect our ability to successfully do our jobs.

For the future of our industry, we must increase the level of agricultural literacy and awareness in our community and our country. No one else will do it for us.

Our History

In the mid-1980s, a group of local agriculturalists recognized that some of the troubles facing agriculture stemmed from a lack of general understanding of the needs and benefits of agriculture. The personal connection to the farm, which previous generations enjoyed, was lacking in the majority of the population. In fact, many were now several generations removed from the farm.

Coupled with that lack of knowledge was the fact that agriculture had become so efficient that the supermarkets were constantly filled with an abundant variety of healthy and delicious food. Having a continuous and plentiful food supply was no longer a concern. Agriculture had become an “invisible” industry.

To combat wide-spread agricultural illiteracy, this local group began teaching the importance of agriculture through school visits. Driven by such industry leaders as Bill Barker, John Inman, Claudia Smith, Benny Jefferson, Dorothy Errea, Joanne Nissen, Mary Orradre and many more, the “Mobile Farm Story” became a much-requested enrichment program. However, the program was so popular that it became overwhelming to manage.

Out of this success, Monterey County Agricultural Education, Inc. was born, and The Farm Day Experience was initiated. In 1991, the organization was incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, becoming a pioneer in the field of agricultural literacy and awareness.

Monterey County agriculture has always been a world leader in progressive ideas, science and technology. Now it is also a leader in agricultural education. The founders of Monterey County Agricultural Education were decades ahead in recognizing the significance of a community that understands the needs and benefits of agriculture. They also knew that accomplishing this monumental task fell to those in agriculture. No one else would step forward to provide the accurate and current information, or implement the education programs.

In the years since the creation of Monterey County Agricultural Education, Inc., the value of the mission has become increasingly important locally, throughout the state, and nationally. Today, most, if not all, agriculturalists comprehend the necessity of agriculture literacy and awareness programs. Monterey County is still one of the only counties in the nation to have an independent organization (not affiliated with a parent organization) that is dedicated solely to agricultural advocacy.

The successes of Monterey County Agricultural Education continue to be recognized. In 2011, the organization was presented the much-honored Excellence in Education award from the Monterey County School Boards Association as well as numerous other Certificates of Recognition from a wide variety of local, state and federal entities.

We are very proud of how far we’ve come—and we look forward to an even brighter future for agriculture!

Candi DePauw

Farm Day Coordinator

Staff

Tiffany Batistich

Assistant Farm Day Coordinator

Martin Jefferson

Alsop Muller Water Solutions

Greg Johnson

A.W. Johnson & Son

Mark Kennedy

Green Rubber - Kennedy Ag

Travis Kinney

Rijk Zwaan USA

Peter Odello
Blanco Farms

Mark Phillips

Keithly-Williams Seeds

Carlos Zavala

Assured Crop Protection, LLC.

Lisa Branco

Radicle Seed Company

Jake Odello

The Nunes Company, Inc.

Kerri Costa, Treasurer/Secretary
Costa Farms, Inc.

Vicente Alvarez

Christensen & Giannini, LLC.

Cara Brents
Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office

Jynel Gularte
Rincon Farms, Inc.

Tim Maxwell

California Highway Patrol

Board of Directors

MCAE Leadership

Spirit of Agriculture Awards

The Farm Day experience is made possible because of the incredible support of over 700 volunteers each year. The Spirit of Agriculture Award was established in 2004 to recognize volunteers who are passionate about agriculture, who give unselfishly of their time, who show concern for the local community, and who are ardent supporters of Farm Day and the future of Monterey County Ag Education.