LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture recently hosted Sen. Mike McGuire for a 90-minute presentation about Lake County and California’s agriculture concerns.
The one-day legislative event, AgCitement, is an offshoot of the AgVenture program, which is now in its sixth year.
McGuire stated that his legislative agenda for the coming year will focus on Proposition 1, to improve California water infrastructure, along with the Delta tunnel project, ag incentive grants for K-12 education and the creation of the Russian River Agriculture District.
The senator indicated that he gathers his agriculture-related information from area Farm Bureaus, from Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of California Food and Agriculture, and local and state winegrape growers’ and vintners’ associations.
When asked how CWA could offer support, McGuire stated, “I want CWA to be a resource for us. I’d like us to meet two to three times a year, minimum, for roundtable discussions. I prefer to be proactive, rather than reactive with regard to any issues.”
Lake County chapter of CWA presenters included CWA President Sharron Zoller who discussed the senator’s agriculture legislative agenda; Rebecca Southwick, Lake County Tourism Ambassador manager and AgVenture Program coordinator, who spoke about Lake County crops; and Diane Henderson of Henderson Orchards and CWA vice president, who spoke about labor issues.
Toni Scully, owner of Scully Packing Co. and CWA vice president, talked about the challenging business environment facing agribusinesses; Shirley Campbell, manager of Adobe Creek Packing Co. and CWA member, spoke to the state and federal overregulations of agriculture; and Pat Scully, general manager of Scully Packing Co., provided McGuire with an overview of state’s irrigated lands in Lake County.
Active in developing the presentation and provided commentary during Sen. McGuire’s visit were Paula Bryant, Umpqua Bank vice president, commercial relationship manager and CWA treasurer; and Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission and CWA member.
Annette Hopkins, former CWA President, and Terry Dereniuk, Executive Director of the Lake County Winery Association and a CWA member, were not present, but contributed to the presentation’s creation.
The event concluded with the introduction of some of Lake County’s next generation farm families that included Andy Scully, Pat and Michelle Scully, Beau and Gabriella Moore, and Greg and Allison Panella.
“We used every single second of our morning with the Senator and we’re heartened by his enthusiasm for not only agriculture in California, but by his commitment to Lake County’s agribusiness,” said CWA President Sharron Zoller. “We look forward to continuing our dialogue with him throughout 2015.”
CWA thanked the Lake County Winegrape Commission in Kelseyville for making its facility available for the event.
CWA is a nonprofit organization with 2,000 plus members across the state. CWA is the most active, all volunteer agricultural organization in the state with members actively engaged in public promotion, education and legislative advocacy on behalf of California agriculture.
The Lake County Chapter of CWA actively educates their members and the local public about matters impacting agriculture at the County State and Federal levels. LCCWA also awards scholarships to students pursuing agricultural-related education and provides mini-grants to teachers in local schools who are educating their students about agriculture and food.
To learn more about the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture, visit www.lakecountycwa.org .