TheCharles Spinetta Winery generously provided scholarships to nine enthusiastic and outstanding Amador Unified School District educators to attend theCalifornia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom’s (CFAITC) annual statewide conference held in Santa Cruz this past week. The scholarship covered both the registration fee and the hotel rooms for the attendees. Amador Unified School District stepped up to cover the transportation and meal costs, giving these well deserving educators an all expense paid educational adventure.
The Spinetta family supported this event because they understand the significance of agriculture within a community and the opportunities for learning provided by exposure to real world agricultural practices.
“We’ve seen the value of Ag in the Classroom,” said Charles Spinetta, “and we know that all students, whether they live in the city or the country, benefit from learning the origins of their food and their fiber. We believe that students will recognize lessons from math, science, and home economics as they learn more about the role that agriculture plays in their everyday lives.”
The theme of the29th annual conference was “Common Core and California Crops” and focused on providing educators with resources and guidance to help meet Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards while engaging students through agricultural themed lessons.
“CFAITC’s mission is to increase awareness and understanding of agriculture among California's educators and students. Our vision is an appreciation of agriculture by all,” said Judy Culbertson, Executive Director for CFAITC. “Incorporating agriculture into the classroom provides students with connections to the real world, helping them develop critical thinking and problem solving skills,”
The two-and-a-half day event included an afternoon at Life Lab, farm tours, presentations, workshops, and exhibits exploring how agriculture and Common Core go hand-in-hand. The conference was also a great opportunity to network with fellow educators and agriculture industry experts.
“Our state is dependent upon the success of agriculture, yet today, we are faced with bigger challenges than ever before. Over the last century, children have become further removed from the land that feeds and clothes us. In fact, only 2% of the population is directly involved in production agriculture and many children, when asked where food comes from, will reply "the grocery store!" With more than 7 million students in California, it is essential that these children—the next generation of consumers, parents and decision-makers—grow up with an understanding of agriculture’s critical contributions to our society,” said Culbertson.
California is a special place for agriculture and our farmers and ranchers play a significant role in feeding people throughout our country and the world. More than 400 different crops are grown in California and we are the top producing agriculture state in the nation.
The nine Amador county teachers who attended the training are committed to dedicating time in their busy class schedules to teach their students about the importance of agriculture to help the next generation become more connected to their food, each other, and the world around them.
Amador County schools recognize the significant contributions that the Spinetta family has made over many years. In addition to supporting agricultural education, the Spinettas established the Laura Spinetta Library Fund to support school libraries in Amador County, and members of the family regularly volunteer their time for school projects.
For More information, please contact:
Kevin Hesser - Gardens to Grow In
Telephone: 209-418-9044
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or
Tony Spinetta - Spinetta Family Vineyards
Telephone: 209-245-3384
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or
Mindy DeRohan - California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
Telephone: 916-561-5625
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
