Why AgVentures!?
In California, agriculture is all around us. From fruit trees and row crops to livestock and aquaculture, the agrarian lifestyle is a fixture in the Golden State. But even with agriculture all around us, many people don’t know where our food and fiber comes from.
When California was founded, almost everybody was a farmer or was directly involved with a farmer. The people who tilled the soil and farmed the land for survival became skilled in producing an abundance of agriculture commodities that eventually transformed California into a global leader in food and fiber production.
Today, the agriculture industry is quite different—only two percent of the population is directly involved in production agriculture. This change has caused both the urban community and agrarian community to compete for scarce natural resources. It is important for the agrarian community to communicate with and to educate the non-farming community for the benefit of everyone.
Because farmers and ranchers help feed and clothe us everyday, it is vital that children understand the importance of this industry from an early age. At the AgVentures! Learning Center, students learn about science and technology, environmental issues, food and nutrition, and social studies. By using fun, multi-sensory exhibits, students learn where their food and fiber come from.
This oasis of learning and exploration is a popular destination for families and schools from throughout the state. Each school year, more than 10,000 students experience the modern, professionally designed exhibits. Students and teachers appreciate the hands-on learning environment, and local community members are drawn by a multitude of fun, free events held at the AgVentures! Learning Center annually.
The AgVentures! Learning Center guides visitors and students through three separate, but interrelated, perspectives on agriculture.
