CLBL's very own FARMS Leadership Program is celebrating 20 years of connecting high school students to California's food system and teaching them leadership skills through a year of visits to farms, ranches and agricultural businesses. FARMS serves students and teachers in Colusa, Yuba, Sutter, Yolo, Sacramento, Sonoma, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Fresno, Los Angeles, and Orange counties.

Originally created in 1993 by CLBL Founder Craig McNamara, the FARMS Leadership Program has graduated over 5,000 youth, all of whom gained valuable insight into California's $43.5 Billion food and agriculture industry while at the same time learned leadership, teamwork, communication, and public speaking skills through team projects, event participation, and group discussions about critical issues in our food system.

"FARMS Leadership has made a difference in the lives of youth across the state", says CLBL's Executive Director Mary Kimball. "Over half of our graduates have pursued careers involving agriculture and environmental science. Their decision to pursue these careers stemmed, in part, from their experience in FARMS Leadership".

Watch for additional information about the FARMS Leadership Program in the coming 20th anniversary year!

© Brett Johnson, Davis Enterprise

Food Bank Farmers grows fruits and vegetable on available plots of farmland using CLBL's own CA Farm Academy beginning farmers and volunteers from the community, and distributes the produce via local food banks. 

Food Bank Farmers started when a Yolo County farmer wanted to find a way to benefit the community using a part of his land that could not be commercially farmed.  Through discussions with the Center for Land-Based Learning, the Food Bank of Yolo County, and Yolo Food Connect, the partnership of Food Bank Farmers was formed.

The Center for Land-Based Learning, and its California Farm Academy alumni and current students, have been provided farming advice and assistance since March, and production will run through the end of October.

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The Center for Land-Based Learning is dedicated to creating the next generation of farmers and teaching California's youth about the importance of agriculture and watershed conservation.

Combining innovative hands-on experience with classroom learning, participants in Center for Land-Based Learning's programs develop leadership skills, learn sustainable agriculture practices that contribute to a healthier ecosystem, and connect to agricultural, environmental, and food system careers.