North Carolina Farm Bureau’s LEAD Program members traveled to California in March for an educational trip that also allowed an opportunity for some fun and fellowship.

Participants toured several places and met with many agricultural professionals, all the while learning about the different agriculture techniques and operations within the so-called Golden State.
While in California, the group’s first stop was a Simi Valley avocado and lemon farm, which was owned and operated by mother and son Mary and David Schwabauer. The members enjoyed a tour of the farm and were allowed to pick some of the fruit before leaving.

Another interesting tour was of the Ronald Reagan Library. Filled with memorabilia, including Reagan’s diary and a piece of the Berlin Wall, the library also featured the rebuilt Air Force One 707 that Reagan used during his terms as president.

The LEAD group was also able to tour Teixeira Farm. Owned and operated by the Teixeria family, this 6,800-acre farm in Santa Maria specializes in the production of celery, green cabbage, broccoli and lettuce.

Also on the agenda were stops at the Talley Vineyards in the Arroyo Grande Valley and California Polytechnic State University, where LEAD participants received a campus tour.

Harris Ranch was a big attraction and offered an interesting tour. The ranchers farm 23,000 acres and specialize in premium flavored beef that is hand-selected and tailored to meet a customer’s needs. The ranch’s feedlot is the largest in California and the operation is still family-owned.

Participants got a taste of the cheese-making process when they toured the Hilmar Cheese Company. It is now the largest single producer of whey products and American-style cheese. They were also given a tour of the San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, which serves approximately 1.2 million acres of farm land.

Other interesting stops included Sutter’s Fort (an 1840 pioneer refuge), an old mission parish, an almond farm, the Michael David Winery and Phillips Farms. They enjoyed discussions in current agriculture issues in the state of California and were able to meet several local Farm Bureau members.