Imperial County Read with a Farmer

2022 Read with a Farmer

Imperial Valley teachers, are you looking for a great way to promote agriculture in your classroom?

Join us for the 5th Annual Imperial County Read with a Farmer event. Invite a local farmer into your 3rd grade classroom to read a book about agriculture. This year's book selection is "How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food", Written by Chris Butterworth and Illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti

"Many children think their lunches came from the grocery store, and cannot answer how their produce, and lunch ingredients got there. In the book, How Did That Get In My Lunchbox? The Story of Food, author Chris Butterworth takes a simple snapshot of a lunch box: sandwich, fruit, vegetables, juice, and a chocolate chip cookie, and traces the ingredients for each item back to the farmers that grew them. He even explains how the produce is cleaned, processed and packaged before it arrives to the grocery store. The informative text and colorful illustrations provide real life answers about each item’s trip to our plate; ultimately tracing everything back to its origin—the farm." NC Farm Bureau

This event is open to 3rd grade classrooms and a limited number of spaces are available. Use the request form below or contact Stacey Amparano at scwills@ucanr.edu for more information

Imperial County 5th Annual Read with a Farmer Flyer

Supporting Materials

Reading is Fundamental:Printable guide for educators, matching game, word searches and more.

Little Green Thumb: Discussion guide and activities

Event Sponsors

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2021 Read with a Farmer

Highlights from the 4th Annual Red with a Farmer coming soon

2020 Read with a Farmer

Celebrate National Read a Book Day with the 3rd annual Imperial County Read with a Farmer event.

Help your students recognize connections between farming and the food they eat by inviting a farmer to your classroom…virtually.

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The Beeman by Laurie Krebs - Read by Brent Ashurst

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Did you miss the live Read with a Farmer event? Invite a local beekeeper into your classroom with a pre-recorded Read with a Farmer reading. Local Beekeeper, Brent Ashurst, reads The Beeman, by Laurie Krebs.

The Beeman Educator's Guide: (grades K-2) this guide includes six lessons about vocabulary, pollination, and math to partner with The Beeman book.

About our Reader: Brent Ashurst

Brent Ashurst is a 4th generation beekeeper in the Imperial Valley who’s family has been in the industry for over 100 years. Brent graduated from Brawley Union High School in 2001 and went to work in the family business immediately after. In 2004 Brent purchased 900 of his own bees from a local beekeeper in the Imperial Valley and started Ashurst Apiaries. Since then he has grown his bees from 900 up to 2500-3000 colonies. Brent is active in the California State Beekeepers Association where he is currently finishing his 2nd term as President. While serving as President he also currently holds a board position on the California Apiary Board and was appointed by Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Ashurst Apiaries' goal is to provide strong bees for pollination of crops in the Imperial Valley, San Diego, Riverside, Kern, and Tulare counties for seasonal crops requiring bees. My fondest memory of working with the bees is either catching swarms with my Grandpa, Delvin Ashurst, or working with our employees; many of which have been with us for 40+ years. I have always enjoyed their knowledge and love for the bees.

Right this Very Minute: A Table-to-Farm Book About Food and Farming by Lisl H. Detlefsen

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Click here for resources to accompany the book

About Our Readers

J.P. Labrucherie

I’m a 43-year-old fourth-generation farmer. My family has been farming here in the Imperial Valley for 108 years. We focus on growing vegetables in the Imperial Valley, Blythe, and Arizona. Most of our vegetables are grown organically. I went to college and studied accounting and also went to law school. I am a CPA and attorney, but I chose to come home and work in the farming business. I still use those skills I learned in school in the farming business.

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Steve Snow

Steve Snow is the General Manager of Phillips Cattle Company, a 28,000 head feed yard, south of El Centro. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science and Management from UC Davis. He is a long-time supporter of 4-H and the Imperial Valley Food Bank

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Paula McConnell Pangle

Paula McConnell Pangle is a fourth-generation farmer living and working on McConnell Ranch. Six generations have lived on the ranch and the fifth and sixth generations are currently working in agriculture in Imperial Valley. McConnell Ranch was established in 1908 and has continuously grown crops for 112 years! The ranch now focuses on growing organic produce. Paula has lived and worked on McConnell Ranch all her life. She graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in Agricultural Business Management with an emphasis in Agricultural Chemicals.

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