A group of progressive farmers was invited to meet with Larry Lahr, a member of the Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees. Together they recommended the college hold an Agriculture and Industrial Expo and Job Fair on the Santa Maria campus. The idea behind the expo was to expose young agriculturally minded students to opportunities that are in demand by farm and agribusiness employers and fulfilled through local educational avenues.

The event was held April 1, 2004 in the sports pavilion of Allan Hancock College with a variety of large outdoor equipment and mechanical displays throughout the campus. In all, there were forty-three indoor exhibitors and fifteen outdoor exhibitors. Many of the exhibitors were diversified Santa Maria area farmers, who displayed their respective farming operations, soil labs, transplant greenhouse operations and food safety programs. Additionally, there were many support companies ranging from chemical application aircraft to seed coating companies to heavy farm equipment operators. Largely there was a complete cross-segment of the local agriculture industry and many of the support businesses that are needed to meet the needs of modern farmers.

Farm Credit West was invited to represent the agriculture finance industry to spark interest in alternative vocations which revolve around farming. Allan Hancock College has a well-grounded agribusiness department that benefits local farmers and agricultural businesses by providing a skilled work force. Farm Credit West manned a booth with pictorial displays of Santa Barbara County produce and farming operations with a description of the financial products and services offered by Farm Credit West. Additionally, a pamphlet describing different job opportunities within the Farm Credit System was available for those interested in an agribusiness career.

To gain maximum exposure to the opportunities at Allan Hancock College, roughly 400 upper-level high school students were bussed to the college campus. The expo’s objective was to encourage the younger students to start focusing now on agricultural opportunities and to let them know the benefits and training that are available at the local college campus. A large number of Allan Hancock College students and young farmers also attended the event.

Even with growing urban influences in the Santa Maria Valley, local farmers see the long-term prospects of continuance and expansion of their operations and feel the need for additional skilled labor. The Allan Hancock College Agriculture and Industrial Expo and Job Fair will likely pay good dividends in the future to assure a steady, skilled workforce to support area agriculture.

Farm Credit West is committed to the agriculture industry and strives not only to help keep a skilled workforce in the community, but to also promote enhanced opportunities for young and beginning farmers. Participating in events like this are just one of the many ways Farm Credit West supports the local farm community.

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