For the past 11 years, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has held an annual conference designed to provide new and aspiring Latino farm owners – many of whom are former farm laborers – with information and networking opportunities to help them succeed.

But in 2025, organizers of the Latino Farmer Conference had to pivot due to the loss of federal funding that paid for much of the cost and decided to hold a mostly virtual conference instead. That event took place in February of this year.

In 1975, several women involved in agriculture gathered in the Coachella Valley to discuss how they could educate policymakers and consumers about the needs of California agriculture.

Since those beginnings 50 years ago, California Women for Agriculture (CWA) has grown to become the most active all-volunteer agricultural organization in the state. Its 1,500 members represent farmers, ranchers, bankers, lawyers, marketing professionals and food producers from Butte County to the Mexican border.

ORLANDO, FL – More than 800 Farm Credit leaders gathered in Orlando, Florida, for the 2026 Farm Credit Annual Meeting to reaffirm their core mission of supporting members, strengthening rural communities and advancing agriculture amid challenges.  

Because few members of Congress have personal connections to agriculture, it’s important that the ag community continue to meet with lawmakers to keep them informed of farmers’ needs.

“Just 6% of the nation’s 435 Representatives and 100 Senators have a strong connection to agriculture, which is why Farm Credit brings farmers and Farm Credit executives to Washington, DC, every other year as part of the Farm Credit Fly-In,” said Kevin Ralph, AgWest Farm Credit’s California President.

Educating today’s students about the importance of California agriculture is critically important to protecting the future of farming and ranching in the Golden State. For nearly 40 years, the California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom has been a leader in that effort and is continuing to innovate to meet the needs of California classrooms.