Behind-the-Scenes of the Third Annual Salinas Valley Ag Technology Summit
SALINAS, CA - The third annual Salinas Valley Ag Technology Summit is just around the corner and the buzz in Salinas, California is that this is an event not-to-be missed.
Co-hosted by The Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Association of Pest Control Advisers & Hartnell College Agriculture Business and Technology Institute, the event will take place Wednesday, March 30th from 8:30 – 5:00PM at the Hartnell College Alisal Campus in Salinas.
“This third annual summit is expected to draw the best & brightest from all aspects of Central Coast production agriculture,” Susan M. Pheasant, Ph.D, Director of the Agricultural Business & Technology Institute for Hartnell, tells me. “Having been a part of the team behind organizing the day, I can tell you that some of Salinas’ best minds and innovators will be here to support and engage the ag community. And the event’s energy extends to the state level with an all-day visit by newly appointed CA State Director of USDA Rural Development Janice L. Waddell and keynote by former CA Secretary of Agriculture AG Kawamura. This Ag Tech Summit is for everyone, whether you are a student, a grower, an engineer, a PCA, a designer of apps for ag, or a professor.”
The summit will feature an array of speakers, including multiple tracks of panel presentations on several subjects such as mechanization, soil health, harvest, regulation, crop protection, worker safety, as well as plant genetics & university research. Expect displays, demonstrations and much more. To check out a schedule of featured speakers, please visit www.sv-ag-summit.com.
“The time is right to strengthen ties in innovation & collaboration between the Salinas Valley and Silicon Valley,” Event Chair, Steve McShane, Owner & General Manager of McShane's Nursery & Landscape Supply, tells me. “We're less than 60 miles away and in the near future, we'll be growing much more than commodity vegetables and wine grapes. Leading researchers, businesses and trade organizations in the area are setting a new mark in the global agriculture marketplace, and this event is the perfect place to watch that dialogue unfold.”
More than 45 confirmed vendors, including several modern ag machinery displays, will also be in attendance. Also participating in the lunchtime program will be an amazing panel moderated by local agribusinessman, Dennis Donohue, and including USDA Rural Development State Director Janice Waddell, Hartnell President Willard Lewallen, CSUMB President Ochoa, and Cal Poly Associate Dean of College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science Richard Cavaletto.
“This is an amazing opportunity for people to connect,” Event Coordinator, Iris Medina, says. “Along with building support and awareness around our community, we also are looking to address preconceptions about what Hartnell College is and what opportunities we offer. The next generation of agricultural leaders should be exposed to more than just the traditional notions of agriculture. We want them to see this as a place where ag and technology not only find a common ground, but can benefit and elevate one another other.”
In addition to the benefits of the day and engaging with the industry, Iris notes that agriculture professionals with PCA, QAL or QC certifications will be awarded six hours for PCAs and five for CCAs, of ongoing education (CE) credits by the Department of Pesticide Regulation for attendance.
Tanimura & Antle will also have an active presense at the event, with Vice President Brian Antle as one of the featured speakers and Caitlin Antle Wilson, Sales and Marketing Director, as one of the speakers and participants.
Caitlin shared with me the excitement around summit and the importance of promoting this type of conversation.
“Tanimura & Antle is excited to be a supporter of the first ever Ag Tech Program in Salinas, the heart of the salad bowl. My cousin, Brian Antle, and I are thrilled to be amongst the other panelists in bringing more community awareness and excitement to the future of our industry,” Caitlin says.
Event admission is free and includes a fabulous BBQ lunch. Registration for the event can be done on-line at: www.eventbrite.com/e/salinas-valley-ag-tech-summit-tickets-22420632716
The event has over 30 sponsors at this point and proceeds will benefit the Hartnell College Agribusiness and Technology Institute. Vendor spaces and sponsorship opportunities are still available. The Salinas Valley Ag Technology Summit was founded in fall of 2014 with the mission of developing a strong community of leading agricultural research, business and education in the Salinas Valley Region.
