SFP wins national diversity award
Program representatives accepted the award Nov. 14 at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities annual meeting in Dallas.
The award describes the UC Small Farm Program as "an exemplary extension program, notable for its proven commitment to serving diverse farming communities in California and innovative approaches to helping small farmers succeed." Each year the award recognizes accomplishments in Cooperative Extension programs that support diversity, pluralism and innovation.
"Nominations submitted this year were diverse and competitive; however this nomination fully exemplified the broader scope of diversity within the system," Willene Buffett, Diversity Awards Committee chair, wrote in the award notification letter.
The award is shared by the members of the 2009-2010 Small Farm Program:
- Shermain Hardesty, director;
- Linda Vieira, office manager;
- Penny Leff, agritourism coordinator;
- Courtney Riggle, program representative;
- Brenda Dawson, communications coordinator;
- Aziz Baameur, advisor for San Benito, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties;
- Mark Gaskell, advisor for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties;
- Manuel Jimenez, advisor for Tulare County;
- Ramiro Lobo, advisor for San Diego County;
- Richard Molinar, advisor for Fresno County; and
- Michael Yang, Hmong agricultural assistant for Fresno County.
More information about the award is available from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities website.