Nearly 30 students from UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State L.A. visited agricultural operations throughout Monterey County this week to learn about career possibilities in agriculture. This tour was part of Western Growers Careers in Ag Program which aims to encourage college students to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers within the agricultural industry. 

Students studying everything from mechanical engineering and managerial economics to plant science and food systems embarked on a three-day tour, meeting with agricultural companies featuring STEM-related career opportunities and successful young professionals already in the field.

Tour highlights included visits to Seminis, Ocean Mist Farms, Church Brothers Farms, Ramsay Highlander, Taylor Farms’ Retail Plant, Tanimura & Antle, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, Uesugi Farms and Christopher Ranch. Additionally, students had the opportunity to connect one-on-one with professionals from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Driscoll’s and Kay Mercer, Inc.

“I learned a lot about the ag industry,” said Francisco Moxo Galicia, a mechanical engineering student from Cal State L.A. “I came in with little knowledge of the process and now I know the process from start to finish. I was also inspired to find solutions for the needs of farmers via engineering and robotics.”

The Careers in Ag Program was launched in June 2016, in partnership with UC Davis and Cal Poly Pomona. To date, the tour has educated 140 students from seven colleges throughout California and Arizona.